UPSC Civil Services Syllabus
The complete syllabus for the Civil Services Examination — Prelims, Mains, and Interview — broken down by paper and topic to guide your preparation strategy.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three successive stages: the Preliminary Examination (objective), the Main Examination (written), and the Personality Test (interview). The Preliminary Examination serves as a screening test — only candidates who qualify Prelims are eligible to appear for Mains. The Mains examination, comprising nine papers including four General Studies papers, an Essay paper, and an optional subject, determines the bulk of your final score. The Personality Test carries 275 marks and assesses your intellectual qualities and social traits.
Understanding the syllabus in detail is the foundation of any effective preparation strategy. Below, we have organised the entire syllabus by examination stage and paper, with topic-level breakdowns to help you plan your study schedule and track coverage systematically.
Prelims Syllabus
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective papers. Paper I (General Studies) is used for merit ranking, while Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying with a 33% threshold.
Mains Syllabus
The Main Examination comprises four General Studies papers (250 marks each), an Essay paper (250 marks), two optional subject papers (250 marks each), and two language qualifying papers.
Interview / Personality Test
The final stage of the Civil Services selection process, carrying 275 marks.
- Carries 275 marks
- Tests mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity
- Questions are based on the candidate's Detailed Application Form (DAF), current affairs, optional subject, state and district knowledge, and general awareness
- Not a test of specialised or general knowledge — rather a purposive conversation to assess suitability for a career in public service
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