UPSC Syllabus 2023- Overview

UPSC conducts 3 stages for the recruitment of the UPSC Civil Services exam- Prelims, Mains, &
interviews. UPSC Preliminary Exam is an objective type for shortlisting candidates for the Main exam
consisting of 9 descriptive exams. Only candidates qualifying all papers in Mains will be called for the
Interview round for assessing their intelligence, attentiveness, balance of judgment and human qualities like
honesty, integrity and leadership qualities which is the final selection process.
UPSC Syllabus 2023- Overview

Particulars Prelims Mains

Exam Date 28th May 2023 15th to 19th September 2023

No. of Papers Two Nine

Types of Questions Objective Type Descriptive Type

Duration of Exam 2 hours each 3 hours each

Total Marks 400 1750

Medium of Exam English & Hindi English & Hindi (except language paper)

Negative Marking ⅓rd mark No negative marking

Marks Counted in Merit No Yes

UPSC CSE Syllabus 2023

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Prelims exam is the first stage of the examination and is
qualifying in nature. The candidates have to score a minimum of 33% marks along with the marks above the
cut-off as decided by UPSC. UPSC Prelims exam is conducted to shortlist limited candidates for the Mains
exam. The UPSC syllabus for the Prelims exam comprises of two papers namely General Studies and
CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test).

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023

Paper Subjects Marks No. of Question Duration

I General Studies (GS) 200 100 2 hours (9:30 AM to 11:30 AM)

II CSAT 200 80 2 hours (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)

Important Points:

1. For every incorrect answer, 1/3rd mark of the total mark will be deducted.
2. For the blank answers, no marks will be deducted.
3. In General Studies (Paper I), each question is of 2 marks and there is a negative marking of 0.66
marks
4. In CSAT (Paper-II), each question is of 2.5 marks and a negative marking of 0.833 marks for each
wrong answer marked.
5. The prelims marks will not be included in the final result (merit list).
6. Paper II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum
qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
UPSC Syllabus 2023 for Prelims Exam

In this section, we have provided the detailed UPSC syllabus 2023 for the Prelims Exam. The candidates can
check the General Studies (Paper I) syllabus of the Prelims examination and begin with their preparation
for UPSC CSE 2023.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for General Studies (Paper I)

1. Current Affairs (Events) of national and international importance.

2. History of India and Indian National Movement.

3. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.

4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights
Issues, etc.

5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social
Sector initiatives, etc.

6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change: that do not require subject
specialization.

7. General Science

UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus for CSAT (Paper-II)

Candidates can check the IAS Prelims CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Syllabus given below. This
section do need constant practice and reading articles, and newspapers, and solving as many mock tests
would be of great help.

1. Comprehension

2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills

3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability

4. Decision-making and problem solving

5. General mental ability

6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data
interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).

UPSC Syllabus 2023 for Mains Exam

The candidates qualifying prelims exam will be eligible to appear for the Mains exam. It is the scoring and
rank-deciding stage of the exam process and candidates have to qualify for each paper. The Mains exam
tests the candidate’s academic knowledge and ability to present the understanding according to the
requirements of the question in a time-bound manner. UPSC Syllabus 2023 with Exam pattern for
Mains exam is given below.

UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern 2023

The Mains exam comprises nine papers and candidates have to score minimum qualifying marks in each
subject. Language papers are of qualifying marks and the rest of the papers will be scored.

UPSC Mains Exam

Qualifying Papers Marks

One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from

Paper-A 300
the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution

Paper-B English 300

Papers Counted for Merit

Paper-I Essay 250

General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World
Paper-II 250
and Society)

General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International

Paper-III 250
relations)

Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity,

Paper-IV 250
Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Paper-V General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) 250

Paper-VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 250

Paper-VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 250

Sub Total (Written Test) 1750

Personality Test 275

Grand Total 2025

Important Points:

1. There are two qualifying papers in the mains exam, Namely "Paper A" and "Paper B" of 300 marks
each.
2. Two Qualifying Papers are "Any Indian Language from Eight Schedule " and "English Language
Paper".
3. Candidates need to score 25% in both qualifying papers i.e, 75 marks each.
4. All other seven papers are scoring in nature their marks will be included in the final merit list.
5. Candidates can answer all the scoring subjects in English or any of the eight schedule languages.
6. Candidates have to select any one subject from the table as their Optional subject for Paper VI and Paper
VII.
UPSC Optional Subjects List for Mains Exam

Animal Husbandry and

Agriculture Anthropology Botany Chemistry
Veterinary Science

Commerce and Electrical

Civil Engineering Economics Geography
Accountancy Engineering
 Medical
Statistics Sociology Physics Philosophy
Science

Political Science and Mechanical

Public Administration Psychology Mathematics
International Relations Engineering

Zoology Geology History Management Law

Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi,
Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi,Nepali,Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit,
Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu,Urdu and English.

UPSC IAS Syllabus for Main Exam- Subject-wise

Structure of the Language Papers

The structure of language papers i.e., "Paper A" and "Paper B" has been discussed in the below table.
The candidates have to select any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution which
is given in the table below. The second language paper is fixed i.e, English. Candidates have to use the
corresponding script for the language

UPSC IAS Syllabus Questions asked in both language papers are:

1. Essay – 100 marks

2. Reading comprehension – 60 marks

3. Precis Writing – 60 marks

4. Translation:

(a) English to compulsory language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks

(b) Compulsory language to English – 20 marks

5. Grammar and basic language usage – 40 marks

Candidates can go through the UPSC IAS General Studies Papers Syllabus for each paper in the below
section. The syllabus will help you to understand what to study and what not to study for the UPSC
exam. The syllabus of all four General Studies papers is given below. Each paper holds 250 marks out of
1750. The total marks of General Studies papers are 1000 marks. Candidates must prepare well for these
papers as they are holding good marks in the final merit list.

UPSC Mains General Studies I Syllabus

This is the first General Studies paper. This paper is all about the History, Heritage, Geography and
Culture of the World and Society. Candidates can check the main points of the General Studies I
syllabus below as described by the commission.

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:

1. Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
2. Modern Indian history include the significant events, personalities, issues during the middle of the
eighteenth century until the present

3. Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The
Freedom Struggle’

4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country

5. History of the world includes events, forms and effects on the society from the 18th century like world
wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redraw of national boundaries, decolonization, political
philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.

6. Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society

7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental
issues, urbanization, their problems and remedies

8. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism

9. Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent;
factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of
the world including India

10. Effects of globalization on Indian society

11. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies
and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes

12. Salient features of world’s physical geography.

UPSC Mains General Studies II Syllabus

The Mains General Studies II papers have questions related to the Polity, Governance, Constitution,
Social Justice and Interrelations. Candidates can check the syllabus below.

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations:

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and
basic structure

2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal
structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein

3. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

4. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

5. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and
issues arising out of these
6. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
Constitutional Bodies

7. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of
the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity

8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act

9. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation

10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies

11. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance
of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of
these vulnerable sections

12. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders

13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education,
Human Resources

14. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models,
successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and
other measures

15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger

16. Role of civil services in a democracy

17. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

18. India and its neighborhood- relations

19. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate

20. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

UPSC Mains General Studies III Syllabus

UPSC Mains General Studies III is all about the Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster
Management and Nature. This paper can ask questions from every aspects of life, new development in
any sphere of life.

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and
employment.

2.Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.

3.Government Budgeting.

4. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

5. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation
systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-
technology in the aid of farmers

6. Economics of animal-rearing.

7. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstream requirements, supply chain management.

8. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution
System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
Technology missions

9. Land reforms in India.

10. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial
growth.

11. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

12. Investment models.

13. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements
of Indians in science and technology;

14. Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.

15. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

16. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues
relating to intellectual property rights.

17. Disaster and disaster management.

18. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

19. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

20. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its
prevention

21. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

22. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

UPSC Mains General Studies IV Syllabus

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude: This paper includes questions to check the candidate's attitude and
approach towards the issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and their problem-solving approach to
various issues and conflicts faced by them while dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study
approach to determine these aspects and cover area

1. Ethics and Human Interface- Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions;
dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships

2. Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of
family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values

3. Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and
political attitudes; social influence and persuasion

4. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship,
objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections

5. Emotional intelligence concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance

6. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world

7. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration- Status and problems; ethical concerns and
dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of
ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in
governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance

8. Probity in Governance- Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
Information; sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of
Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds,
challenges of corruption

9. Case Studies on the above issues.

UPSC IAS Interview Test

Candidates who qualify for the UPSC Exam Mains Exam are called for the ‘Interview’
Test. Candidates are interviewed by a Board appointed by the UPSC.
1. The candidate will be interviewed by a board who will have before them a record of his/her career and
interests filled by him/her in the Detailed Application Form (DAF).

2. The objective of the interview is to check the personal suitability of the candidate for the career in
civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.

3. In the personality test, apart from their academic study, candidates must be aware of the affairs
happening both within and outside their state or country.

4. The interview is more of a purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and
analytical ability of the candidate.

5. The Interview test will be 275 marks and the total marks for the written examination is 1750. This sums
up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks based on which the final merit list will be prepared.