16/10/2015 MainExaminationSyllabusforIAS,UPSCMainsSyllabus2015,Civilsmains2015syllabus,Civilservicesmainsexam2015

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UPSCCivilServicesMainExaminationSyllabus
The Civil Services Main examination is designed to test the
academictalentoftheaspirant,alsohis/herabilitytopresenthis/her
knowledgeinaclearandcoherentmanner.ThemainExaminationis
intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of
understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their
informationandmemory.

RevisedUPSCExamPattern2015
The UPSC has revised the pattern of Civil Services Main
examinationfrom2015.

Nowthereare7+2=9paperstobeansweredinthemainexamination.Allofthemareofdescriptive
type. There are two qualifying papers 1) any modern Indian language 2) English are of 300 marks
each.Theirmarkswillnotbecountedinthemainexamination.

The candidate is allowed to use any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or
Englishasthemediumofwritingtheexamination.

Accordingtothenewpatternthereare"FOUR"GeneralStudiespapereachcomprisingof250Marks
withatotalof1000Marks.ThescopeofthesyllabusofGeneralStudiesisofdegreelevel.

There is only "ONE" optional subject to choose from the list of subjects. It comprises of two papers
each of 300 marks. So the total of optional paper is 600 marks. Candidate is allowed to take up
literature as an optional subject "without the conditionality of having to do his/her graduation in that
language'sliterature.Thescopeofthesyllabusofoptionalpaperishigherthanthebachelor'sdegree
butlowerthanthemaster'slevel.

Interview/Personality Test is of 275 Marks. Candidate can give preference of the language in which
theymayliketobeinterviewed.UPSCwillmakearrangementforthetranslators.

Thetotalmarkofthewrittenexaminationis1750Marks.

TheInterview/PersonalityTestwillbeof275marks.

TheGrandTotal2025Marks

SummaryoftheLatestPatternofCivilServices(Mains)Examination

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PaperI
Language300Marks
CandidatecantakeanyModernIndianlanguagebutthispaperisofqualifying
nature

PaperII
English300Marks
Thispaperisofqualifyingnature

PaperIII
Essay250Marks
Canbewritteninthemediumorlanguageofthecandidate'schoice

PaperIV
GeneralStudiesI250Marks
(IndianHeritageandCulture,
HistoryandGeographyoftheWorldandSociety)

PaperV
GeneralStudiesII:250Marks
(Governance,Constitution,Polity,SocialJusticeandInternationalrelations)

PaperVI
GeneralStudiesIII250Marks
(Technology,EconomicDevelopment,Biodiversity,Environment,Securityand
DisasterManagement)

PaperVII
GeneralStudiesIV250Marks
(Ethics,IntegrityandAptitude)
MarkscarriedbyGeneralStudieswas4X250=1000

PaperVIII
OptionalSubjectPaper1250Marks

PaperIX
OptionalSubjectPaperII250Marks
Candidateisallowedtotakeupliteratureasanoptionalsubject"withoutthe
conditionalityofhavingtodohis/hergraduationinthatlanguage'sliterature.

SubTotal(Writtentest)1750Marks
MarksofEnglishandLanguagewillnotbecountedsototalmarksfor
Writtenexamwillbe1750MarksOnly

Interview/PersonalityTest275marks

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Candidatecangivepreferenceofthelanguageinwhichtheymayliketobe
interviewed.UPSCwillmakearrangementforthetranslators.

GrandTotal2025Marks

AcandidateisallowedtouseanyonelanguagefromtheEighth
ScheduleoftheConstitutionorEnglishasthemediumofwritingthe
examination.

CivilServicesMainsExam2015Syllabus
Thewrittenexaminationwillconsistofthefollowingpapers:

Paper A Modern Indian language 300 Marks Qualifying nature Marks not counted Passing
mandatory

(i)Comprehensionofgivenpassages.

(ii)PrecisWriting

(iii)UsageandVocabulary.

(iv)ShortEssay

(v)TranslationfromEnglishtotheIndianlanguageandviceversa.

Note1: The Papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard
and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for
ranking.

Note2:ThecandidateswillhavetoanswertheEnglishandIndianLanguagespapersinEnglishand
therespectiveIndianlanguage(exceptwheretranslationisinvolved).

PaperBEnglish300marksQualifyingnatureMarksnotcountedPassingmandatory

Theaimofthepaperistotestthecandidates'abilitytoreadandunderstandseriousdiscursiveprose,
andtoexpresshisideasclearlyandcorrectly,inEnglishandIndianLanguageconcerned.

Thepatternofquestionswouldbebroadlyasfollows:

(i)Comprehensionofgivenpassages

(ii)PrecisWriting

(iii)UsageandVocabulary

(iv)ShortEssay.

PaperI

Essay250MarksTobewritteninthemediumorlanguageofthecandidate'schoiceCandidates
willberequiredtowriteanessayonaspecifictopic.Thechoiceofsubjectswillbegiven.Theywillbe
expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to
writeconcisely.Creditwillbegivenforeffectiveandexactexpression.
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PaperII

General StudiesI 250 Marks (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and
Society)

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
moderntimes.

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant
events,personalities,issues

TheFreedomStruggleitsvariousstagesandimportantcontributors/contributionsfromdifferentparts
ofthecountry.

Postindependenceconsolidationandreorganizationwithinthecountry.

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,socialismetc.theirformsandeffectonthesociety.

SalientfeaturesofIndianSociety,DiversityofIndia.

Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmentalissues,urbanization,theirproblemsandtheirremedies.

EffectsofglobalizationonIndiansociety

Socialempowerment,communalism,regionalism&secularism.

Salientfeaturesofworld'sphysicalgeography.

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
variouspartsoftheworld(includingIndia)

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
geographical features and their location changes in critical geographical features (including water
bodiesandicecaps)andinfloraandfaunaandtheeffectsofsuchchanges.

PaperIII

General Studies II: 250 Marks (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International
relations)

Indian Constitution historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions

andbasicstructure.

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the
federalstructure,devolutionofpowersandfinancesuptolocallevelsandchallengestherein.

Separationofpowersbetweenvariousorgansdisputeredressalmechanismsandinstitutions.

ComparisonoftheIndianconstitutionalschemewiththatofothercountries

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16/10/2015 MainExaminationSyllabusforIAS,UPSCMainsSyllabus2015,Civilsmains2015syllabus,Civilservicesmainsexam2015

ParliamentandStateLegislaturesstructure,functioning,conductofbusiness,powers&privilegesand
issuesarisingoutofthese.

Structure,organizationandfunctioningoftheExecutiveandtheJudiciaryMinistriesandDepartments
oftheGovernmentpressuregroupsandformal/informalassociationsandtheirroleinthePolity.

SalientfeaturesoftheRepresentationofPeople'sAct.

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various

ConstitutionalBodies.

Statutory,regulatoryandvariousquasijudicialbodies

Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
theirdesignandimplementation.

Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and
associations,donors,charities,institutionalandotherstakeholders

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performanceoftheseschemesmechanisms,laws,institutionsand

Bodiesconstitutedfortheprotectionandbettermentofthesevulnerablesections.

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,

Education,HumanResources.

Issuesrelatingtopovertyandhunger.

Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, egovernance applications,

models, successes, limitations, and potential citizens charters, transparency & accountability and
institutionalandothermeasures.

Roleofcivilservicesinademocracy.

Indiaanditsneighborhoodrelations.

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's
interests

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

ImportantInternationalinstitutions,agenciesandfora,theirstructure,mandate.

PAPERIV

General Studies III 250 Marks (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment,
SecurityandDisasterManagement)

Development,Biodiversity,Environment,SecurityandDisasterManagement.

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

GovernmentBudgeting.

Majorcropscroppingpatternsinvariouspartsofthecountry,differenttypesofirrigationandirrigation
systemsstorage,transportandmarketingofagriculturalproduceandissuesandrelatedconstraintse
technologyintheaidoffarmers

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
Technologymissions

economicsofanimalrearing.

Food processing and related industries in India scope and significance, location, upstream and
downstreamrequirements,supplychainmanagement.

LandreformsinIndia.

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

Infrastructure:Energy,Ports,Roads,Airports,Railwaysetc.

Investmentmodels.

Science and Technology developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
AchievementsofIndiansinscience&technology

indigenizationoftechnologyanddevelopingnewtechnology.

AwarenessinthefieldsofIT,Space,Computers,robotics,nanotechnology,biotechnologyandissues
relatingtointellectualpropertyrights.

Conservation,environmentalpollutionanddegradation,environmentalimpactassessment

Disasteranddisastermanagement.

Linkagesbetweendevelopmentandspreadofextremism.

Roleofexternalstateandnonstateactorsincreatingchallengestointernalsecurity.

Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking
sitesininternalsecuritychallenges,basicsofcybersecuritymoneylaunderinganditsprevention

Securitychallengesandtheirmanagementinborderareaslinkagesoforganizedcrimewithterrorism

VariousSecurityforcesandagenciesandtheirmandate

PaperV

GeneralStudiesIV250Marks(Ethics,IntegrityandAptitude)

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This paper will include questions to test the candidates' attitude and approach to issues relating to
integrity,probityinpubliclifeandhisproblemsolvingapproachtovariousissuesandconflictsfacedby
himindealingwithsociety.Questionsmayutilisethecasestudyapproachtodeterminetheseaspects.
Thefollowingbroadareaswillbecovered.

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions
dimensionsofethicsethicsinprivateandpublicrelationships.

HumanValueslessonsfromthelivesandteachingsofgreatleaders,reformersandadministrators
roleoffamily,societyandeducationalinstitutionsininculcatingvalues.

Attitude: content, structure, function its influence and relation with thought and behaviour moral and
politicalattitudessocialinfluenceandpersuasion.

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

Emotionalintelligenceconcepts,andtheirutilitiesandapplicationinadministrationandgovernance.

ContributionsofmoralthinkersandphilosophersfromIndiaandworld.

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
sourcesofethicalguidanceaccountabilityandethicalgovernancestrengtheningofethicalandmoral
valuesingovernance

ethicalissuesininternationalrelationsandfundingcorporategovernance.

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,Workculture,Qualityofservicedelivery,Utilizationofpublicfunds,challengesofcorruption.

CaseStudiesonaboveissues.

PaperVI

OptionalSubjectPaperI250Marks

PaperVII

OptionalSubjectPaperII250Marks

CandidatesmaychooseanyONEoptionalsubjectfromamongstthelistofsubjectsgivenbelow.

Interview/PersonalityTest275Marks
Candidate can give preference of the language in which they may like to be interviewed. UPSC will
makearrangementforthetranslators.

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16/10/2015 MainExaminationSyllabusforIAS,UPSCMainsSyllabus2015,Civilsmains2015syllabus,Civilservicesmainsexam2015

NOTE:

Marks obtained by the candidates for all papers EXCEPT PAPER A & B will be counted for merit
ranking.However,theCommissionwillhavethediscretiontofixqualifyingmarksinanyorallpapersof
theexaminationAspirantscanlogontoUPSC'sofficialwebsite(www.upsc.gov.in)toseethedetailed
notification.

PartBMainExaminationOptionalSubjects

GeneralStudies(GeneralStudies/main AssameseMainSyllabus(Assamese/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
Essay(Essay/mainsyllabus.html) BengaliMainSyllabus(Bengali/main
EnglishQualifying(EnglishQualifying/main syllabus.html)
syllabus.html) ChineseMainSyllabus(Chinese/main
IndianLanguages(IndianLanguages/main syllabus.html)
syllabus.html) EnglishMainSyllabus(English/main
AgricultureMainSyllabus(Agriculture/main syllabus.html)
syllabus.html) FrenchMainSyllabus(French/main
AnimalHusbandry&VeterinaryScience(Animal syllabus.html)
Husbandry/mainsyllabus.html) GermanMainSyllabus(German/main
BotanyMainSyllabus(Botany/main syllabus.html)
syllabus.html) GujaratiMainSyllabus(Gujarati/main
ChemistryMainSyllabus(Chemistry/main syllabus.html)
(http://www.civilserviceindia.com/)
syllabus.html) HindiMainSyllabus(Hindi/mainsyllabus.html)
CivilEngineeringMainSyllabus(Civil KannadaMainSyllabus(Kannada/main
Engineering/mainsyllabus.html) syllabus.html)
CommerceMainSyllabus(Commerce/main KashmiriMainSyllabus(Kashmiri/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
EconomicsMainSyllabus(Economics/main KonkaniMainSyllabus(Konkani/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
ElectricalEngineeringMainSyllabus(Electrical MalayalamMainSyllabus(Malayalam/main
Engineering/mainsyllabus.html) syllabus.html)
GeographyMainSyllabus(Geography/main ManipuriMainSyllabus(Manipuri/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
GeologyMainSyllabus(Geology/main MarathiMainSyllabus(Marathi/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
IndianHistoryMainSyllabus(History/main NepaliMainSyllabus(Nepali/mainsyllabus.html)
syllabus.html) OriyaMainSyllabus(Oriya/mainsyllabus.html)
LawMainSyllabus(Law/mainsyllabus.html) PersianMainSyllabus(Persian/main
MathematicsMainSyllabus(Mathematics/main syllabus.html)

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syllabus.html) PunjabiMainSyllabus(Punjabi/main
MechanicalEngineeringMainSyllabus syllabus.html)
(MechanicalEngineering/mainsyllabus.html) RussianMainSyllabus(Russian/main
MedicalScienceMainSyllabus(Medical syllabus.html)
Science/mainsyllabus.html) SanskritMainSyllabus(Sanskrit/main
PhilosophyMainSyllabus(Philosophy/main syllabus.html)
syllabus.html) SindhiMainSyllabus(Sindhi/mainsyllabus.html)
PhysicsMainSyllabus(Physics/main TamilMainSyllabus(Tamil/mainsyllabus.html)
syllabus.html) (http://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/suggestedreading.html)
TeluguMainSyllabus(Telugu/main
PoliticalScienceMainSyllabus(Political syllabus.html)
Science/mainsyllabus.html) UrduMainSyllabus(Urdu/mainsyllabus.html)
PsychologyMainSyllabus(Psychology/main ManagementMainSyllabus(Management/main
syllabus.html) syllabus.html)
PublicAdministrationMainSyllabus(Public
Administration/mainsyllabus.html)
SociologyMainSyllabus(Sociology/main
syllabus.html)
StatisticsMainSyllabus(Statistics/main
syllabus.html)
ZoologyMainSyllabus(Zoology/main
syllabus.html)
AnthropologyMainSyllabus(Anthropology/main
syllabus.html)
ArabicMainSyllabus(Arabic/mainsyllabus.html)

IASmainquestionpapers2014
GeneralStudiesQuestionPaperI(2014)(../upsc_questions/GENERAL_STUDIES_Imains14.pdf)[PDF
Format]
GeneralStudiesQuestionPaperII(2014)(../upsc_questions/GENERAL_STUDIES_IImains14.pdf)[PDF
Format]
GeneralStudiesQuestionPaperIII(2014)(../upsc_questions/GENERAL_STUDIES_IIImains14.pdf)
[PDFFormat]
GeneralStudiesQuestionPaperIV(2014)(../upsc_questions/GENERAL_STUDIES_IVmains14.pdf)
[PDFFormat]

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