UPSC CSE Syllabus 2024 : UPSC IAS Syllabus for Prelims & Mains

• 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.

• 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, etc.) (Class X level), Data
• interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level)

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations

• 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.
• 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-governanceapplications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
  accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• 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.

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

• 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 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.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• 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.

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ 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 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 on above issues.

• Marks allotted for Interview is 275 marks.
• Prelims Marks are not included to Prepare Final Merit Preparation.