The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination is a written descriptive test consisting of 9 papers (7 merit-ranking papers and 2 qualifying language papers) for a total of 1,750 marks.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Nature | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Compulsory Indian Language (from 8 th Schedule) | 3 Hours | Qualifying (Minimum 25%) | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 3 Hours | Qualifying (Minimum 25%) | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (GS-1) | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (GS-2) | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (GS-3) | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (GS-4) | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 3 Hours | Merit-Ranking | 250 |
| Total Written Marks | 1,750 |
(Note: The Personality Test / Interview carries 275 marks, bringing the Grand Total to 2,025 marks.)
Paper B (English): Comprehension, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Short Essay.
Candidates are required to write two essays from a choice of topics (usually divided into Section A and Section B, often touching upon philosophical ideas, society, policy, economy, and global issues).
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
Indian Constitution: Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure doctrine.
Union and States: Functions and responsibilities, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels, and challenges therein.
Structure & Separation of Powers: Dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers, privileges, and issues arising out of these.
Executive and Judiciary: Structure, organization, functioning; Ministries and Departments; Pressure groups and formal/informal associations.
Representation of People’s Act: Salient features.
Constitutional & Non-Constitutional Bodies: Appointment to various constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of statutory, regulatory, and quasi-judicial bodies.
Government Policies & Governance: Interventions for development in various sectors; Development processes and the development industry (NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities); E-governance (applications, models, successes, limitations); Transparency, accountability, citizens' charters, institutional measures; Role of civil services in a democracy.
Social Justice: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (Union and States); Performance and mechanisms protecting these sections; Issues relating to development and management of social sector/services (Health, Education, Human Resources); Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
International Relations: India and its neighborhood relations; Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests; Effect of policies and politics of developed/developing countries on India's interests and the Indian diaspora; Important international institutions, agencies, and fora (structure, mandate).
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
Agriculture: Major cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems; Storage, transport, and marketing of agricultural produce; Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and MSP; Public Distribution System (PDS) objectives, functioning, limitations, food security, buffer stocks; Technology missions; Economics of animal-rearing; Land reforms in India.
Industrial Sector & Infrastructure: Effects of liberalization on the economy, industrial policy changes and their impact on industrial growth; Infrastructure (Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways); Investment models.
Science and Technology: Developments and their applications/effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in S&T; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology; Awareness in fields like IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
Environment & Disaster Management: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); Disaster and disaster management.
Internal Security: Linkages between development and the spread of extremism; Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Challenges through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in security challenges; Basics of cyber security; Money-laundering and its prevention; Border areas security challenges and their management; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude (Includes direct theoretical questions and practical Case Studies)
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 lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators); Role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Attitude: Content, structure, function; Its influence and relation with thought and behavior; Moral and political attitudes; Social influence and persuasion.
Aptitude & Foundational Values for Civil Services: Integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion towards weaker sections.
Emotional Intelligence: Concepts, utilities, and application in administration and governance.
Philosophical Thinkers: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
Public/Civil Service Values & 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 ethical values in governance; Ethical issues in international relations and funding.
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency; 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: Practical scenarios testing the application of the above principles in administrative decision-making.
Candidates can choose one optional subject from a list of 26 subjects (or literature of one language) prescribed by UPSC. The two papers test deep academic and analytical knowledge of that chosen discipline up to an honors/post-graduate degree level.
List of Available Optionals
Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations (PSIR), Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology.