Complete Upsc Cse Syllabus With Analysis & Its Importance
IF you have attended any toppers seminar the first thing that they would say is go through the syllabus first as much as you can do. In fact, some of them will tell you to keep hard copy of syllabus and keep it on your study Table. UPSC Syllabus gives an overview of the topics that one must know in different stages of Examination. It helps us in keeping ourselves focused on the specific requirement of the subject. UPSC does not expect Aspirant to have PHD in the subject. So, it is inevitable to know the syllabus first.
IMPORTANCE OF UPSC CSE SYLLABUS:
If someone goes through syllabus multiple times in initial days of Preparation then it will help him in knowing the entire syllabus and eventually can set the boundary with respect to subject matter. Also, one can escape what is not inevitable for the exam point of view. For example, current affairs are very important for UPSC CSE as it has great significance in all the three stages of Exam. But in Newspapers there is so much news that is not relevant for UPSC CSE. One can manage to escape those reading if knows what to study from Current Affairs. This can be applied to other subjects as well.
UPSC CSE conducts examination every year to recruit officers for All India Services and other allied Services. This Exam is being done in three stages. Let us discuss each stage separately.
UPSC CSE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION:
Prelim is the first stage of UPSC CSE. The nature of Questions asked in Prelims is objective. The main objective of Prelims is to eliminate non serious candidates from writing UPSC mains i.e., the second stage.
Under UPSC CSE Prelim, there are two Papers. The two Papers are as:
- General Studies:
Under this Paper UPSC evaluate the general awareness of candidates with respect to diverse subjects such as – Indian Polity, International Relations, Current Affairs, Geography, History, Indian Economy, Science &Technology, and Environment & Ecology.
This General Studies paper is the First Paper under UPSC CSE Prelims Examination. Marks secured in this Paper are used for merit Purpose.
- CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
This being the Second Paper under UPSC CSE Prelims. It is qualifying in nature. Marks secured in this Paper are not used for Merit Purpose.
Please note both the Paper of UPSC CSE Prelims is held on single Day. The marks of Prelims Paper are not taken into consideration for preparing the final list. The main objective of Prelims is to eliminate non serious candidates and screen serious candidates for subsequent stages of Examination.
SUBJECTS | NO. OF QUESTIONS |
MARKS ALLOTTED FOR EACH QUESTION |
TOTAL MARKS | NEGATIVE MARKING | DURATION OF EXAM |
GENERAL STUDIES | 100 | 2 | 200 | 1/3 rd. | 2 HRS |
CSAT | 80 | 2.5 | 200 | 1/3 rd. | 2 HRS |
The detailed Syllabus of UPSC CSE Prelims for both the Papers is as:
UPSC CSE Syllabus for GS Paper (UPSC CSE Prelims Paper – I):
- Current Events of National & International Importance
- History of India & Indian National Movement
- India & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the world.
- Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights issues etc.
- Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that does not require subject specialization.
- General Science
Kindly refer below mentioned link for Micro analysis of the above syllabus of UPSC CSE Prelims Paper – I (General Studies).
UPSC CSE PRELIMS PAPER –II (CSAT)
- 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)
UPSC CSE Aspirants are advised to refer the above-mentioned link for Micro analysis of Syllabus.
UPSC CSE MAINS SYLLABUS & EXAM PATTERN:
- UPSC CSE Mains is the second stage and only Prelims Qualified Candidates are eligible to write Mains.
- The mains Exam tests Candidates in depth knowledge, thought Process, analytical skills, decision making ability, integrity and articulation.
- The UPSC Mains has 9 Papers out of which 2 Papers are Qualifying and carry 300 marks each.
The Two Qualifying Papers are:
- Any Indian Language Paper
- English Language paper
- In order to qualify these two languages Paper, Candidate is expected to secure at least 25 % marks in each Paper.
- In case any Candidate is unable to secure 25 % marks in either of these two Papers, their respective other GS papers, Essay Paper & optional Paper will not be evaluated.
- There have been some candidates who did not Qualify these language paper. Hence it should not be taken lightly.
Paper | Subject | Marks |
Paper-I | Essay (can be written in the medium of the candidate’s choice) | 250 |
Paper-II | General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) | 250 |
Paper-III | General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) | 250 |
Paper-IV | General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper-V | General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 |
Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper I | 250 |
Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper II | 250 |
Kindly refer below mentioned link for previous year UPSC CSE Mains Question Discussion. Going through Previous Year Paper give us an idea about the nature of Question being asked in Examination.
Also please be informed that UPSC defines its syllabus briefly. So, it is important to decipher the implicit meaning of syllabus. It can be better understood by going through the Micro analysis of the Syllabus and the previous year Question Paper. Refer below mentioned link for Micro Analysis of UPSC CSE Syllabus.
STAGE III: UPSC CSE INTERVIEW (275 MARKS)
The third and the final stage is Personality Assessment Test or Interview. Those students who qualify Mains are required to appear in Interview. It tests the overall Personality of Candidates.
Generally, the Interview duration varies from one candidate to another but on an average, it is of 20 -25 minutes. Question Pertaining to Academics, optional subjects, Current Affairs, one’s hobby are asked by Board which comprises of 5 Members. The Board asks Question from ones DAF only. So, it would be wise to fill ones DAF honestly and correctly.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
- UPSC CSE HAS THREE STAGES – PRELIMINARY, MAINS & INTERVIEW.
- PRELIMINARY IS A QUALIFYING AND MARKS SECURED IN PRELIMS ARE NOT USED IN FINAL MERIT.
- CSAT UNDER PRELIMS IS A QUALIFYING PAPER AND ONE MUST SECURE 33% MARKS TO QUALIFY IT.
- GENERAL STUDIES PAPER UNDER PRELIMS IS USED FOR SCREENING CANDIDATES FOR UPSC CSE MAINS.
- IN UPSC MAINS, TWO LANGUAGE PAPERS ARE QUALIFYING IN NATURE AND ONE MUST SECURE 25 % MARKS ELSE THEIRS OTHER PAPERS OF GS, OPTIONAL & ESSAY WILL NOT BE EVALUATED.
- INTERVIEW IS THE THIRD AND FINAL STAGE OF UPSC CSE & CARRIES 275 MARKS. MARKS SECURED IN INTERVIEW IS USED IN FINAL MERIT.
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