General Studies (GS) Mains Syllabus for UPSC CSE 2025
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination is a critical component of the selection process for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other prestigious civil services. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), this examination assesses candidates’ in-depth understanding and analytical abilities across a broad range of subjects. The Mains Exam follows the Preliminary Examination and serves as a comprehensive test of a candidate’s knowledge, critical thinking, and writing skills.
The Mains Examination consists of nine papers, including two qualifying papers and seven merit-based papers. The qualifying papers include one on any Indian language and another on English, which are used to test basic language proficiency but are not counted towards the final merit. The seven merit-based papers encompass one Essay paper, four General Studies papers, and two papers on optional subjects chosen by the candidate. The optional subject papers allow candidates to specialize in a particular area of interest, providing an opportunity to demonstrate expertise and in-depth knowledge.
Each paper in the Mains Examination is designed to evaluate various skills, such as the ability to present coherent arguments, analyze complex issues, and articulate thoughts effectively. The examination is known for its depth and breadth, requiring candidates to have a strong grasp of diverse topics and the ability to integrate information from various sources. The answers are evaluated based on relevance, clarity, and depth of understanding, making it crucial for candidates to prepare thoroughly and practice answer writing regularly.
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination is followed by a Personality Test (Interview) for shortlisted candidates. This final stage assesses candidates’ personality traits, leadership qualities, and suitability for a career in the civil services. Overall, the Mains Examination is a rigorous and comprehensive test that plays a pivotal role in selecting candidates for key administrative positions in the Indian government.
Paper-I : Essay
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
Paper-II : General Studies-I
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
1. Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
3. The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
6. Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
8. Effects of globalization on Indian society.
9. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
10. Salient features of world’s physical geography.
11. 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).
12. 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.
Paper-III : General Studies-II
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. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
4. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
5. Parliament and State legislatures – Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
6. 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.
7. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
9. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
10. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
11. Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
12. 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.
13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
14. Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
15. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance – applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
16. Role of civil services in a democracy.
17. India and its neighborhood-relations.
18. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
19. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
20. Important International institutions, agencies and fora – their structure, mandate.
Paper-IV : General Studies-III
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
2. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
3. Government Budgeting.
4. 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.
5. 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; economics of animal-rearing.
6. Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
7. Land reforms in India.
8. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
9. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
10. Investment models.
11. Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
12. Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
13. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
14. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
15. Disaster and disaster management.
16. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
17. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
18. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
19. Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
20. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Paper-V : General Studies-IV
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:
1. Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
2. Attitude: Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
3. 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.
4. Emotional intelligence: Concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
5. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Case Studies on above issues.
