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 Content
01 Prelims

02 Mains

03 Optionals

04 NCERT Books

05 Tips

06 Notes Making

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Prelims

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UPSC Interview Guide

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 Exam Pattern & Syllabus for UPSC Prelims
Two Compulsory Papers - General Studies Paper-I
- General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)
Number of Questions asked in GS 100
Paper-I

Number of Questions asked in CSAT 80

Total Number of Marks 400;

• GS Paper-1 – 200 Marks
• CSAT - 200 Marks

Negative Marking 1/3 of the total marks allotted to the question will
be deducted for every wrong answer

Time Allotted • GS Paper-1 – 2 Hours (9:30 AM -11:30 AM)

• CSAT – 2 Hours (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

GS 1 GS 2 (CSAT)
• Current events of national and • Comprehension
international importance.
• History of India and Indian National • Interpersonal skills including
Movement. communication skills
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, • Logical reasoning and analytical
Social, Economic Geography of India ability
and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – • Decision-making and problem solving
Constitution, Political System,
Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights
Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – • General mental ability
Sustainable Development, Poverty,
Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector
initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental • Basic numeracy (numbers and their
Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) –
Change – that do not require subject Class X level)
specialisation
• General Science • Data interpretation (charts, graphs,
tables, data suf ciency etc. – Class X
level)
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Mains

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 Marking Scheme
Paper Subject Nature of the paper Duration Marks
Paper A Compulsory Indian Language Qualifying 3 hours 300

Paper B Compulsory English Language Qualifying 3 hours 300

Paper I Essay Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper II General Studies I Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper III General Studies II Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper IV General Studies III Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper V General Studies IV Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper VI Optional Paper I Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Paper VII Optional Paper II Merit ranking 3 hours 250

Note : 75 marks (25%) require to qualify in each Language paper, otherwise GS

papers will not check

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 Essay
GS Topics Philosophical
1. Essay – 100 marks 1. Attitude
2. Reading comprehension – 60 2. Discipline
marks 3. Character
3. Precis Writing – 60 marks 4. Success
4. Translation:
◦ English to compulsory
language (e.g. Hindi) – 20
marks
◦ Compulsory language to
English – 20 marks
5. Grammar and basic language
usage – 40 marks

Compulsory Language Paper

English Paper Indian Language Paper
1. Essay – 100 marks 1. Comprehension of given
2. Reading comprehension – 60 passages.
marks 2. Precis Writing.
3. Precis Writing – 60 marks 3. Usage and Vocabulary.
4. Translation: 4. Short Essays.
◦ English to compulsory 5. Translation from English to the
language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 Indian Language and vice-
marks versa.
◦ Compulsory language to
English – 20 marks
5. Grammar and basic language
usage – 40 marks

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 GS - 1
Subject Topics Source Weightage
Art and Art Forms, literature Nitin Singhania Every Year 2-3
Culture and Architecture Question
Modern - Events from 1757 - Spectrum 5- 6 Questions
Indian 1947
History - Freedom Struggle
- Post Independence
Consolidation
World Events from 18 Any Coaching Zero or 1 Question
History Century Module every alternate year
- Industrial revolution ( Poor Cost of
- World wars Reading)
- Decolonisation
- Political philosophy
Society - Society & diversity Class 11 & 12 More Than 5
of India NCERT Questions every
- Woman Year
empowerment
- Globalisation
- Secularism
- Communalism
- Regionalism
Geography - Distribution of the - Class 11th More Than 5
natural resources NCERT Questions every
- Geographical - Mrunal Year
phenomena like Videos
earthquake,
tsunami, volcano

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 GS - 2
Subject Topics Source Weightage
Constitution - Constitution Evolution - Laxmikant Almost 50% of Mains
- Separation of Power h Polity Paper from this part
- Comparison with Other - 11th
Countries NCERT
- Parliament & Judiciary
- Representation of
People’s Act.
- Constitutional & Quasi
Judicial Bodies
Governance - E governance - Any 3-4 Questions Every
- Citizen Charter Coaching Year
- Transparency & Module
Accountability
- Role of Civil Services
Welfare - Poverty & Hunger - Internet & 2- 3 Questions
- Health & Education Current
- Welfare Schemes Affairs
- Role of NGO & SHG
International - Indian neighbourhood - Any Important for prelims,
Relation Relations Coaching mains and even in
- International Module interview. cover
organisation and - Current almost 4 to 5 question
agencies like UN, WTO Affairs in Mains exam
etc.
- International Groups like
G20, SAARC etc.
- Indians Diaspora

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 GS - 3
Subject Topics Source Weightage
Economy - Indian Economy issues - Economy 11th Almost 40% of
- Inclusive Growth NCERT Mains Paper
- Budgeting - Mrunal from this part
- Infrastructure YouTube
- Investments Model - Current
Agriculture - Crops Patterns - Any Coaching 2-3 Questions
- Irrigation Module Every Year
- Marketing of Agriculture - Shankar IAS
produce - Current Affairs
- E technology for Farmers
- Food processing
- PDS & Buffer stocks
- Land Reforms
Environment - Pollution - Shankar IAS 2- 3 Questions
- Environment Impact - Current Affairs
Assessment (EIA)
Disaster - Disaster Management - Any Coaching 1 or 2
Management Module Question
- Current Affairs
Science - New Tech Emerging - Wikipedia on 2-3 Questions
- India Achievements “ New
- IT, Space, Biotech, Technology like
Nanotech Blockchains
- IPR etc”
- Current Affairs
Internal - Various security forces - Current Affairs 3-4 Question
Security agencies
- Money laundering, cyber
security
- Terrorism, organised
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 GS - 4
Subject Topics Source Weightage
Topics - Ethics and human - Google Each 50% of Paper
interface Keyword
- Human values - Lexicon ( But
- Attitude and aptitude very Bulky)
- Emotional
intelligence
- Moral thinkers and
philosophers
- corporate
governance
- Probity in governance
- Citizen charter
- Work culture
- Right to information
- Challenges of
corruption
Case - Corruption - Topper Answer 50% of Paper
Studies - Environment vs Copy to get the
Development Idea how to
- Work vs Personal life write Case
- Justice to Vulnerable Studies
like Women, Elders,
PwD
- Etc. themes can be
asked.

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Optionals

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S. No List of Optional Subjects in UPSC S.No List of Literature Optional Subjects

1 Agriculture 1 Assamese

2 Animal Husbandry and Veterinary 2 Bengali

Science
3 Bodo
3 Anthropology
4 Dogri
4 Botany
5 Gujarati
5 Chemistry
6 Hindi
6 Civil Engineering
7 Kannada
7 Commerce & Accountancy
8 Kashmiri
8 Economics
9 Konkani
9 Electrical Engineering
10 Maithili
10 Geography
11 Malayalam
11 Geology
12 Manipuri
12 History
13 Marathi
13 Law
14 Nepali
14 Management
15 Oriya
15 Mathematics
16 Punjabi
16 Mechanical Engineering
17 Sanskrit
17 Medical Science
18 Santhali
18 Philosophy
19 Sindhi
19 Physics
20 Tamil
20 Political Science & International
Relations 21 Telugu

21 Psychology 22 Urdu

22 Public Administration 23 English

23 Sociology

24 Statistics

25 Zoology

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 already quali ed, for identifying the
Q. How to Choose best coaching classes available.
Optional Subject Study material from a good
coaching along with the classes
for UPSC Civil conducted will accelerate your
preparation manifolds.
Services 3. Contribution of the Optional
Exam ? Subject towards General Studies
syllabus:Find out on your own
from the past question papers and
There are many important aspects to
the syllabus regarding the
be kept in mind while choosing an
contribution of the optional subject
Optional Subject -
towards General Studies and essay
papers of the Main exam.
1. Interest and academic
background of the aspirant:
4. Performance of the optional
Kindly identify your interest in a subject
subject in the recent past (past 3
by exploring about it through school
years):A candidate’s individual
level NCERT’s (Class 11th and 12th
performance can vary on a large
preferably), going through Optional
number of parameters compared to
subject syllabus and your comfort level
his competitors. But there can be
in reading the subject.
Optional Subject(s) that do not
For example:
fetch the marks desired as
(a) If you are from Commerce
compared to the effort put in by
background, look for what you have
candidates. A few Optional Subjects
already studied in college and
that go through a few years of
choose accordingly between
toughness either in the questions
Commerce, Management or Public
asked or the marks awarded.
Administration.
(b) If you are from Engineering
5. Time Management:Apart from the
background, check the syllabus and
comprehending ability, a candidate
content of optional subjects like
should decide on how much of time
Physics, Chemistry, Maths.,
he/she would be able to spend on
Engineering optional – Civil,
studying an Optional Subject. A few
Electrical, Mechanical etc. If you
candidates might be working while
are not comfortable with the
preparing or studying at a university
science subjects mentioned, check
etc, should be able to estimate the
other optional subjects such as
amount of time required to study
Geography, Psychology,
the chosen optional subject along
Anthropology, Political Science,
with General Studies.
Sociology, Public Administration,
Philosophy etc.

2. Coaching available in the

subject:Check from your peers,
friends, civil servants who have
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 NCERT Books List
Subjects NCERT Books
Art & Culture NCERT Class XI – An Introduction to Indian Art
History - Medieval India (class IX) by Satish Chandra
- Ancient India (class XI) by RS Sharma
- India Before Independence: Bipan Chandra’s.
- World History (Class X)
Geography ◦ NCERT Class XI – Fundamentals of Physical
Geography
◦ NCERT Class XI – India – Physical Environment
◦ NCERT Class XII – Fundamentals of Human
Geography
◦ NCERT Class XII – India – People and Economy
Polity Class 9 to 12 NCERT books should be read in detail, with a
focus on 11th and 12th (of which World Politics, only if time
permits).
Economy ◦ NCERT Class IX – Economics
◦ NCERT Class X –Understanding Economic
Development
◦ NCERT Class XI – Indian Economic Development
◦ NCERT Class XII – Introductory Microeconomics
◦ NCERT Class XII – Introductory Macroeconomics
Science - NCERT Class XII Biology: last four Chapters (13 to 16)
- NCERT Class XII – Chemistry: Unit 16
Society ◦ NCERT Class XI – Sociology: Understanding Society
◦ NCERT Class XII – Indian Society
◦ NCERT Class XII – Social Change and Development
in India

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Tips

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 strengthen the strong areas and
Tips to Improve keep working on the weaker
areas.
UPSC 5. UPSC Notes Making is an Art
because of the vastness of the

Preparation syllabus. The notes ultimately

become very unclear and
unorganised because of the large
Strategy volume of the notes made. Also,
the candidates should not waste a
lot of time in making notes for
each and everything. It is a better
Here is a list of tips and insights on how UPSC strategy if the notes are
an aspirant can improve the preparation well-organised, otherwise, the
strategy for the UPSC Exam. revision will again take a lot of
1. Get to know the exam pattern time.
better and understand the needs 6. One last tip to improve your
and expectations of the UPSC UPSC Strategy – Consistency is
Exam at three different levels. The the key to Success – Treat every
preparation strategy for the UPSC day as the same and prepare with
Exam would vary from level to the same dedication and level of
level. For instance, the prelims commitment.
level of the exam tests the
knowledge as well as the
analytical skills of the candidates.
Whereas, in the mains level,
descriptive knowledge about each
topic of the syllabus is necessary,
which might not be useful in the
Preliminary level.
2. Reading the newspaper on a daily
basis will give an edge to your
UPSC strategy in comparison to
those candidates who don’t
regularly follow the news
updates.
3. Develop the knowledge base from
the basics. The sources for the
basics are the NCERT Books.
4. Solve a lot of MCQ type of
questions subject-wise and gure
out the strengths and
weaknesses. One of the important
strategies of IAS preparation is to

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 How to
◦ Subheading 1
▪ Details
◦ Subheading 2

Make Notes
▪ Details
◦ Major heading
What to take down

for IAS
• Principles, Concept and
theories
• Key highlights
Kickstart • Examples and real-life
• A4 spiral exercise book with illustrations
separators for different subjects. • Simple diagrams and charts
• Use a pen and colour • Timelines and any new words
highlighter. • All quotations, de nitions, and
• Don’t Record every line. summaries
• To differentiate between the Helpful abbreviations:
major and minor points, use
capital letters, boxes, asterisks,
underlining and highlighting.
Symbol Meaning
• Don’t write complete sentences,
streamline with abbreviations & and
and symbols, organize – leave
out the small connecting words. + in addition to
• Link your notes to your
syllabus = is equal to
• Revise your notes regularly
• Paste sticky note to add recent ≠ is not the same as
updates.
Guidelines for structure ., therefore
• What- When-Why-How- Current
relevance- Final comments Coz because
• Follow personal abbreviation
system and form your own short ↑ Increases
forms for common, frequently-
used words. ↓ Decreases
• Jot down the previous year
UPSC mains questions related → leads to
to it.
• Do include the arrow to denote w/ with
increase and decrease.
• A structure of main points and e.g. for example
supporting information or facts.
etc. and the rest
For example:
• Major Heading
no. Number

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• There are different methods of
making notes. Candidate should
decide which method suits you
the best. The two types are linear
notes and the branching notes.
• Mind maps or spidergrams are
examples of branching notes. In
branching notes, the topic should
be written in the centre of the
page or top of the page, with the
different topics of the topic
should be branching out. This will
help the candidates to widen the
perspective and jot down the
point considering all spheres.
Candidate can you these type of
notes for geography, science etc.
This method helps to focus on
the key issues and acts as a
summary which is handy for
revision.

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Thanks for Reading

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