UPSC IAS Syllabus 2023 The UPSC IAS Syllabus for 2023 has been released by the Union Public Service Commission along with the official notification. Aspiring candidates must have a thorough understanding of the syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview to be able to effectively prepare for the exam. The UPSC IAS exam is highly competitive, with around 10 lakh applicants each year, and requires proper planning and strategy to score well and secure a top position in the government sector.
UPSC Syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview The UPSC Syllabus for the Prelims exam covers two papers, General Studies and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The General Studies paper includes topics such as Indian History, Polity, Geography, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology, and Current Affairs. The CSAT paper tests the candidate’s aptitude and reasoning skills.
The Mains exam consists of 9 papers, including two qualifying papers on Indian language and English. The other papers cover topics such as Essay writing, General Studies I-IV, Optional Subject Paper I-II. The Interview round is conducted to evaluate the candidate’s personality, communication skills, and overall suitability for the civil services.
UPSC Syllabus PDF The UPSC Syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the official website of the Union Public Service Commission. Candidates can also refer to various study materials and books available in the market to enhance their preparation for the exam. However, it is important to ensure that the study material and books are in line with the latest syllabus released by UPSC.
Conclusion To summarize, the UPSC Syllabus is a crucial aspect of preparing for the civil services exam. Candidates must have a thorough understanding of the syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview and plan their preparation accordingly. With proper planning and strategy, aspirants can increase their chances of success in the highly competitive UPSC IAS exam.
| UPSC Syllabus 2023- Overview | ||
| Particulars | Prelims | Mains |
| Exam Date | 28th May 2023 | 15th to 19th September 2023 |
| No. of Papers | Two | Nine |
| Types of Questions | Objective Type | Descriptive Type |
| Duration of Exam | 2 hours each | 3 hours each |
| Total Marks | 400 | 1750 |
| Medium of Exam | English & Hindi | English & Hindi (except language paper) |
| Negative Marking | ⅓rd mark | No negative marking |
| Marks Counted in Merit | No | Yes |
UPSC CSE Syllabus 2023 The General Studies Paper comprises of various subjects like History, Geography, Economics, Polity, Environment, Science, and Technology, and Current Affairs. The CSAT paper comprises of Logical Reasoning, Comprehension, Decision Making, and Interpersonal Skills.
After the UPSC Prelims exam, the Mains exam is conducted for the candidates who clear the cut-off. The UPSC Mains exam consists of nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature, i.e., English and a Language paper (which can be any one of the scheduled languages). The seven other papers are of a descriptive type and cover various subjects like Essay, General Studies I, II, III, and IV, and Optional Papers I and II.
The interview round is the final stage of the UPSC Civil Services Exam. It is conducted for the candidates who clear the Mains exam. The interview is conducted to evaluate the personality traits, analytical abilities, and decision-making skills of the candidate.
Conclusion The UPSC Syllabus is an essential tool for all the candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam. The candidates should have a proper understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern to prepare effectively for the exam. Along with the syllabus, the candidates should also refer to the previous year’s question papers and practice mock tests to enhance their preparation. With proper guidance and hard work, any candidate can clear the UPSC Civil Services Exam and become an IAS officer, which is considered one of the most prestigious positions in India.
UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023: The UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023 is as follows:
- The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers:
- Paper-I: General Studies
- Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
- Both the papers are objective type (MCQs) with negative marking for incorrect answers.
- The duration of each paper is two hours.
- Paper-I (General Studies) consists of 100 questions, each carrying 2 marks, with a total of 200 marks.
- Paper-II (CSAT) consists of 80 questions, each carrying 2.5 marks, with a total of 200 marks.
- Questions in Paper-II will be of qualifying nature with minimum qualifying marks of 33%.
- The questions in Paper-I (General Studies) will be bilingual (Hindi and English) except for questions on the English language comprehension skills.
- The UPSC Prelims Exam is conducted offline (pen and paper-based test).
- The minimum qualifying marks for Paper-I (General Studies) is decided by UPSC each year.
- The cut-off marks for Paper-II (CSAT) is fixed at 33%.
- Only those candidates who qualify Paper-I (General Studies) and score minimum qualifying marks in Paper-II (CSAT) are eligible for the Mains Exam.
- The marks scored in Prelims are not counted for the final selection, and it is only for shortlisting candidates for the Mains Exam.
UPSC Syllabus 2023 for Prelims Exam
The UPSC Prelims exam consists of two papers – General Studies Paper I and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II. Both the papers are conducted in a single day with a total duration of two hours for each paper.
General Studies Paper I: The UPSC Prelims syllabus for General Studies Paper I includes the following topics:
- 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.
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – General Issues and their Impact on the Environment and the ecosystem
- General Science
CSAT Paper II: The UPSC Prelims syllabus for the CSAT Paper II includes the following topics:
- 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)
- English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level)
It is important to note that the marks obtained in the CSAT Paper II are not considered for the final selection, but only for qualifying for the Mains Exam.
UPSC Syllabus 2023 for Mains Exam
The UPSC Mains Exam is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination. It comprises of nine papers that are conducted over a period of five to seven days. The Mains Exam is a descriptive type, which means that the candidates have to write detailed answers to the questions asked in the paper. The UPSC Syllabus 2023 for the Mains Exam is as follows:
- Paper A – Indian Language
- Paper B – English
- Paper I – Essay
- Paper II – General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)
- Paper III – General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations)
- Paper IV – General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)
- Paper V – General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
- Paper VI – Optional Subject Paper I
- Paper VII – Optional Subject Paper II
Candidates can choose their optional subjects from a list of subjects given in the UPSC notification. The optional papers are conducted for a total of 500 marks, whereas the remaining papers are conducted for a total of 1750 marks. Candidates who qualify for the Mains Exam are called for the final round of the selection process, i.e., the UPSC Personality Test or Interview, which carries a total of 275 marks.
It is important for candidates to thoroughly understand the UPSC Syllabus 2023 for the Mains Exam to prepare effectively and score well in the examination.
UPSC IAS Syllabus for Main Exam- Subject-wise Structure of the Language Papers
The UPSC IAS Main Exam consists of nine papers, out of which two are qualifying papers in nature. These two papers are:
- Paper A: Indian Language (Qualifying Paper)
- Paper B: English (Qualifying Paper)
Note that the marks obtained in these two papers are not considered in the final ranking, but candidates must pass both of them to qualify for the next stage.
The remaining seven papers carry a total of 1750 marks and are counted for the final ranking. The subject-wise distribution of these papers is as follows:
- Paper I: Essay (250 Marks)
- Paper II: General Studies I (250 Marks)
- Paper III: General Studies II (250 Marks)
- Paper IV: General Studies III (250 Marks)
- Paper V: General Studies IV (250 Marks)
- Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1 (250 Marks)
- Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2 (250 Marks)
The language papers (Paper A and Paper B) are of qualifying nature and require candidates to demonstrate proficiency in the respective languages.
Paper A: Indian Language (Qualifying Paper) This paper tests the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express their ideas clearly and correctly in the language they have chosen. The paper is designed to test the candidates’ understanding of the language’s literature, cultural heritage, and society. The Indian languages offered as options for this paper are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Bodo.
Paper B: English (Qualifying Paper) This paper tests the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose in English and to express their ideas clearly and correctly in the language. The paper is designed to test the candidates’ understanding of the language’s literature, cultural heritage, and society.
UPSC IAS Interview Test
The UPSC IAS Interview Test, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the Civil Services Examination. The purpose of the interview is to assess the candidate’s overall personality, suitability for the civil services, and their understanding of various issues.
The interview is conducted by a board of competent and unbiased observers who have experience in the field of administration, psychology, and other relevant disciplines. The board assesses the candidate’s intellectual traits, social traits, interest and hobbies, communication skills, and overall personality.
The interview usually lasts for 20-30 minutes and is conducted in English or Hindi. The board may ask questions on a wide range of topics, including current affairs, the candidate’s educational background, work experience, hobbies and interests, and their views on various issues.
The interview is not a test of specialized knowledge; rather, it is an assessment of the candidate’s overall personality and suitability for the civil services. Therefore, candidates are advised to be well-prepared and confident, and to answer questions honestly and to the best of their knowledge.
The marks obtained in the interview are added to the candidate’s written exam score to determine their final ranking in the Civil Services Examination.
UPSC Syllabus 2023: FAQs
Q: What is the UPSC Syllabus 2023?
A: The UPSC Syllabus 2023 is the same as the current UPSC Syllabus, which includes Preliminary Examination and Main Examination. The syllabus is available on the official website of UPSC.
Q: What is the structure of the UPSC Examination?
A: The UPSC Examination comprises three stages: Preliminary Examination (Objective type), Main Examination (Descriptive type), and Personality Test (Interview).
Q: What are the subjects in the UPSC Preliminary Examination?
A: The subjects in the UPSC Preliminary Examination are General Studies I, General Studies II (CSAT).
Q: What are the subjects in the UPSC Main Examination?
A: The subjects in the UPSC Main Examination are Essay, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, General Studies IV, and Optional Subject Paper 1 and 2.
Q: What is the language of the UPSC Examination?
A: The UPSC Examination is conducted in both English and Hindi. Candidates can choose the language they are comfortable with.
Q: How can I prepare for the UPSC Examination?
A: You can prepare for the UPSC Examination by following the syllabus, reading relevant books and newspapers, practicing previous year papers, taking mock tests, and seeking guidance from experts.