UPSC Syllabus 2025 for IAS Prelims, Mains & Optional
The Upcoming UPSC Mains 2025 Exam is scheduled from 22 August, 2025 which will continue for 5 days including papers GS Paper I, GS Paper II, GS Paper III, GS Paper IV, Essay and Optional Paper. The UPSC CSE Examination is conducted in 3 stages i.e. Prelims, Mains and Interview. This article below contains a detailed syllabus of UPSC Preliminary and Mains examination including Scoring Patterns.
UPSC Syllabus/IAS Syllabus and Scoring Pattern
Check out the individual scoring pattern of the UPSC civil service examination per stage and per examination paper from the below table.
|
UPSC Exam Stages |
Exam Papers |
Contributed Score |
|
UPSC Prelims |
General Studies Paper I (GS-I) |
200 (used for screening only, not counted in final merit) |
|
General Studies Paper II (CSAT) |
200 (qualifying only, must score ≥33%) |
|
|
UPSC Mains |
Paper A: Indian Language (Qualifying) |
300 (Qualifying; must score ≥25%) |
|
Paper B: English (Qualifying) |
300 (Qualifying; must score ≥25%) |
|
|
Paper I: Essay |
250 |
|
|
Paper II: General Studies I |
250 |
|
|
Paper III: General Studies II |
250 |
|
|
Paper IV: General Studies III |
250 |
|
|
Paper V: General Studies IV |
250 |
|
|
Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper I |
250 |
|
|
Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper II |
250 |
|
|
Interview |
Personality Test |
275 |
|
UPSC Final Score |
- |
2025 |
Know about UPSC Commission - History, Functions, Exams and more!
UPSC Beginners Program
Get UPSC Beginners Program - 60 Days Foundation Course SuperCoaching @ just
People also like
UPSC Prelims Syllabus/IAS Prelims Syllabus
This section contains complete UPSC Prelims syllabus topics of GS Paper and CSAT Paper. UPSC Prelims is an elimination examination and is not included in the UPSC final merit scores for qualification.
Check out the highlight table below containing key information regarding UPSC Prelims.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Type |
Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) |
|
Number of Papers |
2 (General Studies Paper I and CSAT – Paper II) |
|
Total Marks |
400 (200 marks per paper) |
|
Duration per Paper |
2 hours each |
|
Negative Marking |
Yes (⅓rd of marks deducted for each wrong answer) |
|
Language of Exam |
English and Hindi (except questions related to English language) |
|
Nature of Prelims |
Screening test (marks not counted in final merit) |
Syllabus is the most important part of starting your UPSC journey. There are no specific marks allotted for each subject. Only by learning the whole UPSC syllabus topics, you have higher chances of clearing the cutoff for Mains.
UPSC Prelims Subject-Wise Weightage
UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Syllabus
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization
- General Science
UPSC Prelims CSAT Syllabus
- English Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) – Class X level
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc.) – Class X level
NOTE: The CSAT paper is qualifying in nature. The candidate must score at least 33% (66 marks) to qualify.
Know the detailed UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025
UPSC Mains Syllabus
This descriptive paper of UPSC Mains demands a deeper learning and knowledge of the complete IAS syllabus. Each paper is essential to achieve higher marks in the all over Mains examination and qualify for the interview round.
Prepare with UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice Questions with Model Answers!
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Type |
Descriptive (Written) |
|
Number of Papers |
9 |
|
Total Marks |
1,750 (for merit ranking) + 600 (qualifying papers) |
|
Language of Examination |
English, Hindi, or any Eighth Schedule Language (as chosen by candidate) |
|
Duration per Paper |
3 Hours |
|
Qualifying Papers |
Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks) Paper B – English (300 marks) |
|
Papers Counted for Merit |
Essay (250), GS I–IV (4 × 250), Optional Subject Paper I & II (2 × 250) |
|
Total Marks for Merit |
1,750 (7 papers × 250 marks each) |
|
Minimum Qualifying Criteria |
25% in each qualifying paper (A & B) |
|
Optional Subjects |
One subject to be chosen from list of 48 optionals |
|
Subjects Covered (GS Papers) |
History, Geography, Polity, Governance, Economy, Environment, Ethics, International Relations, Technology, Disaster Management, etc. |
UPSC Mains - GS Paper 1 Syllabus
Indian Heritage and Culture
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Modern Indian History
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present
- Significant events, personalities, issues
- The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
History of the World
- Events from the 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
Indian Society
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
Geography
- Salient features of world’s physical geography
- 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)
- Important geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, etc.,
- Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
Know UPSC Mains GS Paper I Syllabus in Detail.
UPSC Mains - GS Paper 2 Syllabus
Indian Constitution and Polity
- Evolution, historical underpinnings, features, significant provisions, amendments, and basic structure
- Comparison of the Indian Constitution with that of other countries
- Separation of powers between organs of the state and related dispute redressal mechanisms
- Federal structure: Issues, challenges, and devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
- Constitutional posts: Appointment, powers, functions, and responsibilities
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
- Statutory, regulatory, and quasi-judicial bodies
- Role and structure of the Executive, Judiciary, Parliament, and State Legislatures; powers, privileges, and functioning
Governance and Public Administration
- Government policies and interventions for development and their implementation issues
- Development processes and the development industry: Role of NGOs, SHGs, and other stakeholders
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; mechanisms, laws, and institutions for their protection and betterment
- Issues related to health, education, human resources, poverty, and hunger
- E-governance: Applications, models, successes, limitations, and citizen charters
- Transparency, accountability, and related institutional measures
- Role of civil services in a democracy
International Relations
- India and its neighborhood relations
- Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving or affecting India
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests and the Indian diaspora
- Important international institutions, agencies, and fora—their structure and mandate
Know UPSC Mains GS Paper II Syllabus in Detail.
UPSC Mains - GS Paper 3 Syllabus
Indian Economy and Economic Development
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development, and employment
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
- Government budgeting
- Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country
- Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
- Storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural produce
- Issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices (MSP)
- Public Distribution System (PDS) – objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping
- Food processing and related industries in India – scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management
- Land reforms in India
- Effects of liberalization on the economy (post-1991 reforms), changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
- Infrastructure – energy, ports, roads, airports, railways
- Investment models – Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), etc.
Science and Technology
- Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and development of new technology
- Awareness in the fields of IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology
- Issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPRs)
Environment and Ecology
- Conservation
- Environmental pollution and degradation
- Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
- Disaster and disaster management
Internal Security
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
- 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
- Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism
- Various security forces and agencies and their mandate
Know UPSC Mains GS Paper III Syllabus in Detail.
UPSC Mains - GS Paper 4 Syllabus
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
Attitude
- Content, structure, function of attitude
- Its influence and relation with thought and behavior
- Moral and political attitudes
- Social influence and persuasion
Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Services
- Integrity
- Impartiality and non-partisanship
- Objectivity
- Dedication to public service
- Empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards the weaker sections
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
- Concepts of emotional intelligence
- Utility and application of EI in administration and governance
Contributions of Thinkers and Philosophers
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
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
Probity in Governance
- Concept of public service
- Philosophical basis of governance and probity
- Information sharing and transparency in government
- Right to Information (RTI)
- Codes of ethics
- Codes of conduct
- Citizen’s Charters
- Work culture
- Quality of service delivery
- Utilization of public funds
- Challenges of corruption
Case Studies
- Based on the above topics to test the candidate’s ability to apply ethical principles and values in decision-making
Know the UPSC Mains GS Paper IV Syllabus in Detail
UPSC Mains Paper A Syllabus
Language Options (as per the Eighth Schedule)
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
NOTE: This paper is qualifying in nature. The minimum qualifying mark is 25% (75 marks out of 300). Marks in this paper are not counted in the merit ranking. Candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim are exempted from Paper A.
Know the UPSC Mains Language Paper Syllabus in Detail.
UPSC Mains Paper B Syllabus
English
- Comprehension of Given Passages
- Precis Writing
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Short Essay Writing
NOTE: This paper is intended to test the basic English language skills of the candidate. The minimum qualifying mark is 25% (i.e., 75 out of 300 marks). Marks obtained in this paper are not counted for merit ranking. Failure to qualify in this paper will result in the candidate's remaining Mains papers not being evaluated.
UPSC Optional Syllabus
Optional papers are the most important part of IAS Mains containing a total of 500 marks including 250 marks each. Choose the optional paper wisely as it may increase or reduce your chances of success in the final UPSC qualification.
|
UPSC Mains Optional Syllabus |
|||
|
UPSC Mains Political Science & International Relations Syllabus |
|||
Hope you found this article on UPSC CSE Syllabus informative and helpful. Download the IAS Syllabus PDF provided in this article above and refer to it while preparing for the UPSC Exam 2025. If you have any doubts, do let us know in the comment section below. Start preparing for various competitive examinations with the help of the Testbook App for free.
Check out topic-wise UPSC Notes/IAS Preparation Notes
Other Important Links Related to UPSC Preparation:
- UPSC Booklist for Prelims and Mains
- NCERT Notes for UPSC Preparation 2025
- UPSC Essay PYQ Topics with Answers
- UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis 2025
- Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers
- UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Preparation Strategy
- UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 Preparation Strategy
- UPSC Mains GS Paper 3 Preparation Strategy
- UPSC Mains GS Paper 4 Preparation Strategy
