Syllabus – ACE India IAS

UPSC Syllabus 2023 - Overview

Particulars	Prelims	Mains
Exam Date	28th May 2023	15th to 19th September 2023
No. of Papers	Two	Nine
Types of Questions	Objective Type	Descriptive Type
Duration of Exam	2 hours each	3 hours each
Total Marks	400	1750
Medium of Exam	English & Hindi	English & Hindi (except language paper)
Negative Marking	⅓rd mark	No negative marking
Marks Counted in Merit	No	Yes

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2023

Paper	Subjects	Marks	No. of Question	Duration
I	General Studies (GS)	200	100	2 hours (9:30 AM to 11:30 AM)
II	CSAT	200	80	2 hours (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)

Important Points:

1. For every incorrect answer, 1/3rd mark of the total mark will be deducted.
2. For the blank answers, no marks will be deducted.
3. In General Studies (Paper I), each question is of 2 marks and there is a negative marking of 0.66 marks
4. In CSAT (Paper-II), each question is of 2.5 marks and a negative marking of 0.833 marks for each wrong answer marked.
5. The prelims marks will not be included in the final result (merit list).
6. Paper II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

UPSC Syllabus 2023 for Prelims Exam

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for General Studies (Paper I)

1. Current Affairs (Events) of national and international importance.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change: that do not require subject specialization.
7. General Science

UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus for CSAT (Paper-II)

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

UPSC Mains Exam

Paper	Qualifying Papers	Marks
Paper-A	One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution	300
Paper-B	English	300
	Papers Counted for Merit
Paper-I	Essay	250
Paper-II	General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)	250
Paper-III	General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)	250
Paper-IV	General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)	250
Paper-V	General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)	250
Paper-VI	Optional Subject – Paper 1	250
Paper-VII	Optional Subject – Paper 2	250
	Sub Total (Written Test)	1750
	Personality Test	275
	Grand Total	2025

UPSC Mains General Studies I (Paper -2)

This is the first General Studies paper. This paper is all about the History, Heritage, Geography and Culture of the World and Society. Candidates can check the main points of the General Studies | syllabus below as described by the commission.

Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society:

1. Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history include the significant events, personalities, issues during the middle of the eighteenth century until the present
3. Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
5. History of the world includes events, forms and effects on the society from the 18th century like world wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redraw of national boundaries, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.
6. Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society
7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and remedies
8. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
9. Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent; factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world including India
10. Effects of globalization on Indian society
11. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
12. Salient features of world’s physical geography.

UPSC Mains General Studies II (Paper-3)

The Mains General Studies II papers have questions related to the Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice and Interrelations. Candidates can check the syllabus below.

Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations:

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
2. 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
3. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
4. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
5. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
6. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
7. 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
8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
9. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
11. 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
12. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
14. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger
16. Role of civil services in a democracy
17. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
18. India and its neighborhood- relations
19. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate
20. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

UPSC Mains General Studies III (Paper-4)

UPSC Mains General Studies III is all about the Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management and Nature. This paper can ask questions from every aspects of life, new development in any sphere of life.

Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management:

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
2.Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
3.Government Budgeting.
4. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
5. 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
6. Economics of animal-rearing.
7. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
8. 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
9. Land reforms in India.
10. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
11. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
12. Investment models.
13. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science and technology;
14. Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
15. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
16. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
17. Disaster and disaster management.
18. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
19. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
20. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
21. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
22. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

UPSC Mains General Studies IV (Paper-5)

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude: This paper includes questions to check the candidate’s attitude and approach towards the issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and their problem-solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by them while dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects and cover area

1. Ethics and Human Interface- Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
2. Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
3. Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
4. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections
5. Emotional intelligence concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
6. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
7. 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
8. 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, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
9. Case Studies on the above issues.

Paper –VI and Paper – VII Optional Subjects

Paper –VI and Paper – VII Optional Subjects
Agriculture	Law
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Management
Anthropology	Mathematics
Botany	Mechanical Engineering
Chemistry	Medical Science
Civil Engineering	Philosophy
Commerce and Accountancy	Physics
Economics	Political Science and International Relations (PSIR)
Electrical Engineering	Psychology
Geography	Public Administration
Geology	Sociology
History	Statistics
Zoology	Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Malayalam, Konkani, Manipuri, Maithili, Marathi, Odia, Nepali, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Sindhi, Santhali, Tamil, Telugu, English and Urdu.

UPSC

Number of hours required to complete the Syllabus (UPSC)
Prelims cum mains ( Approx 800 hours)
7 months Duration
210 days

Each Day = 6 hours Class

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	Current Affairs ( 1year News)	200 hr ( Daily 1 hr)
2	History ( Ancient, Medival,Modern)	80 hrs
3	Indian Polity and Governance	90 hrs
4	Geography (India and world ) ecology	110 hrs
5	General Science , Science and Technology	80hrs
6	Economics (Indian Economy ) and International Relations	80 hrs
7	Ethics and Integrity	60 hrs
8	CSAT ( Mental Ability )	90 hrs
	Total	790 hrs

KPSC

Number of hours required to complete the Syllabus (KPSC)
Prelims cum mains ( Approx 600 hours)
5 months Duration

Each Day = 4 hours Class

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	Current Affairs ( 1year News)	110 hr ( Daily 1 hr)
2	History ( Ancient, Medival, Modern) karnataka	80 hrs
3	Indian Polity and Governance	80 hrs
4	Geography (India and world ) ecology, Karnataka	90 hrs
5	General Science , Science and Technology	60hrs
6	Economics (Indian Economy ) and International Relations, Karnataka economy	60 hrs
7	Ethics and Integrity	60 hrs
8	( Mental Ability )	40 hrs
	Total	580 hrs

FDA/SDA/GROUP C exams ( 3 months )

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	General Studies (including Current Affairs )	80 hrs
2	Kannada	50 hrs
3	Computer	50 hrs
	Total	180 hrs

PSI exams ( Duration 3 months )

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	General Studies
2	Essay
3	Precis writing
	Total	200 hrs

Banking ( 3 Months)

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	General Studies
2	Aptitude
3	English
	Total	200 hrs

PDO (Panchayat Development Officer)

Sl. No.	Subjects	Time
1	Panchayat Raj	100 hrs
2	General Awareness	100 hrs
	Total	200 hrs