Download expert-curated UPSC Prelims Notes for GS Paper 1 & CSAT Paper 2. Covering Polity, History, Geography, Economy & more. Aligned with latest UPSC syllabus
Preparation for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is all about strategic planning, concise resources, and intelligent revision. With lakhs of candidates appearing annually and only a few thousand making it through Prelims, having access to well-structured UPSC Prelims Notes is absolutely essential. Whether you are a beginner or an old contestant, this page provides you with good-quality, topic-based UPSC Prelims Notes for both GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2, prepared by experts and based on the current UPSC trend.
Our UPSC Prelims Notes are crafted after detailed analysis of the official syllabus, previous year questions (PYQs), and recent affairs—giving you nothing but the essentials. These UPSC Prelims Notes, expert-created, save time, enhance conceptual clarity, and enhance retention. Use these UPSC Prelims Notes as your go-to companion on the journey to crack India's most difficult exam.
|
Subject |
Key Focus Areas |
|
Agriculture |
Cropping patterns, agricultural reforms, MSP, irrigation, allied activities |
|
Art & Culture |
Architecture, dance, music, painting, cultural institutions, UNESCO sites |
|
Constitution |
Preamble, Features, Fundamental Rights/Duties, DPSPs, Amendments |
|
Disaster Management |
Disaster types, NDMA guidelines, risk reduction, disaster resilience |
|
Economic Development |
GDP, inflation, banking, monetary/fiscal policy, Budget, economic surveys |
|
Environment |
Biodiversity, conservation, environmental laws, climate change |
|
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude |
Ethics theory, case studies, integrity, moral thinkers, public administration ethics |
|
Geography |
Physical, Indian and World geography, maps, natural resources, climatic patterns |
|
Governance |
E-governance, transparency, accountability, citizen charters |
|
Indian Society |
Diversity, social issues (caste, gender), communalism, secularism |
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International Relations |
Bilateral & multilateral relations, regional groupings, global institutions |
|
Modern Indian History |
Revolt of 1857, freedom struggle, Gandhian era, important events & personalities |
|
Polity |
Union & State governments, Judiciary, local bodies, constitutional bodies |
|
Science & Technology |
ISRO missions, innovations, biotechnology, IT, health tech, defense tech |
|
Security |
Internal security, cyber security, border management, terrorism |
|
Social Justice |
Welfare schemes, vulnerable sections, education, health, NGOs |
|
World History |
French, American, Russian Revolutions, World Wars, colonization & decolonization |
The UPSC Prelims Examination is the initial and most competitive phase of the Civil Services Examination held by the Union Public Service Commission. It is a screening examination for the Mains phase and is divided into two objective-type papers held on the same day:
|
Paper |
Type |
Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
Duration |
Additional Information |
|
General Studies Paper 1 |
Objective Type |
100 questions |
200 marks |
2 hours |
Score counted for merit ranking in Prelims |
|
CSAT – General Studies Paper 2 |
Objective Type |
80 questions |
200 marks |
2 hours |
Qualifying in nature (minimum 33% or 66 marks required) |
The UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Notes offer detailed coverage of a broad array of topics relevant to the exam. Topics covered range from Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. The following is the entire list of subjects and important topics covered in the UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1 Notes that will assist you in effectively covering each section:
|
Subject |
Key Topics |
|
Polity and Governance |
Constitution of India: Features, Preamble, Schedules Fundamental Rights & Duties, DPSPs Union and State Government: President, PM, Parliament, Governor, CM Constitutional & Non-Constitutional Bodies Judiciary: Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Review Recent Government Schemes & Policies Panchayati Raj & Local Governance |
|
Indian History – Ancient, Medieval, Modern |
Ancient History: Indus Valley Civilization Vedic Period, Mahajanapadas, Buddhism & Jainism Maurya and Gupta Empires Medieval History: Delhi Sultanate Mughal Empire Bhakti and Sufi Movements Modern History: British Expansion, Revolt of 1857 Freedom Movement: Moderates, Extremists, Gandhi Era Important Acts, Committees, INC Sessions |
|
Art and Culture |
Indian Classical & Folk Dances Music and Painting Styles Temple Architecture UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cultural Institutions (Sangeet Natak Akademi, ASI) |
|
Geography |
Physical Geography: Landforms, Climatology, Oceanography Indian Geography: Rivers, Mountains, Soils, Forests Economic Geography: Minerals, Industries, Agriculture World Geography and Map-based Questions |
|
Economy |
Basic Concepts: GDP, Inflation, Fiscal Deficit Budget and Economic Survey Monetary Policy, Banking System, RBI Functions Agriculture and Industry Sector Current Affairs related to Economy |
|
Environment & Ecology |
Ecosystems and Biodiversity Climate Change and Global Warming Environmental Treaties (CBD, UNFCCC, Paris Agreement) Wildlife Protection Acts and Institutions Species in News and Conservation Projects |
|
Science & Technology |
Space Missions (ISRO), Nuclear & Defence Tech Biotechnology, Health, and Nanotechnology Recent Developments in Digital Tech & AI Disease Outbreaks and Vaccines |
|
Society & Social Justice |
Social Issues: Poverty, Caste, Gender, Religion Education & Health Initiatives Government Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Groups Role of NGOs, SHGs, Civil Society |
|
International Relations (IR) |
India’s Bilateral Relations International Organizations (UN, WTO, WHO, IMF) Neighbourhood First Policy India’s Global Groupings (BRICS, QUAD, SCO) Important Treaties and Summits |
Although CSAT Paper 2 is qualifying in character, it has turned out to be more and more unpredictable over the past few years. Strong knowledge of reasoning, reading, and elementary mathematics is required to clear this paper. The changing trend requires the candidates to sharpen their skills in:
|
Topic |
Subtopics |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
|
|
Number System |
LCM, HCF |
|
Profit-Loss, Time-Speed-Distance |
Averages, Speed, Time, Distance, Profit, and Loss |
|
Data Interpretation (DI) |
Graphs, Tables, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams |
|
Probability, Permutation & Combination |
Basic Probability, Permutation and Combination Calculations |
|
Logical & Analytical Reasoning |
|
|
Blood Relations |
Understanding Relationships and solving puzzles related to family relationships |
|
Seating Arrangement |
Linear, Circular Arrangements, Puzzle Solving |
|
Coding-Decoding |
Identifying Patterns, Letters, and Number Codes |
|
Puzzle Solving |
Analytical Reasoning Problems involving Shapes, Numbers, etc. |
|
Syllogisms and Venn Diagrams |
Logical Deduction, Venn Diagram Representation |
|
Input-Output and Analytical Puzzles |
Logical Patterns, Number Series, Arrangement, and Inferences |
|
Reading Comprehension |
|
|
Short & Long Passages |
Reading, Understanding, and Analyzing Passages |
|
Direct & Inferential Questions |
Answering based on facts or inferred information |
|
Elimination Technique Practice |
Identifying irrelevant information and eliminating options effectively |
|
Decision-Making & Problem Solving |
|
|
Case Studies with Ethical Dilemmas |
Analyzing and solving ethical case studies, decision-making frameworks |
|
Practical Judgement Questions |
Problem-solving with realistic scenarios, drawing conclusions based on practicality |
How to Use These UPSC Prelims Notes Strategically?
Cracking UPSC Prelims requires intelligent study, not hard work. Our subject-wise UPSC Prelims Notes for GS Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2 are carefully designed to organize your prep and cut down on information overload. From mastering mainstream static topics to honing your aptitude and comprehension skills for CSAT, these notes serve as your one-stop resource for effective and efficient revision.
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