What is the Syllabus of Mains exam?

Now, there are a total of 9 papers in the UPSC syllabus for the mains examination which includes 1 essay, 2 language papers, 4 General Studies papers and 2 optional papers.

Keeping in mind the UPSC Mains Syllabus , let me discuss a few important points.

Syllabus of UPSC Mains Essay

The UPSC syllabus for Essay in the Mains exam is not specifically defined. According to the UPSC, you are expected to keep a close watch on the subject of the essay topic and to write your points and ideas in an orderly and concise fashion.

In this paper, you would need to write 2 essays from a list of given topics. The maximum marks for this paper is 250 marks.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies 1 (GS 1)

The IAS/IPS syllabus for GS 1 includes the Culture, History, Heritage & Geography of India and the World. I have listed down below the points in detail:

Culture of India: Major aspects of the various Indian art forms, Architecture & literature of India, from ancient to modern India.

• Modern Indian History

1. Personalities from the mid 18th century to the present, issues, Important events, etc.
2. Stages of the freedom struggle and the people who played a part in it.
3. History from the post-independence perspective and the reorganization and consolidation of the Indian states following that.

• World History

1. World events from the 18th century onwards and their effects on society & the world at large. (Industrial Revolution, World Wars, delineation of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, effects of political philosophies like communism, capitalism, etc.)

• Society

1. Society of India, its diversity and important aspects.
2. Population and issues related to it, the role of women and women-led organizations in Indian societies, poverty, and development-related issues, urbanization, problems due to it and solutions, etc.
3. Communalism, regionalism, & secularism in India, social empowerment.
4. Globalization and its effects on Indian society.

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General studies 2 (GS 2)

The IAS/IPS syllabus for GS 2 includes the subjects of Polity, Constitution, Governance, International Relations, and Social Justice. I have listed below the points in detail:

• Polity and Indian Constitution

1. Responsibilities and functions of the Union & States, challenges and issues related to the federal structure, finances, and devolution of powers down to the local levels, and the challenges that lie therein.
2. Segregation of power between the various government bodies, redressal mechanisms pertaining to conflict, and dispute management and the various institutions.
3. Organization, structure, and functions of the Judiciary, legislature, & Executive.
4. State and Parliamentary legislatures:

• Social Justice

1. Welfare schemes issued by the Centre and states for vulnerable sections, the performance of these schemes; laws, mechanisms, bodies and institutions set up for the protection, and development of the vulnerable sections.
2. Issues in development and management of the social/service sectors.
3. Problems pertaining to hunger and poverty.

• Governance

1. Key aspects of governance, e-governance- applications, successes, potential, accountability and transparency, models, limitations; citizen charters, and other measures.
2. The role of Civil Services in a democracy.

• International Relations

1. The effects of policies and politics of other countries on Indian interests and the Indian diaspora.
2. Key international entities, institutions, agencies, their mandates, and structures.

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General studies 3 (GS 3)

The UPSC Mains syllabus for GS 3 includes the subjects of Economic Development, Environment, Disaster Management & Security, Technology, and Biodiversity. I have listed below the points in detail:

• Economy

1. The economy of Indian and planning-related issues.
2. Government budgeting.
3. Inclusive growth and issues/challenges associated with it.
4. Liberalization and its effects on the economy (post-1991).

• Science & Technology

1. Recent technological developments and their effects.
2. Indians and their achievements in science & technology.
3. Indigenous technological innovation and the development of new tech.
4. General Awareness of Space, IT, Robotics, Computers, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.

• Environment

1. Conservation
2. Pollution of the environment and its degradation
3. EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)

• Disaster Management (Act, laws, etc.)
• Security

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General studies 4 (GS 4)

The IAS/IPS syllabus for GS 4 includes topics that will test you on your sense of Integrity, Ethics, and Aptitude.

I have listed below the major topics from the UPSC GS 4 Syllabus in detail:

• Human Interface & Ethics

1. The essence of ethics, the determinants & consequences in human interaction.
2. Dimensions of Ethics
3. The role of one’s family, society, and educational institutes in developing ethical and moral values in him/her.

• Attitude

1. The content of attitude.
2. The influence of attitude in behavior and thought.
3. The relation of attitude to behavior and thought.
4. Political and Moral attitudes.

• Aptitude

1. The foundational values and aptitude of civil services.
2. Integrity
3. Non-partisanship and impartiality.
4. Compassion towards society’s weaker sections.

• Emotional Intelligence

1. The concept of emotional intelligence
2. The application and utility of emotional intelligence.

• Contributions of Philosophers and Thinkers
• Ethics in Public Administration and Civil/public service values

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Optional subject

For the optional subject papers, you need to choose a subject of which you have an in-depth understanding.

The UPSC allows you to choose one optional subject from out of a total of 26 different subjects. There’ll be 2 papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2 of 250 marks each pertaining to the subject that you choose.

Also check: UPSC Exam Pattern

UPSC Syllabus for Language Papers:

Literature subjects for language papers likewise the UPSC optional subjects, are a part of the Mains Exam, in these papers there’d be:

• An essay question of 100 marks where you’d have to select one out of a few given topics.
• 5-6 questions related to reading comprehension: of a maximum of 60 marks.
• Precis writing questions worth 60 marks which you’d have to attempt on special answer sheets with grid lines.
• Translation-based questions: English to the chosen Indian language & vice versa for 20 marks each, totaling 40 marks.
• Questions based on grammar, synonyms, sentence corrections, and basic language usage, of a total of 40 marks.