UPSC Syllabus 2025: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) organizes a well-known exam to select candidates for Group A and B government jobs. Every year, lakhs of people prepare for the UPSC exam, but only a few are chosen. The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) has two main parts: the Prelims and the Mains, followed by an interview.

The Prelims include two required papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT). The Mains exam is more detailed, with nine papers, including one essay paper and four General Studies papers. This article explains the UPSC Syllabus 2025 in detail.

UPSC Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates’ knowledge, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities. The examination process is divided into three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
2. Main Examination (Mains)
3. Personality Test (Interview)

UPSC Prelims Syllabus

The UPSC Prelims exam consists of two compulsory papers:

• General Studies Paper-I
• General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)

These papers cover a broad range of topics, including general knowledge, current affairs, history, geography, economics, environment, science, and more. The Prelims are objective-type questions and are used to shortlist candidates for the Mains.

UPSC Mains Syllabus

The UPSC Mains exam is more detailed and has nine papers. Some papers are qualifying, while others count for merit ranking. The Mains includes papers in General Studies, Essay, Optional Subject, and Language.

Qualifying Papers:

Merit-Counted Papers:

• Total Marks for Written Test: 1750
• Personality Test: 275
• Grand Total: 2025

Important Points to Remember for UPSC Exam

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam is one of the most challenging exams in India. Below are some key points you should keep in mind while preparing:

1. Qualifying Papers on Languages (Paper A & Paper B):
   • The Indian Language Paper (Paper A) and the English Paper (Paper B) are only for qualifying purposes. This means the marks you get in these papers do not affect your final ranking in the exam.
   • These papers are set at the level of Matriculation (10th grade), which makes them easier compared to other papers.
   • To pass these papers, you need to score at least 25% in both the Indian Language (Paper A) and English (Paper B). If you don’t meet this minimum, your other exam papers will not be considered.
   • The marks obtained in Paper I to VII are the ones that count towards your merit ranking.
2. Exam Format:
   • The Main exam consists of essay-type question papers, each lasting 3 hours.
   • You can answer the questions in any language listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, or in English.
   • The papers, except for the qualifying language papers, are available in both Hindi and English.
3. Extra Time for Disabled Candidates:
   • Candidates who are blind or have disabilities affecting their writing ability (like locomotor disabilities or cerebral palsy) will be given an extra 20 minutes per hour to complete their exams. This extra time is given for both the Preliminary and Main exams.

UPSC Syllabus for Qualifying Papers

These papers test your language skills in both English and an Indian language. The content includes:

UPSC Essay Paper:

• The Essay paper requires candidates to write on a variety of topics.
• It is important to stay on topic, organize your ideas clearly, and express your thoughts in a simple, direct manner.
• The focus is on the quality of your writing, with marks awarded for clear and effective expression.

UPSC General Studies Paper 1 (GS1) Syllabus

This paper covers a wide range of topics related to India’s history, culture, and geography. The key topics include:

UPSC General Studies Paper 2 (GS2) Syllabus

This paper deals with governance, the Indian Constitution, and social justice. Topics include:

UPSC General Studies Paper 3 (GS3) Syllabus

This paper focuses on technology, economic development, and environmental issues. The key areas are:

UPSC General Studies Paper 4 (GS4) Syllabus: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

This paper tests your ethical understanding and ability to deal with public issues. The topics include:

UPSC Optional Syllabus

Candidates appearing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) can choose one optional subject from a wide range of subjects. The syllabus for each optional subject is divided into two compulsory papers (Paper I and Paper II). Below is a list of available subjects along with a brief description of each.

List of Optional Subjects for UPSC CSE:

Literature Subjects:

Candidates may also choose literature as their optional subject. The languages available include:

• Assamese
• Bengali
• Bodo
• Dogri
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Kannada
• Kashmiri
• Konkani
• Maithili
• Malayalam
• Manipuri
• Marathi
• Nepali
• Odia
• Punjabi
• Sanskrit
• Santhali
• Sindhi
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Urdu
• English

UPSC Optional Paper Important Points:

• Each subject has two papers: Paper I and Paper II are compulsory for each optional subject.
• Choice of subject: The choice of optional subject depends on a candidate’s interest, background, and strength in the subject.

Choosing the right optional subject is crucial as it plays a significant role in the overall UPSC CSE preparation and final result.

UPSC Syllabus FAQs