UPSC CSE – Civil Services Examination Syllabus and Preparation Guide
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit officers for prestigious posts like IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service) and other Group A & B services under the Central Government.
It is considered one of the toughest and most respected exams in India, known for its vast syllabus and rigorous selection process. Candidates need a well-structured strategy, strong conceptual clarity, and consistent preparation to crack it.
Salary For Group A and B
The starting salary for Group A officers in the Indian Civil Services (IAS, IFS, etc.) is typically around ₹56,100 per month. This salary increases with experience and promotions, potentially reaching up to ₹2,50,000 per month for senior positions like Cabinet Secretary. Additional allowances like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Transport Allowance (TA) are also included.
Group B salaries in the Indian government can range significantly, depending on whether the position is Gazetted or Non-Gazetted, and on the specific level within the pay matrix. However, generally, the starting pay for Group B non-gazetted positions can range from Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 1,12,400 per month.
Exam Pattern Overview:
UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:
Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
Main Examination (Descriptive/Written)
Personality Test (Interview)
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
UPSC CSE Prelims is the first stage of the screening exam to select the candidates for the mains, it consists of two object type papers
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination: Paper I – General Studies (GS)
Structure: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four options.
Marks: 100 questions, 200 total marks.
Time: 2 hours.
Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to the question are deducted for incorrect answers.
This paper determines the merit ranking of candidates.
Syllabus Topics:
Current events of national and international importance
History of India and Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change (no subject specialization required)
General Science
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination: Paper II – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
Structure: Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four options.
Marks: 80 questions, 200 total marks.
Time: 2 hours.
Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to the question are deducted for incorrect answers.
This paper is qualifying, meaning candidates need to score at least 33% (66 marks) to pass.
Syllabus Topics:
Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem-solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy (Class X level)
Data interpretation (Class X level)
Stage 2: Main Examination
Number of Papers: 9 papers (7 counted for merit + 2 qualifying).
Qualifying Papers: Two language papers (Paper A - Indian Language, and Paper B - English).
Merit-Based Papers: 7 papers, including Essay, GS Papers (1-4), and two optional subject papers.
Duration: 3 hours per paper.
Total Marks for Merit Calculation: 1750.
There is not negative marking in the mains exam.
Stage 2: Main Examination: Qualifying Papers
Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks) Choose from 22 scheduled languages like Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, etc.
Paper B – English (300 marks) Both papers are qualifying in nature. Must secure at least 25% marks in each.
Stage 2: Merit-based Exams
Paper I – Essay (250 Marks)
Paper II – General Studies I (250 Marks)
Paper III – General Studies II (250 Marks)
Paper IV – General Studies III (250 Marks)
Paper V – General Studies IV (250 Marks)
Paper VI & VII – Optional Subject Papers I & II (250 + 250 = 500 Marks)
Stage 3: Personality Test / Interview
Duration: The interview typically lasts between 20-30 minutes.
Marks: The interview contributes 275 marks towards the final merit list.
Board evaluates mental alertness, leadership, judgment, communication, honesty, decision-making skills, depth of knowledge, and overall personality.
Final Merit List
Total Marks = 1750 (Mains) + 275 (Interview) = 2025
Candidates are ranked based on this score, and service allocation is done accordingly.