UPSC CSE SYLLABUS

Indian Heritage and Culture

History and Geography of the World

Society

• Indian Culture: Salient Aspects of (from Ancient to Modern Times)
  • Art Forms
  • Literature
  • Architecture
• Modern Indian history: from about the Middle of The Eighteenth Century Until The Present:
  • Significant Events
  • Personalities
  • Issues
  • The Freedom Struggle:
  • Various Stages
  • Important Contributors
  • Important Contributions from Different Parts of The Country
• Post-independence:
  • Consolidation within The Country
  • Reorganization within the Country
  • History of the world:
  • Events from 18th century (such as):
  • Industrial Revolution
  • World Wars
  • Redraw of National Boundaries
  • Colonization
  • Decolonization
  • Political Philosophies (Their Forms and Effects on The Society) – Like:
  • Communism
  • Capitalism
  • Socialism
  • etc.
• Indian Society:
  • Salient Features
  • Diversity of India
  • Role of Women and Women's Organizations
  • 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
• Physical Geography: (India and World Both)
  • Salient Features
  • Distribution of Key Natural Resources Across The World (Including South Asia and The Indian Sub- Continent)
  • Factors Responsible for The Location of Industries in Various Parts of The World and India:
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Tertiary Sector
  • Important Geophysical Phenomena (such as):
    • Earthquakes
    • Tsunami
    • Volcanic Activity
    • Cyclone
    • Etc.
  • Geographical Features and Their Location:
  • Changes in Critical Geographical Features (Including)
    • Waterbodies
    • Icecaps
    • Flora
    • Fauna
    • The Effects of Such Changes.

Governance

Constitution

Polity

Social Justice

International Relations

Polity

• Indian Constitution:
  • Historical Underpinnings
  • Evolution
  • Features
  • Amendments
  • Significant Provisions
  • Basic Structure.
• Union and State:
• Functions and Responsibilities
• Issues and Challenges Pertaining to The Federal Structure
• Devolution of: (up to local levels and challenges therein)
• Powers
  • Centre
  • State
  • Local
• Finances
  • Centre
  • State
  • Local
• Separation of Powers between various organs
  • Dispute Redressal Mechanisms
  • Institutions
• Comparison:
  • Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries
  • Parliament and State Legislatures
• Parliament and State Legislatures
  • Parliamentary Committees
  • Structure
  • Functioning
  • Conduct of Business
  • Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising Out of These.
• Structure:
  • Executive
  • Judiciary
  • Ministries
  • Departments of the Government
• Organization
  • Executive
  • Judiciary
  • Ministries
  • Departments of the Government
• Functioning:
  • Executive
  • Judiciary
  • Ministries
  • Departments of the Government
• Pressure Groups
  • About
  • Formal/Informal Associations
  • Their role in the Polity.
• Salient Features of the Representation of People's Act.
• Constitutional Posts and Bodies:
  • Appointment
  • Powers
  • Functions
  • Responsibilities
• Other Bodies (Like):
  • Statutory
  • Regulatory
  • Quasi-Judicial
• Government Policies and Interventions for Development in Various Sectors and Issues Arising Out of Their Design and Implementation.
• Development Processes and Development Industry:
  • About
  • The Role of:
  • NGOs
  • SHGs
  • Various Groups and Associations
  • Donors
  • Charities
  • Stakeholders:
    • Institutional
    • Other
• Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of The Population by The Centre and States:
  • About
  • 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
  • Hunger

Governance

• About
• Transparency and Accountability
• e-Governance:
  • About
  • Applications
  • Models
  • Successes
  • Limitations
  • Potential
• Citizens Charters:
  • About
  • Transparency & Accountability
  • Institutional and Other Measures.
• Role of Civil Services in A Democracy.

India and its Neighbourhood (International Relations)

• Relations
• Bilateral
• Regional
• Global Groupings
• 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
  • About
  • Structure
  • Mandate

Technology

Economic Development

Bio Diversity

Environment

Security

Disaster Management

Indian Economy

• About
• Issues:
  • Planning
  • Mobilization of Resources
  • Growth
  • Development
  • Employment
• Inclusive Growth and Issues Arising from It.
• Government Budgeting.
• Crops:
  • Major Crops
  • Cropping Patterns in Various Parts of The Country
  • Different Types of Irrigation and Irrigation Systems Storage
  • Transport
  • 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:
  • Industries in India:
  • About
  • Scope
  • 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

• About
• Developments and Their Applications
• Effects in Everyday Life
• Achievement of Indians
• Indigenization of Technology
  • About
  • Developing New Technology
• Awareness in The Fields of:
  • IT
  • Space
  • Computers
  • Robotics
  • Nano-Technology
  • Bio-Technology
  • Issues Relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Environment, BD & CC

• Conservation
• Environmental Pollution and Degradation
• Environmental Impact Assessment

Disaster and Disaster Management

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
• Border Areas 
  • Security Challenges
  • Management
• Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism
  • About
  • Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate

Ethics

Integrity

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 utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects.

Syllabus

• Ethics and Human Interface:
  • About
  • 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 in Inculcating Values
  • Role of Society in Inculcating Values
  • Role of Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values
• Attitude:
  • Content
  • Structure
  • Function
  • Its Influence
  • Relation with Thought and Behaviour
  • Moral And Political Attitudes
  • Social Influence
  • Persuasion
• For Civil Service:
  • Aptitude And Foundational Values
  • Integrity
  • Impartiality
  • Non-Partisanship
  • Objectivity
  • Dedication To Public Service
  • Empathy
  • Tolerance
  • Compassion Towards The Weaker-Sections
• Emotional Intelligence:
  • Concepts
    • Utilities
    • Application in Administration and Governance
• Contributions of:
  • Moral Thinkers
  • Philosophers From:
    • India
    • World
• Public/Civil Service Values And Ethics In Public Administration:
  • Status
  • 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
  • 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