UPSC Prelims Syllabus Explorer

Current Events

Current events of national and international importance.

History of India

History of India and Indian National Movement.

Geography

Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

Polity & Governance

Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Economic & Social Development

Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Environment & Ecology

General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.

General Science

Basic physics, chemistry, and biology applications in daily life.

Comprehension

Reading comprehension and analysis of text.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills including communication skills.

Logical Reasoning

Logical reasoning and analytical ability.

Decision Making

Decision making and problem solving.

General Mental Ability

Basic numeracy, data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables) - Class X level.

Understanding the UPSC Prelims Syllabus

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of India's most prestigious competitive exams. The Preliminary stage serves as a screening test and comprises two objective-type papers. Mastering the UPSC Prelims syllabus is the first step toward becoming an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer.

How to Use This Syllabus Tool

Our interactive UPSC Prelims Syllabus tool is designed to provide a structured view of both Paper I and Paper II. Simply toggle between the tabs to see the core components. Paper I focuses on General Studies, which determines your merit for the Mains qualification, while Paper II (CSAT) is a qualifying paper where candidates must score at least 33%.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern & Strategy

Success in the UPSC Prelims requires a balanced approach. While Paper I requires deep knowledge of History, Polity, and Economics, Paper II tests your aptitude and logical reasoning. Both papers have negative marking, where 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every wrong answer. Candidates are advised to supplement this syllabus with NCERT books and daily current affairs from reliable newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Prelims mark counted in the final merit list?

No, the marks obtained in the Preliminary examination are only for qualification to the Mains. The final merit is based on Mains and Interview scores.

2. What is the qualifying mark for CSAT?

You need to score 33% (approx 66 marks out of 200) to pass Paper II.

3. Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?

Yes, for every incorrect answer, 0.33 of the marks assigned to that question are deducted.