CSE Mains General Studies Paper - I

(Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
from ancient to modern times.

Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present
significant events, personalities, issues.

The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors or contributions
from different parts of the country.

Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.

History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution,
world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political
philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. - their forms and effect on the
society.

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

Role of women and womens organization, population and associated issues, poverty
and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Effects of globalization on Indian society.

Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Salient features of worlds physical geography.

Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the
Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and
tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).

Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity,

cyclone etc., geographical features and their location - changes in critical geographical
features (including waterbodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of
such changes.
CSE Mains General Studies Paper - II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)

Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,

significant provisions and basic structure.

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges
pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels
and challenges therein.

Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and

institutions.

Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these.

Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and
Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and
their role in the Polity.

Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of

various Constitutional Bodies.

Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation.

Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and
the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted
for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to

Health, Education, Human Resources.

Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency
& accountability and institutional and other measures.

Role of civil services in a democracy.

India and its neighborhood- relations.

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
Indias interests.

Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Indias interests,
Indian diaspora.

Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

CSE Mains General Studies Paper - III

(Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster

Management)

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth,

development and employment.

Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

Government Budgeting.

Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation
and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues
and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.

Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public
Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer
stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location,
upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

Land reforms in India.

Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth.

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.

Investment models.

Science and Technology - developments and their applications and effects in everyday
life Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and
developing new technology.

Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-

technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact

assessment.

Disaster and disaster management.

Linkages between development and spread of extremism.

 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and

social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-
laundering and its prevention.

Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime
with terrorism.

Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

CSE Mains General Studies Paper - IV

(Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)

This paper will include questions to test the candidates attitude and approach to issues relating
to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and
conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to
determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered.

Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human
actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values
lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role
of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and
behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-
partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion
towards the weakersections.

Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and

governance.

Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems;
ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules,
regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical
governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in
international relations and funding; corporate governance.

Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and

probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information,
Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizens Charters, Work culture, Quality of service
delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

Case Studies on above issues.

UPSC CSE Mains Economics Syllabus

Paper - I

1. Advanced Micro Economics:

(a) Marshallian and Walrasiam Approaches to Price determination.

(b) Alternative Distribution Theories: Ricardo, Kaldor, Kaleeki
(c) Markets Structure: Monopolistic Competition, Duopoly, Oligopoly.
(d) Modern Welfare Criteria: Pareto Hicks & Scitovsky, Arrows Impossibility Theorem, A.K.
Sens Social Welfare Function.

2. Advanced Macro Economics: Approaches to Employment Income and Interest Rate

determination: Classical, Keynes (IS-LM) curve, Neo classical synthesis and New classical,
Theories of Interest Rate determination and Interest Rate Structure.

3. Money - Banking and Finance:

(a) Demand for and Supply of Money: Money Multiplier Quantity Theory of Money (Fisher,
Pique and Friedman) and Keynes Theory on Demand for Money, Goals and Instruments of
Monetary Management in Closed and Open Economies. Relation between the Central Bank and
the Treasury. Proposal for ceiling on growth rate of money.

(b) Public Finance and its Role in Market Economy: In stabilization of supply, allocation of
resources and in distribution and development. Sources of Govt. revenue, forms of Taxes and
Subsidies, their incidence and effects. Limits to taxation, loans, crowding-out effects and limits
to borrowings. Public Expenditure and its effects.

4. International Economics:

(a) Old and New Theories of International Trade

(i) Comparative Advantage

(ii) Terms of Trade and Offer Curve.
(iii) Product Cycle and Strategic Trade Theories.
(iv) Trade as an engine of growth and theories of under development in an open
economy.

(b) Forms of Protection: Tariff and quota.

(c) Balance of Payments Adjustments: Alternative Approaches.

(i) Price versus income, income adjustments under fixed exchange rates,
(ii) Theories of Policy Mix
(iii) Exchange rate adjustments under capital mobility
(iv) Floating Rates and their Implicationns for Developing Countries: Currency Boards.
 (v) Trade Policy and Developing Countries.
(vi) BOP, adjustments and Policy Coordination in open economy macro-model.
(vii) Speculative attacks
(viii) Trade Blocks and Monetary Unions.
(ix) WTO: TRIMS, TRIPS, Domestic Measures, Different Rounds of WTO talks.

5. Growth and Development:

(a) Theories of growth:

(i) Harrods model,

(ii) Lewis model of development with surplus labour
(iii) Balanced and Unbalanced growth,
(iv) Human Capital and Economic Growth.
(v) Research and Development and Economic Growth

(b) Process of Economic Development of Less developed countries: Myrdal and Kuzments on
economic development and structural change: Role of Agriculture in Economic Development of
less developed countries.

(c) Economic development and International Trade and Investment, Role of Multinationals.

(d) Planning and Economic Development: changing role of Markets and Planning, Private-
Public Partnership

(e) Welfare indicators and measures of growth Human Development Indices. The basic needs
approach.

(f) Development and Environmental Sustainability Renewable and Non Renewable Resources,
Environmental Degradation, Intergenerational equity development.

Paper - II

1. Indian Economy in Pre-Independence Era: Land System and its changes,

Commercialization of agriculture, Drain theory, Laissez faire theory and critique. Manufacture
and Transport: Jute, Cotton, Railways, Money and Credit.

2. Indian Economy after Independence:

A The Pre Liberalization Era:

(i) Contribution of Vakil, Gadgil and V.K.R.V. Rao.

(ii) Agriculture: Land Reforms and land tenure system, Green Revolution and capital
formation in agriculture,
(iii) Industry Trends in composition and growth, Role of public and private sector, Small
scale and cottage industries.
 (iv) National and Per capita income: patterns, trends, aggregate and Sectoral composition
and changes their in.
(v) Broad factors determining National Income and distribution, Measures of poverty,
Trends in poverty and inequality.

B The Post Liberalization Era:

(i) New Economic Reform and Agriculture: Agriculture and WTO, Food processing,
Subsidies, Agricultural prices and public distribution system, Impact of public
expenditure on agricultural growth.
(ii) New Economic Policy and Industry: Strategy of industrialization, Privatization,
Disinvestments, Role of foreign direct investment and multinationals.
(iii) New Economic Policy and Trade: Intellectual property rights: Implications of
TRIPS, TRIMS, GATS and new EXIM policy.
(iv) New Exchange Rate Regime: Partial and full convertibility, Capital account
convertibility.
(v) New Economic Policy and Public Finance: Fiscal Responsibility Act, Twelfth
Finance Commission and Fiscal Federalism and Fiscal Consolidation.
(vi) New Economic Policy and Monetary system. Role of RBI under the new regime.
(vii) Planning: From central Planning to indicative planning, Relation between planning
and markets for growth and decentralized planning: 73rd and 74th Constitutional
amendments.
(viii) New Economic Policy and Employment: Employment and poverty, Rural wages,
Employment Generation, Poverty alleviation schemes, New Rural, Employment
Guarantee Scheme.
UPSC CSE Mains Geography Syllabus

Paper - I

Principles of Geography Physical Geography:

1. Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic

forces; Origin and evolution of the earths crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical
conditions of the earths interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics;
Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of
geomorphic cycles and Landscape development ; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology;
Erosion surfaces; Slope development ; Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic
geology and environment.

2. Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth;
Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds;
Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones;
Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppens, Thornthwaites and
Trewarthas classification of world climates; Hydrological cycle; Global climatic change and
role and response of man in climatic changes, Applied climatology and Urban climate.

3. Oceanography: Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans; Temperature
and salinity of the oceans; Heat and salt budgets, Ocean deposits; Waves, currents and tides;
Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources; Coral reefs, coral bleaching; sealevel
changes; law of the sea and marine pollution.

4. Biogeography: Genesis of soils; Classification and distribution of soils; Soil profile; Soil
erosion, Degradation and conservation; Factors influencing world distribution of plants and
animals; Problems of deforestation and conservation measures; Social forestry; agro-forestry;
Wild life; Major gene pool centres.

5. Environmental Geography: Principle of ecology; Human ecological adaptations; Influence

of man on ecology and environment; Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances;
Ecosystem their management and conservation; Environmental degradation, management and
conservation; Biodiversity and sustainable development; Environmental policy; Environmental
hazards and remedial measures; Environmental education and legislation.

Human Geography:

1. Perspectives in Human Geography: Areal differentiation; regional synthesis; Dichotomy

and dualism; Environmentalism; Quantitative revolution and locational analysis; radical,
behavioural, human and welfare approaches; Languages, religions and secularisation; Cultural
regions of the world; Human development index.

2. Economic Geography: World economic development: measurement and problems; World

resources and their distribution; Energy crisis; the limits to growth; World agriculture: typology
of agricultural regions; agricultural inputs and productivity; Food and nutrition problems; Food
security; famine: causes, effects and remedies; World industries: locational patterns and
problems; patterns of world trade.

3. Population and Settlement Geography: Growth and distribution of world population;

demographic attributes; Causes and consequences of migration; concepts of over-under-and
optimum population; Population theories, world population problems and policies, Social well-
being and quality of life; Population as social capital. Types and patterns of rural settlements;
Environmental issues in rural settlements; Hierarchy of urban settlements; Urban morphology:
Concepts of primate city and rank-size rule; Functional classification of towns; Sphere of urban
influence; Rural - urban fringe; Satellite towns; Problems and remedies of urbanization;
Sustainable development of cities.

4. Regional Planning: Concept of a region; Types of regions and methods of regionalisation;

Growth centres and growth poles; Regional imbalances; regional development strategies;
environmental issues in regional planning; Planning for sustainable development.

5. Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography: Systems analysis in Human geography;
Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models; Central Place theories of Christaller
and Losch;Perroux and Boudeville; Von Thunens model of agricultural location; Webers
model of industrial location; Ostovs model of stages of growth. Heartland and Rimland theories;
Laws of international boundaries and frontiers.

Paper II

Geography of India

1. Physical Setting: Space relationship of India with neighboring countries; Structure and relief;
Drainage system and watersheds; Physiographic regions; Mechanism of Indian monsoons and
rainfall patterns, Tropical cyclones and western disturbances; Floods and droughts; Climatic
regions; Natural vegetation; Soil types and their distributions.

2. Resources: Land, surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources;
Forest and wild life resources and their conservation; Energy crisis.

3. Agriculture: Infrastructure: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power; Institutional factors: land

holdings, land tenure and land reforms; Cropping pattern, agricultural productivity, agricultural
intensity, crop combination, land capability; Agro and socialforestry; Green revolution and its
socioeconomic and ecological implications; Significance of dry farming; Livestock resources
and white revolution; aqua - culture; sericulture, apiculture and poultry; agricultural
regionalisation; agro-climatic
zones; agro- ecological regions.

4. Industry: Evolution of industries; Locational factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel,
aluminium, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based
industries; Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings; Industrial
regionalisation; New industrial policies; Multinationals and liberalization; Special Economic
Zones; Tourism including eco -tourism.

5. Transport, Communication and Trade: Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline
networks and their complementary roles in regional development; Growing importance of ports
on national and foreign trade; Trade balance; Trade Policy; Export processing zones;
Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and
society; Indian space programme.

6. Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society; Racial, linguistic and ethnic
diversities; religious minorities; major tribes, tribal areas and their problems; cultural regions;
Growth, distribution and density of population; Demographic attributes: sex-ratio, age structure,
literacy rate, work-force, dependency ratio, longevity; migration (inter-regional, intra- regional
and international) and associated problems; Population problems and policies; Health indicators.

7. Settlements: Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements; Urban developments;

Morphology of Indian cities; Functional classification of Indian cities; Conurbations and
metropolitan regions; urban sprawl; Slums and associated problems; town planning; Problems of
urbanization and remedies.

8. Regional Development and Planning: Experience of regional planning in India; Five Year
Plans; Integrated rural development programmes; Panchayati Raj and decentralised planning;
Command area development; Watershed management; Planning for backward area, desert,
drought prone, hill, tribal area development; multi-level planning; Regional planning and
development of island territories.

9. Political Aspects: Geographical basis of Indian federalism; State reorganisation; Emergence

of new states; Regional consciousness and inter state issues; international boundary of India and
related issues; Cross border terrorism; Indias role in world affairs; Geopolitics of South Asia
and Indian Ocean realm.

10. Contemporary Issues: Ecological issues: Environmental hazards: landslides, earthquakes,

Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics; Issues relating to environmental pollution; Changes
in patterns of land use; Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental
management; Population explosion and food security; Environmental degradation; Deforestation,
desertification and soil erosion; Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest; Regional disparities
in economic development; Concept of sustainable growth and development; Environmental
awareness; Linkage of rivers; Globalisation and Indian economy.

NOTE: Candidates will be required to answer one compulsory map question pertinent to
subjects covered by this paper.
UPSC CSE Mains History Syllabus

Paper - I

1. Sources: Archaeological sources:Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics,

monuments Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature,
literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature. Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese
and Arab writers.

2. Pre-history and Proto-history: Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and
mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic).

3. Indus Valley Civilization: Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and
significance, art and architecture.

4. Megalithic Cultures: Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus,
Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and
Iron industry.

5. Aryans and Vedic Period: Expansions of Aryans in India. Vedic Period: Religious and
philosophic literature; Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; Political,
social and economical life; Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna
system.

6. Period of Mahajanapadas: Formation of States (Mahajanapada): Republics and monarchies;

Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage; Spread of
Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. Iranian and Macedonian invasions and
their impact.

7. Mauryan Empire: Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and

Arthashastra; Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art,
architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion;
Literature.Disintegration of the empire; Sungas and Kanvas.

8. Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas): Contact

with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions,
Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India: Kharavela, The
Satavahanas, Tamil States of the Sangam Age; Administration, economy, land grants, coinage,
trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and
architecture.

10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas: Polity and administration, Economic conditions,
Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system,
Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi,
Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

11. Regional States during Gupta Era: The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami; Polity
and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. Tamil
Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture;
Palas, Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. Arab
conquest of Sind; Alberuni, The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; Polity and
Administration; local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of
temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society.

12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History: Languages and texts, major stages in the
evolution of art and architecture, major philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and
Mathematics.

13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200: Polity: Major political developments in Northern India
and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs; The Cholas: administration, village economy
and society; Indian Feudalism; Agrarian economy and urban settlements; Trade and
commerce; Society: the status of the Brahman and the new social order; Condition of
women; Indian science and technology

14. Cultural Traditions in India, 750-1200: Philosophy: Skankaracharya and Vedanta,

Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita, Madhva and Brahma-Mimansa; Religion: Forms and features of
religion, Tamil devotional cult, growth of Bhakti, Islam and its arrival in India,
Sufism; Literature: Literature in Sanskrit, growth of Tamil literature, literature in the newly
developing languages, Kalhans Rajtarangini, Alberunis India; Art and Architecture: Temple
architecture, sculpture, painting

15. The Thirteenth Century: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate: The Ghurian invasions
factors behind Ghurian success; Economic, social and cultural consequences; Foundation of
Delhi Sultanate and early Turkish Sultans; Consolidation: The rule of Iltutmish and Balban

16. The Fourteenth Century: The Khalji Revolution; Alauddin Khalji: Conquests and
territorial expansion, agrarian and economic measures; Muhammad Tughluq: Major projects,
agrarian measures, bureaucracy of Muhammad Tughluq; Firuz Tughluq: Agrarian measures,
achievements in civil engineering and public works, decline of the Sultanate, foreign contacts
and Ibn Battutas account;

17. Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries: Society:
composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and
slavery under the Sultanate, Bhakti movement, Sufi movement; Culture: Persian literature,
literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India,
Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite
culture; Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural
production, trade and commerce
18. The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century: Political Developments and Economy: Rise of
Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids; The
Vijayanagra Empire; Lodis; Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun; The Sur Empire:
Sher Shahs administration; Portuguese Colonial enterprise; Bhakti and Sufi Movements

19. The Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Century - Society and Culture: Regional cultural
specificities; Literary traditions; Provincial architecture; Society, culture, literature and the arts in
Vijayanagara Empire.

20. Akbar: Conquests and consolidation of the Empire; Establishment of Jagir and Mansab
systems; Rajput policy; Evolution of religious and social outlook, theory of Sulh-i-kul and
religious policy; Court patronage of art and technology

21. Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century: Major administrative policies of Jahangir,
Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; The Empire and the Zamindars; Religious policies of Jahangir,
Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; Nature of the Mughal State; Late Seventeenth century crisis and the
revolts; The Ahom Kingdom; Shivaji and the early Maratha Kingdom.

22. Economy and Society in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: Population,
agricultural production, craft production; Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English
and French companies : a trade revolution; Indian mercantile classes, banking, insurance and
credit systems; Condition of peasants, condition of women; Evolution of the Sikh community
and the Khalsa Panth

23. Culture in the Mughal Empire: Persian histories and other literature; Hindi and other
religious literature; Mughal architecture; Mughal painting; Provincial architecture and
painting; Classical music; Science and technology

24. The Eighteenth Century: Factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire; The regional
principalities: Nizams Deccan, Bengal, Awadh; Maratha ascendancy under the Peshwas; The
Maratha fiscal and financial system; Emergence of Afghan Power, Battle of Panipat: 1761; State
of politics, culture and economy on the eve of the British conquest

Paper - II

1. European Penetration into India: The Early European Settlements; The Portuguese and the
Dutch; The English and the French East India Companies; Their struggle for supremacy;
Carnatic Wars; Bengal -The conflict between the English and the Nawabs of Bengal; Siraj and
the English; The Battle of Plassey; Significance of Plassey.

2. British Expansion in India: Bengal Mir Jafar and Mir Kasim; The Battle of Buxar;
Mysore; The Marathas; The three Anglo-Maratha Wars; The Punjab.

3. Early Structure of the British Raj: The early administrative structure; From diarchy to
direct control; The Regulating Act (1773); The Pitts India Act (1784); The Charter Act (1833);
The voice of free trade and the changing character of British colonial rule; The English utilitarian
and India.

4. Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule: Land revenue settlements in British India; The
Permanent Settlement; Ryotwari Settlement; Mahalwari Settlement; Economic impact of the
revenue; arrangements; Commercialization of agriculture; Rise of landless agrarian labourers;
Impoverishment of the rural society; Dislocation of traditional trade and commerce; De-
industrialisation; Decline of traditional crafts; Drain of wealth; Economic transformation of
India; Railroad and communication network including telegraph and postal services; Famine and
poverty in the rural interior; European business enterprise and its limitations.

5. Social and Cultural Developments: The state of indigenous education, its dislocation;
Orientalist - Anglicist controversy, The introduction of western education in India; The rise of
press, literature and public opinion; The rise of modern vernacular literature; Progress of science;
Christian missionary activities in India.

6. Social and Religious Reform movements in Bengal and Other Areas: Ram Mohan Roy,
The Brahmo Movement; Devendranath Tagore; Iswarchandra Vidyasagar; The Young Bengal
Movement; Dayanada Saraswati; The social reform movements in India including Sati, widow
remarriage, child marriage etc.; The
contribution of Indian renaissance to the growth of modern India; Islamic revivalism the
Feraizi and Wahabi Movements.

7. Indian Response to British Rule: Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and
19th centuries including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla
Rebellion in Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan
Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899- 1900); The Great Revolt of 1857 - Origin,
character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift in the character of peasant uprisings in
the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.

8. Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism; Politics of Association; The Foundation of
the Indian National Congress; The Safety-valve thesis relating to the birth of the Congress;
Programme and objectives of Early Congress; the social composition of early Congress
leadership; the Moderates and Extremists; The Partition of Bengal (1905); The Swadeshi
Movement in Bengal; the economic and political aspects of Swadeshi Movement; The beginning
of revolutionary extremism in India.

9. Rise of Gandhi; Character of Gandhian nationalism; Gandhis popular appeal; Rowlatt

Satyagraha; the Khilafat Movement; the Non-cooperation Movement; National politics from the
end of the Non-cooperation movement to the beginning of the Civil Disobedience movement; the
two phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement; Simon Commission; The Nehru Report; the
Round Table Conferences; Nationalism and the Peasant Movements; Nationalism and Working
class movements; Women and Indian youth and students in Indian politics (1885-1947); the
election of 1937 and the formation of ministries; Cripps Mission; the Quit India Movement; the
Wavell Plan; The Cabinet Mission.
10. Constitutional Developments in the Colonial India between 1858 and 1935

11. Other strands in the National Movement The Revolutionaries: Bengal, the Punjab,
Maharashtra, U.P, the Madras Presidency, Outside India. The Left; The Left within the
Congress: Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress Socialist Party; the Communist
Party of India, other left parties.

12. Politics of Separatism; the Muslim League; the Hindu Mahasabha; Communalism and the
politics of partition; Transfer of power; Independence.

13. Consolidation as a Nation; Nehrus Foreign Policy; India and her neighbours (1947-1964);
The linguistic reorganisation of States (1935-1947); Regionalism and regional inequality;
Integration of Princely States; Princes in electoral politics; the Question of National Language.

14. Caste and Ethnicity after 1947; Backward castes and tribes in postcolonial electoral politics;
Dalit movements.

15. Economic development and political change; Land reforms; the politics of planning and rural
reconstruction; Ecology and environmental policy in post - colonial India; Progress of science.

16. Enlightenment and Modern ideas: Major ideas of Enlightenment: Kant, Rousseau; Spread
of Enlightenment in the colonies; Rise of socialist ideas (up to Marx); spread of Marxian
Socialism

17. Origins of Modern Politics: European States System; American Revolution and the
Constitution; French revolution and aftermath, 1789- 1815; American Civil War with reference
to Abraham Lincoln and the abolition of slavery; British Democratic Politics, 1815- 1850;
Parliamentary Reformers, Free Traders, Chartists.

18. Industrialization: English Industrial Revolution: Causes and Impact on

Society; Industrialization in other countries: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan; Industrialization and
Globalization.

19. Nation-State System: Rise of Nationalism in 19th century; Nationalism: state-building in

Germany and Italy; Disintegration of Empires in the face of the emergence of nationalities across
the world.

20. Imperialism and Colonialism: South and South-East Asia; Latin America and South
Africa; Australia; Imperialism and free trade: Rise of neo-imperialism.

21. Revolution and Counter-Revolution: 19th Century European revolutions, The Russian
Revolution of 1917- 1921, Fascist Counter-Revolution, Italy and Germany; The Chinese
Revolution of 1949

22. World Wars: 1st and 2nd World Wars as Total Wars: Societal implications; World War I:
Causes and consequences; World War II: Causes and consequence
23. The World after World War II: Emergence of two power blocs; Emergence of Third
World and non-alignment; UNO and the global disputes.

24. Liberation from Colonial Rule: Latin America-Bolivar; Arab World-Egypt; Africa-
Apartheid to Democracy; South-East Asia-Vietnam

25. Decolonization and Underdevelopment: Factors constraining development: Latin America,

Africa

26. Unification of Europe: Post War Foundations: NATO and European

Community; Consolidation and Expansion of European Community; European Union.

27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World: Factors leading to the
collapse of Soviet communism and the Soviet Union, 1985-1991; Political Changes in Eastern
Europe 1989-2001; End of the cold war and US ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower.
UPSC CSE Public Administration Syllabus

Paper - I

Administrative Theory

1. Introduction: Meaning, scope and significance of Public Administration; Wilsons vision of

Public Administration; Evolution of the discipline and its present status; New Public
Administration; Public Choice approach; Challenges of liberalization, Privatisation,
Globalisation; Good Governance: concept and application; New Public Management.

2. Administrative Thought: Scientific Management and Scientific Management movement;

Classical Theory; Webers bureaucratic model its critique and post-Weberian Developments;
Dynamic Administration (Mary Parker Follett); Human Relations School (Elton Mayo and
others); Functions of the Executive (C.I. Barnard); Simons decision-making theory;
Participative Management (R. Likert, C. Argyris, D. McGregor).

3. Administrative Behaviour: Process and techniques of decision-making; Communication;

Morale; Motivation Theories content, process and contemporary; Theories of Leadership:
Traditional and Modern.

4. Organisations: Theories systems, contingency; Structure and forms: Ministries and

Departments, Corporations, Companies, Boards and Commissions; Ad hoc and advisory bodies;
Headquarters and Field relationships; Regulatory Authorities; Public - Private Partnerships.

5. Accountability and control: Concepts of accountability and control; Legislative, Executive

and Judicial control over administration; Citizen and Administration; Role of media, interest
groups, voluntary organizations; Civil society;Citizens Charters; Right to Information; Social
audit.

6. Administrative Law: Meaning, scope and significance; Dicey on Administrative law;

Delegated legislation; Administrative Tribunals.

7. Comparative Public Administration: Historical and sociological factors affecting

administrative systems; Administration and politics in different countries; Current status of
Comparative Public Administration; Ecology and administration; Riggsian models and their
critique.

8. Development Dynamics: Concept of development; Changing profile of development

administration; Antidevelopment thesis; Bureaucracy and development; Strong state versus the
market debate; Impact of liberalisation on administration in developing countries; Women and
development - the self-help group movement.

9. Personnel Administration: Importance of human resource development; Recruitment,

training, career advancement, position classification, discipline, performance appraisal,
promotion, pay and service conditions; employer-employee relations, grievance redressal
mechanism; Code of conduct; Administrative ethics.

10. Public Policy: Models of policy-making and their critique; Processes of conceptualisation,
planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review and their limitations; State theories
and public policy formulation.

11. Techniques of Administrative Improvement: Organisation and methods, Work study and
work management; e-governance and information technology; Management aid tools like
network analysis, MIS, PERT, CPM.

12. Financial Administration: Monetary and fiscal policies; Public borrowings and public debt
Budgets - types and forms; Budgetary process; Financial accountability; Accounts and audit.

Paper - II

Indian Administration

1. Evolution of Indian Administration: Kautilyas Arthashastra; Mughal administration;

Legacy of British rule in politics and administration - Indianization of public services, revenue
administration, district administration, local self-government.

2. Philosophical and Constitutional framework of government: Salient features and value

premises; Constitutionalism; Political culture; Bureaucracy and democracy; Bureaucracy and
development.

3. Public Sector Undertakings: Public sector in modern India; Forms of Public Sector
Undertakings; Problems of autonomy, accountability and control; Impact of liberalization and
privatization.

4. Union Government and Administration: Executive, Parliament, Judiciary - structure,

functions, work processes; Recent trends; Intragovernmental relations; Cabinet Secretariat;
Prime Ministers Office; Central Secretariat; Ministries and Departments; Boards; Commissions;
Attached offices; Field organizations.

5. Plans and Priorities: Machinery of planning; Role, composition and functions of the
Planning Commission and the National Development Council; Indicative planning; Process of
plan formulation at Union and State levels; Constitutional Amendments (1992) and decentralized
planning for economic development and social justice.

6. State Government and Administration: Union-State administrative, legislative

and financial relations; Role of the Finance Commission; Governor; Chief Minister; Council of
Ministers; Chief Secretary; State Secretariat; Directorates.
7. District Administration since Independence: Changing role of the Collector; Unionstate-
local relations; Imperatives of development management and law and order administration;
District administration and democratic decentralization.

8. Civil Services: Constitutional position; Structure, recruitment, training and capacity-building;

Good governance initiatives; Code of conduct and discipline; Staff associations; Political rights;
Grievance redressal mechanism; Civil service neutrality; Civil service activism.

9. Financial Management: Budget as a political instrument; Parliamentary control of public

expenditure; Role of finance ministry in monetary and fiscal area; Accounting techniques;
Audit; Role of Controller General of Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

10. Administrative Reforms since Independence: Major concerns; Important Committees and
Commissions; Reforms in financial management and human resource development; Problems of
implementation.

11. Rural Development: Institutions and agencies since independence; Rural development
programmes: foci and strategies; Decentralization and Panchayati Raj; 73rd Constitutional
amendment.

12. Urban Local Government: Municipal governance: main features, structures, finance and
problem areas; 74th Constitutional Amendment; Globallocal debate; New localism;
Development dynamics, politics and administration with special reference to city management.

13. Law and Order Administration: British legacy; National Police Commission; Investigative
agencies; Role of central and state agencies including paramilitary forces in maintenance of law
and order and countering insurgency and terrorism; Criminalisation of politics and
administration; Police- public relations; Reforms in Police.

14. Significant issues in Indian Administration: Values in public service; Regulatory

Commissions; National Human Rights Commission; Problems of administration in coalition
regimes; Citizen-administration interface; Corruption and administration; Disaster management.