Without beating much around the bush let me get straight to the point. The UPSC exam is a 3-phase affair:
Phase 1 is the UPSC Preliminary Examination, also called UPSC Prelims. This exam contains questions of the objective type.
Phase 2 is the UPSC Mains Examination, also called UPSC Mains. This exam contains descriptive-type questions.
Phase 3 is the Personal Interview round conducted to test the Personality of the Candidate.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus
Starting with the UPSC syllabus, it should come as no surprise that the syllabus is quite extensive in and of itself.
The UPSC Prelims examination, on the other hand, is mostly used for screening purposes. As a result, if you pass the Prelims exam, you will be qualified to take the Mains exam.
In addition, if you make it to the interview phase, your Prelims scores will not be factored towards your final order of merit.
The UPSC prelims examination consists of two papers: a general studies paper and a CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) paper.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1: General Studies (GS)
This GS paper, also known as paper 1, is aimed to assess your broad knowledge of your surroundings and the globe, as well as your perceptive nature, by posing questions on current events.
The UPSC GS prelims syllabus for 2022 includes themes from a wide range of courses, making it impossible to predict the types of questions that will be asked in the forthcoming paper.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 2: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
The CSAT, also known as Paper 2, is an exam that assesses your thinking, understanding, and analytical abilities.
This is because, as a Civil Servant, it is critical that you have the ability to see the world and its problems with maximum clarity and logic.
Questions from the subjects of Reasoning & Analysis and Reading Comprehension appear on the CSAT paper. It also periodically puts your decision-making skills to the test by asking you questions about them.
UPSC Mains Syllabus
It’s worth noting that, with the exception of the two language papers in the UPSC Mains curriculum, all of the papers can be written in any of the languages listed in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution.
Okay, now that we have already talked about the 2 language papers it’s time to look at the 7 main papers of the UPSC Mains exams.
UPSC Syllabus for Language Papers: (Any Indian Language & English)
In these papers there’d be:
- An essay question of 100 marks where you’d have to select one out of a few given topics.
- 5-6 questions related to reading comprehension: of a maximum of 60 marks.
- Precis writing questions worth 60 marks which you’d 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, totaling 40 marks.
- Questions based on grammar, synonyms, sentence corrections, and basic language usage, of a total of 40 marks.
Syllabus of UPSC Mains Essay (No topics prescribed)
The IPS/IAS Syllabus for Essay in the Mains exam is not specifically defined. According to the UPSC, you are expected to keep a close watch on the subject of the essay topic and to write your points and ideas in an orderly and concise fashion.
In this paper, you’d be needed to write 2 essays from a list of given topics. The maximum mark for this paper is 250.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for Optional subject (2 papers – Paper 1 and paper 2)
For the optional subject papers, you need to choose a subject of which you have an in-depth understanding.
The UPSC allows you to choose one from out of a total of 48 different subjects. There’ll be 2 papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2 of 250 marks each pertaining to the subject that you choose.
With this, I guess we are done with the segment of optional subjects. My advice is that you should choose the optional subject after very careful consideration.
The 9 papers of UPSC Mains Exam consists of:
- 1 Language Paper of your choice
- 1 English Language Paper
- 1 Essay Paper
- 4 General Studies Papers
- 2 Optional Subject Papers
Also Read: IAS exam
