Home   »   UPSC Exam   »   UPSC Syllabus 2024

UPSC Syllabus 2024 – IAS Prelims and Mains Syllabus PDF

UPSC Syllabus 2024 has released by Union Public Service Commission along with Official notification on 14 February 2024 in the PDF Format. The UPSC 2024 Syllabus for the IAS exam is comprehensive and covers various subjects to assess a candidate’s knowledge, aptitude, and analytical abilities. In this article, you will get the detailed UPSC civil services exam syllabus for every stage and the UPSC Syllabus PDF Download 2024 from the link below. UPSC Exam 2024 consists of three stages:

  • Preliminary Examination- General Studies & CSAT
  • Main Examination- 9 Theory Papers (GS I-IV, Language Papers, Essay & Optional)
  • Interview (Personality Test)

UPSC Syllabus 2024

The UPSC Syllabus 2024 covers a wide range of topics like :-

  • Indian History
  • Culture
  • Geography
  • Polity
  • Governance
  • Economy
  • Science and Technology
  • Environment and Ecology
  • International Relations
  • Current Affairs.

With the help of a detailed Syllabus of UPSC, candidates can easily rectify which topics, news articles, information, and current affairs are required to read. It’s crucial to be familiar with the syllabus of UPSC if you want to succeed in the upcoming UPSC Civil Services 2024. All of the UPSC IAS Exam toppers have one thing in common, they always follow the Syllabus.

The Syllabus of UPSC varies depending on the different stages. In order to get the right candidates out of lakhs of applicants for the renowned services, they examine many qualities and aspects of the candidate. Read the complete article for a detailed UPSC 2024 Syllabus.

UPSC Syllabus PDF Download 2024

UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF is given to candidates with better and more detailed information on the UPSC Syllabus 2024. You can download the UPSC detailed Syllabus PDF from the link provided here. Click on the mentioned link for the UPSC Syllabus and Exam pattern PDF download 2024.

UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF Download
UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF Download

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024

UPSC IAS Prelims marks the primary phase of the Civil Services Examination. In 2023, over 11 lakh aspirants registered for the UPSC Prelims, a notable increase from the roughly 10 lakh applicants in 2022. Explore the journey and significance of these escalating numbers in the pursuit of becoming esteemed civil servants. Exam Pattern for Prelims consists of two objective-type papers, including:

  • General Studies Paper I 
  • General Studies Paper II (CSAT – Civil Services Aptitude Test).

As the preliminary exam qualifies applicants for the main examination, it is crucial to understand the UPSC Prelims syllabus. All candidates for the UPSC Exam must first become familiar with the UPSC Exam Pattern 2024 and Civil Services Exam Syllabus before continuing their studies.If candidates want to perform well on the UPSC Exam 2024, one year of preparation is a requirement. If you want to have a structured and efficient preparation phase where you may enhance your notions and clear up any topic-related questions, this almost one-year schedule is essential. Check the UPSC Exam Pattern for the Prelims Exam in the table below:

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2024
Particulars Details
Two Compulsory Papers General Studies Paper-I
General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)
Number of Questions Asked in GS Paper-I 100 Questions
Number of Questions Asked in CSAT 80 Questions and is Qualifying in nature
Total Number of Marks
  • GS Paper-I – 200 Marks
  • CSAT – 200 Marks
Negative Marking 1/3 of the total marks allotted to the question will be deducted for every wrong answer
Time Allotted Two hours each;

  • GS Paper-I – 2 Hours (9:30 AM -11:30 AM)
  • CSAT – 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

UPSC Prelims syllabus 2024 is divided into two papers, i.e., General Studies Paper 1 and General Studies Paper 2. UPSC Prelims 2024 exam will be held on 26th May 2024. Here, we have discussed the complete UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 for both papers: IAS Prelims Exam Two Papers in Detail

UPSC CSE 2024 General Studies Paper 1 Syllabus

General Studies 1 of the UPSC Preliminary syllabus mainly consists of History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology, General Science and Current Affairs events. UPSC categorizes the General Studies Prelims Paper 1 Syllabus into the following broad categories:

Unit 01

  • Current events of national and international importance

Unit 02

  • History of India and Indian national movement

Unit 03

  • Indian and world geography
    • Physical, social, economic geography of India and the world

Unit 04

  • Indian polity and governance
    • Constitution, political system, panchayati raj, public policy, rights issues, etc

Unit 05

  • Economic and social development
    • Sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc

 Unit 06

  • General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change

Unit 07

  • General science

UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2024

General Studies 2 of UPSC Prelims Paper 2 is also known as the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper. This paper was first introduced in 2011 as a compulsory qualifying paper for every candidate. This is a part of the UPSC Preliminary examination in order to assess the aptitude, analytical skills, and reasoning ability of the candidate. To qualify for this paper, a minimum of 33% (66 marks) is required for every candidate.

Unit 01

  • Comprehension

Unit 02

  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills

Unit 03

  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability

Unit 04

  • Decision-making and problem-solving

Unit 05

  • General mental ability

Unit 06

  • Basic numeracy
    • Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. – Class X level

Unit 07

  • Data interpretation
    • Charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2024

IAS Mains Syllabus consisted of 9 conventional/theoretical papers out of which 2 are qualifying papers of 300 marks each and the remaining 7 papers’ marks are counted for the final merit list. Every paper has its own significance. The UPSC Mains 2024 examination will be held on 20th September 2024 and will be conducted in 5 days by the commission. The UPSC CSE Mains Examination’s objective is to assess the overall intellectual abilities and level of understanding of candidates instead of just testing candidates’ knowledge and memory. The UPSC Mains Syllabus 2024 is described below in detail.

Paper UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2024 Marks
Paper-I Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice) 250
Paper-II General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) 250
Paper-III General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) 250
Paper-IV General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) 250
Paper-V General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) 250
Paper-VI Optional Subject – Paper I 250
Paper-VII Optional Subject – Paper II 250

UPSC Mains Qualifying Papers 2024

There are two qualifying papers included in the UPSC Mains 2024 exam:

  • Any Indian Language Paper
  • English Language Paper

The purpose of these papers is to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude for reading and comprehending serious discursive prose as well as for expressing ideas in the relevant Indian and English languages in a clear and precise manner. Some important facts about these Qualifying Papers:

  • The marks obtained in these papers would not be used to determine to rank.
  • These papers are of a qualifying nature only (a minimum of 25% marks are required in each paper).
  • The marks a candidate obtains in other papers will not be taken into account or counted if they are disqualified for these language papers.
General Studies Paper Topics/Subject Covered
General Studies Paper I General Studies Paper I consists mainly of History and Geography of the World and Society, Indian Heritage and Culture. This paper mainly revolves around History, Geography and Society.
General Studies Paper II General Studies Paper II consists mainly of Polity, Constitution, Governance, Social Justice and International relations.
General Studies Paper III General Studies Paper III consists mainly of Economic Development, Technology, Environment, Biodiversity, Security and Disaster Management.
General Studies Paper IV General Studies Paper IV consists mainly of Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies I

The main topics of the first General Studies paper are the History, Heritage, Geography, and Culture of the World and Society. The commission has outlined the essential themes of the General Studies I syllabus, which is mentioned below for candidates.

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

  • Indian Culture: It covers the salient features of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient times to modern times.
  • Modern Indian History: It includes the significant events, personalities, and issues from the middle of the 18th century until now.
  • In The Freedom Struggle, Various stages, important contributors, and contributions from different parts of the country.
  • Consolidation and Reorganisation of the country after independence.
  • Events from the 18th century will be included in the history of the world, such as the Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawing of national borders, colonisation, and decolonization, as well as political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, and others—their manifestations and social effects.
  • Important characteristics of Indian society and India’s diversity.
  • The role of women and the organisation of women, population and related issues, poverty and developmental challenges, urbanisation, associated problems, and solutions.
  • The social effects of globalization in India.
  • Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism, and Social Empowerment.
  • Important physical geography characteristics of the world.
  • Distribution of major natural resources worldwide (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); determinants of where primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries are located globally (including India).
  • Critical geographic features and their location-changes in flora and fauna, as well as in water bodies and ice caps and the impact of such changes. Important geophysical phenomena include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, etc.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies II

The Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and Interrelations topics are covered in the UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies II paper. The detailed syllabus is provided to candidates below.

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

  • The basic structures, features, modifications, major provisions, and historical context of the Indian Constitution.
  • Functions and duties of the Union and the States, problems and difficulties with the federal system, and obstacles with the devolution of authority and resources to local levels.
  • Power separation between multiple organs, conflict resolution procedures, and institutions.
  • Comparing the Indian constitutional design to other countries’ systems
  • Structure, administration, business practices, powers, and privileges of the Parliament and State Legislatures, and challenges resulting from these.
  • Governmental Ministries and Departments; Pressure Group organizations and formal/informal associations; and their purpose in the Polity.
  • Structure, organisation, and operation of the Executive and the Judiciary.
  • The Representation of People’s Act’s key characteristics.
  • Appointment to several constitutional Bodies and their respective duties and responsibilities.
  • Statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial agencies; Government interventions for development in many sectors; Problems resulting from the planning and execution of these interventions.
  • The role of NGOs, SHGs, diverse groups and associations, funders, charities, institutional, and other stakeholders in development processes and the development industry.
  • Welfare programs put in place by the federal government and individual states for the population’s most vulnerable groups, as well as the effectiveness of these programs, institutions, laws, and other organizations created to safeguard and improve the lives of these vulnerable groups.
  • Issues about the growth and administration of the social sector and services in health, education, and human resources.
  • Hunger and poverty-related issues.
  • Transparency and accountability are crucial components of governance, as are e-governance applications, models, accomplishments, limitations, and possibilities; citizens’ charters, transparency & accountability. And institutional and other measurements.
  • The function of the civil service in a democracy
  • India’s relationship with its neighbors.
  • Groupings and agreements at the bilateral, regional, and international levels involving or impacting India and its interests.
  • Effect of developed and developing countries’ policies and politics on India’s interests and the diaspora.
  • Important international organizations, agencies, and forums: their makeup and objectives.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies III

The subjects of Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management, and Nature are thoroughly covered in UPSC Mains General Studies III. This paper will raise questions relating to many facets of life and recent developments in all areas of life.

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

  • Indian Economy, including planning, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment difficulties.
  • Inclusive growth and the problems it raises.
  • Budgeting of Government.
  • Major crops, patterns of cropping in various regions of the nation, various types of irrigation and irrigation systems, challenges with storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural products, and related limitations; the use of e-technology by farmers.
  • Concerns about buffer stocks and food security, direct and indirect farm subsidies, and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System goals, operations, and shortcomings; Technology missions; and the economics of animal husbandry.
  • Food processing and related sectors in India: their size and importance, where they are, what is needed upstream and downstream, and supply chain management.
  • Indian land reforms.
  • The economic implications of liberalization, changes to industrial policy, and how these affect the expansion of the industrial sector.
  • Infrastructure includes things like ports, roads, airports, and railroads.
  • Models for investments.
  • Science and technology breakthroughs and how they are used and impact daily life.
  • Scientific and technological advances made by Indians, indigenization of technology, and the creation of new technology.
  • Awareness of issues relating to intellectual property rights as well as IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.
  • Environmental impact assessment, pollution and degradation of the environment, and conservation.
  • Disasters and disaster management; Relationships between extremism’s growth and dissemination.
  • The contribution of non-state and state actors from outside to the problems with domestic security.
  • Threats to internal security posed by communication networks, the media’s and social media’s role in such threats, the fundamentals of cyber security, and money laundering and its prevention.
  • Security issues and how to manage them in border regions – connections between organized crime and terrorism.
  • The function of various security agencies and organizations.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies IV

This paper contains questions to assess the candidate’s attitude and approach toward matters relating to integrity, probity in public life, and their policy to problem-solving when dealing with various societal challenges and disputes. Questions may use the case study approach to determine these elements and cover area.

Ethics and Human Interaction:

  • The purpose, factors, and outcomes of ethical behavior in people; the dimensions of ethics; and the application of ethics in both personal and professional settings.

  • The importance of family community and educational institutions in instilling values may be seen in the study of human values, which draws lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators.

  • Moral and political attitudes:-

    • Social influence

    • Persuasion are all aspects of attitude that include its content

    • Structure

    • Function

    • Relationship to cognition and behavior.

  • Civil service aptitude and core principles include honesty:-

    • Objectivity

    • Non-partisanship

    • Dedication to public service

    • Empathy

    • Tolerance

    • Compassion for the weaker groups

  • Emotional intelligence concepts and their benefits and use in governance and administration:-

    • Contributions from moral philosophers and thinkers in India and around the world.

    • Public Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration

    • Status and Issues

    • Ethical Issues in International Relations and Funding

  • Corporate Governance; Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Conscience as Sources of Ethical Guidance. Accountability and Ethical Governance:-

    • Probity in governance includes the idea of public service

    • The philosophical underpinnings of governance and integrity

    • Information sharing and transparency in government

    • The right to information

    • Codes of ethics and conduct

    • Citizen’s charters

    • Workplace culture

    • Effectiveness of service delivery

    • Use of public resources

    • Challenges posed by corruption.

  • Case Studies on the concerns above

UPSC Syllabus 2024 For Essay Paper

Essays Writing on a wide range of topics will be asked of the candidates. They must write concisely and stick to the essay’s topic. They will also be expected to organize their thoughts. An essay is one of those papers where candidates can score better and improve their rank meticulously. The essay paper is divided into two sections, each containing 4 topics. Each essay you write obtains a score of 125, for 250 marks.Structure of The Language Papers: The language papers are divided into different sections to check candidates’ ideas clearly and correctly in every possible manner.

  • Essay – 100 marks
  • Reading comprehension – 60 marks
  • Precis Writing – 60 marks
  • Translation:
    • English to compulsory language (e.g., Hindi) – 20 marks
    • Compulsory language to English – 20 marks
  • Grammar and basic language usage – 40 marks

Patterns of The Language Papers are:

  • Comprehension of given passages.
  • Precis Writing.
  • Usage and Vocabulary.
  • Short Essays.
  • Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

After clearing the prelims, candidates can sit in the mains examination. The main General Studies paper consists of four papers. Check the table below for a better understanding of the General Studies paper of mains:

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Mains Essay Paper Analysis Here!

UPSC Optional Syllabus 2024 

The UPSC Optional Syllabus 2024 for Papers 6 and 7 includes both compulsory and optional subjects. These papers are crucial for candidates as they can score well in them, given that they are either graduation subjects or subjects of interest for the candidates.

Each optional subject has a comprehensive syllabus that candidates must read before making a decision. There are several factors consider while selecting the best optional subject for the UPSC mains exam, such as the syllabus, available resources for that subject, and the time required for preparation.

Candidates can check How to Choose UPSC Optional Subject-related queries and suggestions here.

List of UPSC Syllabus 2024 for Optional Subjects
UPSC Agriculture Syllabus UPSC Law Syllabus
UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Syllabus UPSC Management Syllabus
UPSC Anthropology Syllabus UPSC Mathematics Syllabus
UPSC Botany Syllabus UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus
UPSC Chemistry Syllabus UPSC Medical Science Syllabus
UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus UPSC Philosophy Syllabus
UPSC Commerce and Accountancy Syllabus UPSC Physics Syllabus
UPSC Economics Syllabus UPSC PSIR Syllabus
UPSC Electrical Engineering Syllabus UPSC Psychology Syllabus
UPSC Geography Syllabus UPSC Public Administration Syllabus
UPSC Geology Syllabus UPSC Sociology Syllabus
UPSC History Syllabus UPSC Statistics Syllabus
UPSC Zoology Syllabus

UPSC Literature Syllabus 2024

UPSC Assamese Literature Syllabus UPSC Marathi Literature Syllabus
UPSC Bodo Literature Syllabus UPSC Odia Literature Syllabus
UPSC Bengali Literature Syllabus UPSC Nepali Literature Syllabus
UPSC Dogri Literature Syllabus UPSC Sanskrit Literature Syllabus
UPSC Gujarati Literature Syllabus UPSC Punjabi Literature Syllabus
UPSC Hindi Literature Syllabus UPSC Sindhi Literature Syllabus
UPSC Kashmiri Literature Syllabus UPSC Santhali Literature Syllabus
UPSC Kannada Literature Syllabus UPSC Tamil Literature Syllabus
UPSC Malayalam Literature Syllabus UPSC Telugu Literature Syllabus
UPSC Konkani Literature Syllabus UPSC English Literature Syllabus
UPSC Manipuri Literature Syllabus UPSC Urdu Literature Syllabus
UPSC Maithili Literature Syllabus

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Optional Subject list 2024 Here!

UPSC Interview Syllabus 2024

The UPSC Interview 2024, which is the final stage of the UPSC Examination, does not have an established syllabus for the year 2024. The main objective of the personal interview process is to assess the candidate’s qualifications for a career in the civil service. Unlike the written exam, the interview is more of a purposeful dialogue that aims to probe the candidate’s mental capabilities and capacity for analysis. The written exam carries a maximum score of 1750 marks, while the interview is worth 275 points. The total score of both the written exam and the interview is 2025 marks, which will be used to create the final merit list.

Candidates can check UPSC Interview Tips and Strategies for better preparation.

Sharing is caring!

UPSC Syllabus 2024 FAQs

What are the subjects for UPSC CSE?

The main subjects of the UPSC CSE exam are History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology and Current Affairs.

Is UPSC CSE easy to crack?

Without a doubt, UPSC CSE is a tough exam. To crack this exam, candidates need proper planning, preparation and perseverance along with the proper guidance and strategy.

What are the 7 papers of UPSC?

In UPSC CSE mains exam, there are 7 papers which are counted for a merit namely Essay paper, General Studies paper I, II, III, IV and Optional paper 1 and 2.

What are the compulsory subjects in UPSC?

Except Indian Language and English paper, all other 7 papers out of 9 is a compulsory paper in UPSC CSE mains exam and compulsory subjects are History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Environment and Science and Tech.

Can a weak student crack IAS?

UPSC demands a basic educational qualification to appear in the UPSC CSE exam. This exam required only dedication and proper planning according to the syllabus, exam pattern and level of examination. So, there is no harm if you are weak.

What is the full syllabus of UPSC?

Current events of National & International importance. History of India & Indian National Movement. Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World. Indian Polity & Governance etc

How many subjects are taken in UPSC?

There are 25 subjects and 23 literature languages subjects to choose from.

Does UPSC have maths?

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Mains Exam comprises Mathematics as one of the Optional Subjects with 2 papers (Paper I and Paper II)

What is the IAS salary?

The IAS Officer Salary per Month in the beginning and at the entry level is ₹56100, which leads to ₹56100 – 132000 per month.

Is there optional subject in UPSC 2024?

There are 26 optional subjects in UPSC namely Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany etc.

What are the 5 compulsory subjects in UPSC?

History, geography, Indian politics and government, general science, and economic and social development are all compulsory subjects.

Which stage of UPSC is difficult?

Civil Services Preliminary Exam – the first step in UPSC CSE – is considered by many as the toughest stage.

Am I eligible for UPSC 2024?

The candidates must have attained 21 years of age and be less than 32 years of age as of 1st August 2024

यूपीएससी 2024 का सिलेबस क्या है?

जीएस पेपर 1 में इतिहास, भूगोल, अर्थशास्त्र, राजनीति और करंट अफेयर्स जैसे विषय हैं, जीएस पेपर 2 में बुनियादी मात्रात्मक तर्क, तार्किक तर्क, समझ और डीआई से संबंधित विषय हैं। यूपीएससी प्रीलिम्स में निगेटिव मार्किंग भी है।

How can I prepare for UPSC syllabus?

Here are some important steps for the preparation of UPSC Syllabus:
1. Understand the Exam
2. Create a Study Plan according to UPSC Syllabus
3. Stay updated with current affairs
4. Enhance Writing Skills
5. Seek guidance from toppers or experiences persons.

What are the subjects in IAS?

The main subjects for the UPSC Exam are Indian Politics, Indian Economy, International Relations, Science and Technology, Geography, History, Environment and Ecology, and related Current Affairs.

What is the syllabus for the Preliminary Examination?

The Preliminary Examination syllabus consists of two papers:

Paper I: General Studies
Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *