UPSC CSE 2025 Syllabus: Complete Subject-wise Details & Preparation Tips

UPSC CSE 2025 Syllabus: The UPSC 2025 Syllabus has been released along with the official notification. The official notification was released on 22nd January 2025. Hence, candidates need to go through the latest UPSC 2025 syllabus provided along with it. 

The UPSC syllabus has been clearly defined for Prelims and Mains, which will help get an overview and give a better understanding of the exam’s nature. 

To begin with, there are 3 stages in the UPSC Civil Service examination which are as follows: 

• UPSC Prelims: The first stage of the UPSC exam cycle is the Preliminary exam. There are 2 papers, each containing 100 and 80 objective–based questions, respectively.
• UPSC Mains: The second stage is the Mains exam. There are a total of 9 papers, and the exam is descriptive in nature.
• Personality Test: The final round is the Personal Interview, which assesses the candidate's personality.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Prelims consists of two papers – GS Paper 1 and CSAT. It is important to note that the Prelims exam is qualifying in nature.

The syllabus of UPSC Prelims contains both static portions and current affairs.

1. The General Studies (GS) consists of social science subjects like:

• History
• Polity
• Geography
• Indian economy.

1. The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) comprises questions asked from topics like:

• Quantitative Aptitude
• Reasoning Ability
• English Comprehension.

An important point is that a negative marking of 1/3rd is allotted for wrong answers in both the papers – GS Paper 1 and CSAT. 

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1: General Studies (GS)

This GS paper, or paper 1, tests overall knowledge and awareness. The syllabus for GS Paper comprises both static and dynamic portions.

The UPSC prelims syllabus 2025 for the GS paper consists of topics from a wide range of subjects such as Polity, Geography, History, Economy, Science and Tech, and Environment. 

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• Indian & World Geography – Social, Physical, Economic Geography of the World and India.
• Governance and Polity in India – Rights Issues, Constitution, Public Policy, Political System, Panchayati Raj, etc.
• Social & Economic Development – Social Sector Initiatives, Demographics, Sustainable Development, Inclusion, Poverty, etc.
• General Biodiversity, Environmental Ecology, & Climate Change issues do not require subject specialization.
• General Science

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 2: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

The syllabus for the CSAT paper includes questions from subjects like Reasoning & Analysis, Quantitative Aptitude and Reading Comprehension.

It is conducted to test the candidates' reasoning, comprehension, analytical abilities and decision–making skills.

Here is the list of major topics of the UPSC syllabus 2025 from which questions are asked in the CSAT Paper: 

• Comprehension
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Analytical ability and Logical Thinking
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• General Mental Ability
• Basic Numeracy, i.e. orders of magnitudes, numbers & their relations, etc (class 10 level)
• Interpretation of Data (charts, tables, graphs, data sufficiency, etc. – Also class 10 level)

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Mains 2025 is descriptive in nature, and the syllabus for the exam consists of a total of 9 papers. 

This includes 1 essay, 2 language papers, 4 General Studies papers and 2 optional papers. All the papers are to be completed within 3 hours.

I have provided a table listing all the subjects of the 9 papers comprising the Mains syllabus along with their weightage and nature:

An important point to note is that all the papers except the 2 language papers included in the UPSC Mains syllabus 2025 can be written in any of the languages mentioned in Schedule 8th of the Indian Constitution.

Syllabus of UPSC Mains Essay (No topics prescribed)

The UPSC syllabus 2025 for Essay in the Mains exam is not explicitly defined. For this paper, candidates are expected to keep a close eye on the essay topic and to write their points concisely.

Candidates must write 2 essays from a list of topics in the paper. The maximum mark allotted for this paper is 250 marks.

UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies 1 (GS 1)

The IAS syllabus for GS 1 includes the Culture, History, Heritage & Geography of India and the World. I have listed below the points in detail: 

1. Culture of India

• Significant aspects of the various Indian art forms,
• Architecture & literature of India from ancient to modern India. 

2. Modern Indian History 

• Personalities from the mid-18th century to the present, issues, Important events, etc. 
• Stages of the freedom struggle and the people who participated in it. 
• History from the post-independence perspective and the reorganization and consolidation of the Indian states following that.

3. World History 

• World events from the 18th century onwards and their effects on society & the world at large.
• Events such as the Industrial Revolution, World Wars, delineation of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization,
• Effects of political philosophies like communism, capitalism, etc. 

4. Society 

• Society of India, its diversity and essential aspects. 
• Population and issues related to it, the role of women and women-led organizations in Indian societies,
• Poverty and development-related issues,
• Urbanization, problems due to it, solutions, etc. 
• Communalism, regionalism, & secularism in India, social empowerment. 
• Globalization and its effects on Indian society.

5. Geography 

• Critical natural resources around the globe, especially in South Asia and the Indian Subcontinent;
• factors affecting the location of the primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries worldwide, including in India. 
• Key geographical phenomena and their causes are tsunamis, earthquakes, cyclones, volcanic activities, etc. 
• The various geographical features and their locations,
• Changes of features with a location like water bodies and polar ice caps
• Effects of these changes on flora and fauna. 
• Key features of the planet’s physical geography.

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General Studies 2 (GS 2)

The IAS syllabus for GS 2 includes the subjects of Polity, Constitution, Governance, International Relations, and Social Justice. I have listed below the points in detail: 

1. Polity and the Indian Constitution 

• Responsibilities and functions of the Union & States,
• Challenges and issues related to the federal structure,
• Finances, devolution of powers down to the local levels, and the challenges. 
• Segregation of power between the various government bodies, 
• Redressal mechanisms for conflict, dispute management, and various institutions are needed. 
• Organization, structure, and functions of the Judiciary, legislature, & Executive. 
• State and Parliamentary legislatures: 
• Departments & Ministries of the government;
• Pressure groups and their informal/formal roles and associations in the polity. 
• Key features of the Representation of People’s Act 
• How the various constitutional posts are appointed, their functions, & powers. Also those of the various constitutional bodies. 
• Various quasi-judicial, statutory, and regulatory bodies. 
• The various governmental interventions and policies are aimed at developing various sectors. 
• The development sector and its processes – the role of SHGs, NGOs, other associations and groups, institutions, and other stakeholders.

2. Social Justice

• Welfare schemes issued by the Centre and states for vulnerable sections, the performance of these schemes;
• Laws, mechanisms, bodies, and institutions are set up for the protection and development of the vulnerable sections. 
• Issues in development and management of the social/service sectors. 
• Problems about hunger and poverty. 

3. Governance 

• Key aspects of governance, e-governance- applications, successes, potential, accountability and transparency, models, limitations;
• Citizen charters and other measures. 
• The role of Civil Services in a democracy. 

4. International Relations 

• India and its relationship with its Neighbours 
• Various international groupings and agreements involving India and other states. 
• The effects of policies and politics of other countries on Indian interests and the Indian diaspora. 
• Key international entities, institutions, agencies, their mandates, and structures. 

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General Studies 3 (GS 3)

The UPSC Mains syllabus for GS 3 includes the subjects of Economic Development, Environment, Disaster Management & Security, Technology, and Biodiversity. I have listed below the points in detail:

1. Economy 

• The economy of India and planning-related issues. 
• Government budgeting. 
• Inclusive growth and issues/challenges associated with it. 
• Liberalization and its effects on the economy (post-1991). 
• Infrastructure – Ports, Airports, Roads, Energy, Railways, etc. 
• Investment models like PPP, etc. 

2. Agriculture 

• Predominant cropping patterns in various parts of the nation, various types of irrigation techniques and systems, storage, marketing, transportation of agricultural produce,
• Challenges/issues related to it include using e-technology in the agricultural sector. 
• Rearing of animals and the economics related to it. 
• Industries related to food processing and its kind in India – significance and scope, upstream-downstream requirements, location, supply chain management. 
• Problems related to indirect and direct farm subsidies and minimum support prices;
• Objectives of Public Distribution System, functioning and its limitations, revamping; 
• Food security and buffer stock issues; technological missions. 
• Land Reforms in India 

3. Science & Technology

• Recent technological developments and their effects. 
• Indians and their achievements in science & technology. 
• Indigenous technological innovation and the development of new tech. 
• General Awareness of Space, IT, Robotics, Computers, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. 
• Problems related to intellectual property rights.

4. Environment

• Conservation 
• Pollution of the environment and its degradation 
• EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) 
• Disaster Management (Act, laws, etc.) 

5. Security 

• Challenges to internal security (non-state actors and external state) 
• How extremism develops and spreads. 
• Internal security challenges about the communication networks. 
• Fundamentals of cyber security; money laundering and how to prevent it. 
• Challenges to security and managing security in border areas;
• The connection between organized crime and terrorism. 
• The names of the various security agencies and forces and their mandates. 

UPSC Syllabus for Mains paper: General Studies 4 (GS 4)

The IAS syllabus for GS 4 includes topics that will test candidates' sense of Integrity, Ethics, and Aptitude. 

The GS 4 paper contains questions to check candidates' approach and attitude in situations requiring integrity, uprightness, and problem-solving capabilities. The paper's syllabus also includes some case studies.

1. Human Interface & Ethics 

• The essence of ethics, the determinants & consequences in human interaction. 
• Dimensions of Ethics 
• Ethics in public and private relationships 
• Human values. 
• The role of one’s family, society, and educational institutes in developing ethical and moral values in him/her.

2. Attitude 

• The content of attitude. 
• The influence of attitude in behaviour and thought. 
• The relation of attitude to behaviour and thought. 
• Political and Moral attitudes. 
• Persuasion and social influence. 

3. Aptitude

• The foundational values and aptitude of civil services. 
• Integrity 
• Non-partisanship and impartiality. 
• Objectivity 
• Dedication to serving the public 
• Compassion towards society’s weaker sections. 

4. Emotional Intelligence

• The concept of emotional intelligence
• The application and utility of emotional intelligence.

5. Contributions of Philosophers and Thinkers 

• From the world and India to the concepts of morality. 

6. Ethics in Public Administration and Civil/public service values 

• Associated Problems and Status 
• Dilemmas and Ethical concerns in private institutions and the government 
• Regulation, rules, laws, and conscience as the source of ethical guidance 
• Ethical governance and Accountability 
• Consolidation of moral and ethical values in governance 
• Ethical Issues in funding and international relations 
• Corporate governance. 

7. Probity in Governance 

• Concept of public service 
• Governance & probity and its philosophical basis 
• Transparency & information sharing in government 
• Right to Information 
• Codes of ethics 
• Codes of conduct 
• Citizen’s charters 
• Work culture 
• Quality of service delivery 
• Utilization of public funds 
• Challenges of corruption 

UPSC Mains Syllabus for Optional subject (2 papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2)

Candidates need to choose a subject they have an in-depth understanding of for the optional subject papers. 

The UPSC allows you to choose one optional subject from out of 26. There’ll be 2 papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, of 250 marks each about your chosen subject. 

UPSC Syllabus for Language Papers: (Any Indian Language & English)

Literature subjects for language papers, likewise the UPSC optional subjects, are a part of the Mains Exam; in these papers, there’d be: 

• An essay question of 100 marks where candidates have to select one out of a few topics. 
• 5-6 questions related to reading comprehension: of a maximum of 60 marks. 
• Precis writing questions worth 60 marks, which candidates have to attempt on special answer sheets with grid lines. 
• Translation-based questions: English to the chosen Indian language & vice versa for 20 marks each, totalling 40 marks. 
• Questions based on grammar, synonyms, sentence corrections, and basic language usage of 40 marks. 

While the English language is a compulsory subject for language papers, the following is the list of 22 subjects from which candidates can pick the most appropriate literature subject for language paper: 

Factors for Choosing Optional and Language Subjects

Candidates must choose their optional and language subjects after proper consideration. These are some factors that you should keep in mind:

1. Analyzing the optional subjects: Analyze the syllabus. It’s essential to consider the length of the syllabus and the general studies subjects to be covered. 
2. Familiarity with the subject: Although aspirants come from different streams, the optional subject should be a leverage. Therefore, choosing an optional subject they are familiar with is advisable. 
3. Having reliable study materials: Preparing for a 500-mark optional paper is no cakewalk and requires appropriate study resources. Ensure access to good study material for the relevant subject.
4. Choosing a subject of interest: Avoid going after a subject with a high success ratio. Instead, select a subject based on interest.

What is the syllabus for the IAS Interview?

Since the purpose of the IAS interview is to evaluate the candidate's personality for a career in public service by a board of qualified and objective observers, there isn't a set syllabus for the interview. Mental alertness, critical assimilation skills, logical and clear explanation, judgmental balance, depth and variety of interest, leadership and social cohesion abilities, and intellectual and moral integrity are some of the attributes that will be evaluated.

The interview consists of 275 marks. here are some points 

Try preparing for questions about personal details like ethnicity, hometown, community, childhood, educational institutions, etc.

1. Prepare for questions that will revolve around interests and hobbies.
2. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest in the current events both within and outside their own state or country and in modern currents of thought and new discoveries.
3. Prepare for hypothetical questions by practising situation-based questions before the interview.

The interview round evaluates the candidate intellectually and judges the candidate’s social traits and interest in current affairs.

How to cover the UPSC syllabus 2025? 

It is essential to understand the UPSC Syllabus 2025. Once candidates know the syllabus thoroughly, they can start strategizing a study plan to cover the syllabus.

• Various books are available on the market, so it is important to carefully make a concise booklist after researching.
• Practice UPSC's previous year's question papers after covering every section for efficient learning.
• Revision is 85% of the game. Hence, to improve retention, must revise.

UPSC Syllabus 2025 FAQs