All about UPSC CSE
UPSC CSE - COMPLETE GUIDE
Topics to be covered:
1. Exam Pattern2. Syllabus
3. Sources
4. Ideal Schedule
5. Do's and Dont's
6. Revision
7. Current affairs
8. Notes
9. Test series
10. Consistency
Exam Pattern :
Age limits:
- General category: 32 years ( 6 attempts only)
- OBC: 35 years ( 9 attempts only)
- SC/ ST: 37 years ( unlimited attempts)
Reference date: 1st of August in the exam year
Minimum age limit: 21 years
Plan of Examination:
Civil service examination will consist of 2 successive stages:
- Prelims ( Objective type) for selection of mains exam
- Mains ( written and interview) foe selection of candidates for various services and posts.
Syllabus and sources
Prelims Pattern:
MCQ type
2 papers each for 200 marks ( GS and CSAT)
GS syllabus:
Paper - 1 ( 200 marks) Duration : 2 hrs
- 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, bio- diversity and climate change- that do not require subject specialization
- General science
Paper - 2 ( 200 marks) Duration:
- 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 ( class 10 level) data interpretation ( charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc - class 10 level
Note 2: The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type
Mains pattern:
Consists of 9 papers out of which 2 are qualifying papers ( the language papers A and B).
Total marks for both language papers is 300 marks and the qualifying marks is 30%. Language papers are just qualifying papers only.
The other papers are Essay, GS1, GS2, GS3, GS4 and optional which is 2 papers. These 7 papers will be included to decide the merit.
GS papers will be evaluated only when the language papers have the minimum qualifying marks.
Language papers
Qualifying papers of Indian languages and English
English is compulsory and any of the Indian languages mentioned in 8th schedule.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows:
- Comprehension of given passages
- Precise writing
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Short essays
- Comprehension of given passages
- Precise writing
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Short essays
- Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa
Mains syllabus:
GS 1
- History ( modern, art and culture, world, post independence)
- Geography
- Indian society
- Polity
- Governance
- Social issues
- International relations
- Indian economy ( special focus on agriculture)
- Environment
- Science and technology
- Disaster management
- Internal security
- Ethical theories
- Contributions of thinkers
- Applied ethics
- Case studies
General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
History
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- 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 will include events from 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, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Indian Polity
- Indian Constitution— historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
- Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
- Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various
- Constitutional Bodies.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Governance
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
- Role of civil services in a democracy.
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 and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Indian Economy
- 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 and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
- 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; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
- 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, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models.
Science & Tech
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Environment & Disaster Management
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
- 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, 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.
UPSC General Studies 4 Syllabus
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Theory Section
This paper will include questions to test the candidate’s attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered:
- 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; its Influence and Relation with Thought and Behaviour; Moral and Political Attitudes; Social Influence and Persuasion.
- Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service, Integrity, Impartiality and Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the weaker sections.
Emotional Intelligence-Concepts, and their Utilities and Application in Administration and Governance. - 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, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work Culture, Quality of Service Delivery, Utilization of Public Funds, Challenges of Corruption.
Case Studies Section
Case Studies on the above issues.
Optional subjects:
- Agriculture
- Animal husbandry and veterinary science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil engineering
- Commerce and accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical enginerring
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical engineering
- Medical science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political science and international relations
- Psychology
- Public administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
- Literature of any one of these languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujrati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkan, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English
Booklist
- NCERTS
- Prelims and mains special books
Interview pattern
Candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest based on current affairs and DAF (detailed application form). Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, ability of social cohesion and leadership, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, intellectual and moral integrity, variety and depth of interest.
Do's and Dont's
- Understand , don't memorize
- Prioritize
- Get feedback
- Don't read multiple resources
Ideal study schedule:
Aim for 50 hours of study/ week
Revision can be 1 hr everyday or 1 day every week
Give yourself some break at times. ( we are not machines)
Avoid procrastination
Current affairs:
Start reading newspaper and cover 12 months of current affairs before the exam .
All the best.
For specific booklist for UPSC CSE preparation and regarding which NCERTs to read check our other blogs. Thank you
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