PSC Mains Syllabus 2023: As mentioned earlier, the UPSC Mains Syllabus covers a vast area of the subject. In addition to the written examination, the Civil Services (Main) Examination includes an interview/personality test. The written examination will consist of nine conventional essay-style papers. There are three stages to the Civil Services Examination.
Preliminary Examination for Civil Services (Objective Type), used to select candidates to sit for the Civil Services Main Examination for Civil Services; and Exam (Conventional Type Written Examination) for the Civil Services (Main) Examination. Candidates for the various posts and services are selected through an interview/personality test, which is conducted by the university.
UPSC Mains Syllabus Details
| UPSC Mains Syllabus 2023 | |
| Name | Mains Syllabus |
| Exam Date | 15th to 19th September 2023 |
| Number of Papers | Nine |
| Types of Paper | Conventional Papers (Descriptive Type) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 hours Each Paper |
| Total Marks | 1750 |
| Language of Exam | English & Hindi (Except Language Paper) |
| Negative Marking | No negative mark. but Penality Marking for various mistakes done by candidate |
| Marks Counted in Merit | Yes |
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2023
In order to take the main exam, candidates must qualify for each paper. This is the part of the exam process where scores and rankings are determined, so candidates must pass the preliminary exam. A candidate’s ability to effectively and effectively articulate their understanding in accordance with the requirements of the question is assessed in the Mains exam, which is a combination of their academic knowledge and their ability to articulate their understanding within an allotted time frame.
In order to qualify for the Mains exam, candidates must score at least a passing grade in each of the nine papers that make up the examination. Language papers are the qualifying papers. The remaining papers, such as the GS-I, the GS-II, the GS-III, the GS-IV, the essay paper, as well as the optional papers.
| UPSC Mains Exam Pattern | ||
| Qualifying Papers | Marks | |
| Paper-A | One of the Indian languages listed in the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule needs to be selected by the candidate. | 300 |
| Paper-B | English | 300 |
| Papers Counted for Merit | ||
| Paper 1 | Essay Paper | 250 |
| Paper 2 – General Studies I | General Studies Paper I consists mainly of History and Geography of the World and Society, Indian Heritage and Culture. This paper mainly revolves around History, Geography and Society. | 250 |
| Paper 3 – General Studies II | General Studies Paper II consists mainly of Polity, Constitution, Governance, Social Justice and International relations. | 250 |
| Paper 4 – General Studies III | General Studies Paper III consists mainly of Economic Development, Technology, Environment, Biodiversity, Security and Disaster Management. | 250 |
| Paper 5 – General Studies IV | General Studies Paper IV consists mainly of Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude. | 250 |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper 7 | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test | 275 | |
| Grand Total | 2025 | |
Important Facts about UPSC Mains Exam
- “Paper A” and “Paper B” are the two qualifying papers of the main exam. Each of them carries 300 marks.
- In the mains examination, two papers are mandatory to qualify, namely, a paper in any Indian language from the Eight Schedule and a paper in English Language.
- There is a requirement that each of the two qualifying examinations must be passed with 25%, or a score of 75 on each of the two papers.
- Due to the fact that all seven remaining papers will be graded, the results of these papers will be included in the final merit list.
- As part of the 7 merit-based papers, candidates are given the option of answering every question in either English or one of the eight scheduled languages.
- Candidate’s choice of optional subject shall be made from the following list of subjects for Papers VI and VII.
UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus Subject/wise
For detailed information about the UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus of General Studies and Essay Papers, including the UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus of Indian Language and English, read the complete article. Other papers of the main examination are also counted as merit.
UPSC Syllabus Mains Language Paper
It is the intention of UPSC Mains Exam to provide candidates with the opportunity to choose their language from a list of languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. These languages are outlined in the table below, and English is the second language paper. The script must correspond to the language listed in the following table, so candidates must use the script corresponding to the language.
There is a choice of several Indian languages available in the table below for the candidate to choose from.
| Language | Script |
| Assamese | Assamese |
| Bengali | Bengali |
| Gujarati | Gujarati |
| Hindi | Devanagari |
| Kannada | Kannada |
| Kashmiri | Persian |
| Konkani | Devanagari |
| Malayalam | Malayalam |
| Manipuri | Bengali |
| Marathi | Devanagari |
| Nepali | Devanagari |
| Odia | Odia |
| Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
| Sanskrit | Devanagari |
| Sindhi | Devanagari or Arabic |
| Tamil | Tamil |
| Telugu | Telugu |
| Urdu | Persian |
| Bodo | Devanagari |
| Dogri | Devanagari |
| Maithili | Devanagari |
| Santhali | Devanagari or Olchiki* |
| Note: In addition to the Devanagari script on the question paper, candidates may elect to answer in Olchiki or Devanagari script according to their preference. | |
In the section below, you will find a breakdown of the structure of “Paper A” and “Paper B,” the two language papers.
- Essay – 100 marks
- Reading Comprehension – 60 marks
- Precis Writing – 60 marks
- Translation: (i) Compulsory Language to English – 20 marks (ii) English to Compulsory Language (for e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks
- Grammar and Usage of Basic Language – 40 marks
UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies I
There are a number of main topics that will be covered in the General Studies I paper, including the History, Heritage, Geography, and Culture of the World and Society. The Commission has outlined the essential themes that will be covered in the General Studies I syllabus.
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:
- There are several salient features of Indian culture that have existed from ancient times to the present, which include Art Forms, Literature and Architecture.
- In the period from the middle of the 18th century into the present, Indian History includes a wide range of significant events, personalities, and issues that have shaped the country.
- This article discusses different stages of the Freedom Struggle in the country, as well as important contributors from different parts of the country.
- After independence, the country underwent a period of consolidation and reorganization.
- It is expected that the history of the world will include several events from the 18th century, including the Industrial Revolution, World War I, the redrawing of national borders, colonization, and decolonization, as well as the manifestations and social effects of political philosophies such as communism, capitalism, socialism, and others.
- Indian society and India’s diversity are some of the most important characteristics of the country.
- There are many aspects of the female role and gender organization, population issues, poverty and poverty related issues, urbanization, the challenges of urbanization, and the solutions related to the issue of urbanisation.
- Globalisation is having a significant impact on the socio-economic development of India.
- We are committed to promoting the concept of communalism, regionalism, secularism, and social empowerment.
- The world’s physical geography is characterized by a number of important physical characteristics.
- Defining where primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of the economy are located worldwide (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); determining factors for determining the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of the economy globally.
- Changes in flora and fauna, as well as in water bodies and ice caps, as well as the impact of such changes, are crucial geological features. Most important geophysical phenomena include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, etc., which are important geographical features.
UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies II
Among other topics covered in the UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies II paper are topics on Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and Interactions. The detailed syllabus for the UPSC General Studies II paper is available below.
Governance, Polity, Constitution, International Relations, Social Justice:
- There are few things on the Indian Constitution that are more important to grasp than its basic structures, its features, its modifications, and the major provisions of it.
- Union and state functions and duties; problems and difficulties with the federal system; issues with the devolution of authority and resources to local government levels; and obstacles to the devolution of authority and resources to the federal government.
- Institutions and processes to resolve conflicts between multiple organs should be separated by power.
- Compared with other countries’ constitutional designs, the Indian constitution has a number of distinct features
- Parliaments and State Legislatures, as well as the challenges they pose, are governed by their structure, administration, business practices, powers, and privileges, as well as the conventions that govern them.
- In this section, we will discuss the various Ministries and Departments of the Government, Pressure Groups, and formal/informal associations, and their purposes within the Politics.
- The structure and organization of the executive and legal systems, as well as the manner in which they operate.
- Here are some of the key characteristics of the Representation of People’s Act.
- Various constitutional bodies are established, as are their respective duties and responsibilities, along with their appointment to those bodies.
- Involvement of statutory, regulatory, and various quasi-judicial agencies in the development of many sectors; Problems resulting from the planning, execution, and monitoring of these interventions; The allocation of resources within each of these areas.
- In order for the development industry to function effectively, it is important to understand the role of NGOs, SHGs, associations, funders, charities, institutions, and other stakeholders.
- As well as evaluating the effectiveness of welfare programmes put in place by the federal government and individual states for the population’s most vulnerable groups, institutions, laws, and organizations which are created to protect and improve the lives of the vulnerable groups can also be found in the following sections.
- The growth and administration of the social sector and services in the fields of health, education, and human resources are key issues that pertain to the growth and administration of the social sector.
- Issues related to poverty and hunger make up a large part of this.
- In the age of e-governance applications, models, accomplishments, limitations, and possibilities, as well as citizens’ charters, transparency, and accountability, people are demanding greater levels of transparency and accountability.
- In a democratic society, the civil service plays a vital role in the administration of justice
- In relation to its neighbors, India has a good relationship.
- Involved in or impacting India, as well as its interests, are groups and agreements that are made at the federal, provincial, and state levels.
- Indian diaspora as well as the interests of India are affected by the policies and politics of developed and developing countries.
- Organisations, agencies, and forums of international importance: their composition and objectives can be found here.
UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies III
This paper would raise questions regarding many aspects of life as well as recent developments in many areas of life as a whole, as well as the subjects of Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management, and Nature, which are thoroughly covered in UPSC Mains General Studies III.
Economic Development, Environment, Technology, Bio-diversity, Security and Disaster Management:
- In this article, we will discuss the Indian economy in its various aspects, such as planning, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment.
- Growing inclusively and dealing with the problems it raises are two very important topics.
- It is the responsibility of the government to prepare its budget.
- The main crops, the patterns of cropping in various regions of the country, the different irrigation techniques and irrigation systems, the challenges and limitations associated with storage, transport, and marketing agricultural products, as well as the use of e-technology by farmers are all discussed.
- A number of issues are discussed, including buffer stocks and food security, direct and indirect farm subsidies, and minimum support prices; goals, operations, and shortcomings of the Public Distribution System; technology and missions; and animal husbandry economics.
- It is important to understand the size and importance of the food processing and related sectors in India, where they are located, and what is needed in both the upstream and downstream sectors, as well as in the management of supply chains.
- There has been a reform of Indian lands.
- It is important to understand how the economic consequences of liberalization and the reform of industrial policy affect the expansion of the industrial sector in the long run.
- The term “infrastructure” encompasses things like ports, roads, airports, railways, and other means of transportation.
- Investing models are models that are used to make investments.
- Innovations in science and technology, as well as their applications and impacts in our daily lives, are the topics of this article.
- The advances in science and technology made by Indians; the indigenization of technology; and the development of new technologies have all been contributed to by the Indian people.
- Developing an understanding of issues related to intellectual property rights and also of issues related to computing, space, robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology as well as IT.
- The assessment of the environmental impacts of a project, pollution and degradation of the environment, and the protection of the environment.
- There is a connection between extremism’s growth and dissemination as well as disasters and disaster management.
- There are many factors contributing to the problems with domestic security from outside, including the actions of non-state actors and state actors.
- The fundamentals of cyber security, the role of the media and social media in these threats, as well as the prevention and detection of money laundering, are discussed in this presentation in order to examine threats to internal security posed by communication networks.
- It is important to understand the security problems in border regions and how they can be managed, as well as the links between organized crime and terrorism.
- Security agencies and organizations perform a variety of functions that have to do with security.
UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies IV
- In this exam, you will be asked questions regarding your attitude and approach to matters relating to integrity and probity in public life, as well as how you approach problem-solving when facing a range of challenges and disputes in society. This paper contains questions to assess how well the candidate is dealing with a range of social challenges and disputes. Questions can be formulated using the case study approach in order to determine these elements and cover area.
- Human Interaction and Ethics: Describes the purpose, factors, and outcomes of ethical behavior, as well as the dimensions of ethics, and how ethics can be applied both personally and professionally. During the study of human values, which draws lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers, and administrators, it is apparent that the family community and educational institutions play a very significant role in instilling values in children.
- Among the factors that make up attitude are its content, its structure, and its function. As well as its relationship to cognition and behavior, it also includes its influence on social influence and persuasion.
- As a civil servant, one is expected to exhibit integrity, objectivity and nonpartisanship. A civil servant is also expected to be committed to public service, to be empathic, to be tolerant, and to be compassionate towards those who are weaker.
- A discussion of the concepts of emotional intelligence as they pertain to governance and administration, as well as their benefits.
- A collection of contributions from Indian and international moral philosophers and thinkers that will be of interest to you.
- Ethical Issues in International Relations and Funding, Corporate Governance, Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Conscience as Sources of Ethical Guidance, Accountability and Ethical Governance in the Public Administration, and Ethical Decision Making in International Organisations: Status and Issues.
- In terms of the concept of probity in governance, it entails the concept of public service, the philosophical foundations of governance and probity, the sharing and transparency of information within government, the right to information, codes of ethics and conduct, citizen charters, organizational culture, effectiveness of service delivery, the efficient use of public resources, and the challenges posed by corruption, among others.
- The following case studies address the concerns mentioned above in more detail.
UPSC Optional Subjects
Those who are appearing in the UPSC Mains exam on paper 6 and paper 7 may choose any optional subject from the following list of UPSC Optional Subjects to be covered in the UPSC Mains exam.
| List of Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains Exam | |
| Agriculture | Law |
| Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Management |
| Anthropology | Mathematics |
| Botany | Mechanical Engineering |
| Chemistry | Medical Science |
| Civil Engineering | Philosophy |
| Commerce and Accountancy | Physics |
| Economics | Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) |
| Electrical Engineering | Psychology |
| Geography | Public Administration |
| Geology | Sociology |
| History | Statistics |
| Zoology | Literature of any one of the following languages:
Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Bodo, Dogri, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English. |
Important Link’s
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Homepage | Click Here |
UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF
UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF: Click Here
FAQ’s related to UPSC Mains Syllabus 2023
How does the UPSC Mains syllabus differ from the Preliminary syllabus?
This year’s UPSC Mains exam syllabus has been extended to include two qualifying language papers, four general studies papers, two optional papers, and one essay paper as part of the qualifying language papers.
In the UPSC mains examination, what are the nine papers that will be covered?
A total of 9 papers are included in the UPSC Mains exam, which include the following:
- Indian Language Paper
- English Paper
- Essay Paper
- General Studies I
- General Studies II
- General Studies III
- General Studies IV
- Optional Paper I
- Optional Paper II
The UPSC Mains Exam consists of how many marks in total?
To determine the final merit list, both the written exam and the interview for UPSC CSE mains are combined as well. The written exam is graded for 1750 marks and the interview for 275 marks, so both of these marks are considered for determining the final merit list.
In UPSC, what are the seven papers that are taken into consideration for merit?
A total of seven UPSC papers were counted towards the Final Merit in the selection process:
- Paper‐1: (Essay) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐2: (General Studies I) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐3: (General Studies II) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐4: (General Studies III) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐5: (General Studies IV) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐6: (Optional Subject Paper I) – 250 Marks
- Paper‐7: (Optional Subject Paper II) – 250 Marks
The UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the UPSC website?
An official notification has been posted on the UPSC website regarding the syllabus for the mains of the UPSC examination for the year 2022 that can be accessed by candidates.
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