The Union Public Service Commission announces the official Syllabus and Exam Pattern for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. UPSC has released the official notification on 22 January, 2025 to recruit candidates for the All India Services (IAS & IPS), Central Civil Services (Group A) like IFS, IA&AS Etc. and Central Civil Services (Group B) like DANICS, DANIPS & more.

The UPSC Syllabus is divided into three sections – Prelims, Mains and the Interview/Personality Test round. Each with a unique syllabus designed to evaluate a candidate's knowledge, analytical skills, and overall suitability for a career in the Indian Civil Services. Understanding the detailed syllabus of UPSC Civil Services Exam is perhaps, one of the first steps for aspirants to devise a solid preparation strategy. Given the vast and complicated nature of the syllabus, several first-time aspirants are perplexed by questions like, “Where to Start UPSC Preparation?”, “What to Study First?” and “How to Cover the Entire UPSC Exam Syllabus?”

In this article, we will take you through the detailed UPSC Syllabus for Prelims, Mains & Interview one step at a time and help you take the first step in your journey of becoming an IAS Officer!

Download UPSC Syllabus 2025 PDF

Prelims is the 1st stage of the UPSC CSE Exam which consists of two compulsory objective-type papers i.e. General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT).

Prelims GS Paper-1 Syllabus

UPSC GS Paper-I (Prelims) covers subjects like Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Biodiversity, Science & Technology. The final merit in UPSC Prelims will be decided on the basis of marks obtained in GS Paper 1 Only. Here is the GS Paper 1 Syllabus breakdown:-

• 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, etc. 
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change (that do not require subject specialization). 
• General Science

Checkout UPSC Prelims Exam Analysis for the Past Papers

Prelims CSAT Syllabus

UPSC GS Paper-II (CSAT) comprises questions based on three sections – English Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making & Analytical Ability and Mathematics. CSAT is qualifying in nature, requiring candidates to obtain at least 33% marks. Only the candidates who obtain this qualifying score will be eligible to have their GS Paper 1 answer sheets evaluated. Here is the GS Paper 2 Syllabus breakdown:-

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. (Class X level)

Note – ​It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Prelims) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Prelims) Examination. 

Checkout UPSC CSAT PYP Trend Analysis for your upcoming exam!

The UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025 comprises 09 descriptive papers, totaling 1750 marks, all of which add up to the final merit score. ​

There are two optional papers in the IAS Mains Exam each carrying 250 Marks, and the marks obtained in these papers are counted in the final merit. Candidates can find the UPSC full Syllabus for 48 Optional Subjects with the links given in the table below –

The UPSC Interview/Personality Test is the last stage of the Civil Services Examination process carrying 275 marks, this stage is pivotal in evaluating a candidate's suitability for a career in public service.

• Unlike the written exams that primarily test the candidates’ subject knowledge and general awareness, the UPSC CSE Interview evaluates the personal attributes of the candidate.
• A board of unbiased and competent observers conducts the interview, engaging the candidate in a purposive conversation where they gauge their mental calibre, intellectual qualities, and social traits.
• The focus is on understanding the candidate's overall personality, decision-making abilities, and commitment to public service.

Finally, it is also crucial to self-evaluate your preparation at regular intervals! Do not wait until you finish studying the entire syllabus to begin your practice sessions and giving mock tests!

Estimate your Prelims Marks with UPSC Marks Calculator & UPSC Negative Marking Calculator.

We hope you found this article on UPSC Syllabus 2025 to be useful for your exam preparation! Download the Testbook App now to get last-minute preparation tips and best-in-class study materials, test series and expert coaching for IAS Preparation!