UPSC IAS Syllabus 2021 for Prelims & Mains: Download PDF
UPSC Syllabus 2021 for Prelims & Mains: In this article, we have provided the detailed syllabus for UPSC (IAS) Prelims and Mains Exam 2020. The given syllabus will be helpful for the IAS aspirants preparing for UPSC Civil Service Exam 2020.

UPSC Syllabus 2021 for CSE Prelims & Mains: With an ocean-wide syllabus and study material, complete knowledge of the defined UPSC (IAS) syllabus is a prerequisite for clarifying the exam. UPSC (IAS) exam syllabus for both prelims and mains exam is comprehensive as well as extensive. Hence the syllabus acts as a torchbearer for the IAS preparation as it sets the locus of the studies of every aspect of the IAS Exam. Right interpretations of the IAS Syllabus can increase the chances of success in the exam.
UPSC IAS Exam has three exam stages:
(i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for the Mains Exam.
(ii) Civil Services Mains Examination (Written) for the selection of candidates for the next level of the UPSC IAS Exam.
(iii) Civil Services Personality Test (PT)- The final stage for selection
The syllabus for all three stages of the exam is inter-linked and hence needs a deeper look to understand the requirement of each stage of the IAS Exam.
Check Subject-wise Study Material & Important Resources for UPSC (IAS) Prelims Exam 2021
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam 2021
In IAS Prelims, UPSC tests the analytical, logical, and reasoning ability of the candidates. The IAS Prelims Exam is divided into two parts:
(i) General Studies Paper-I
(ii) General Studies Paper-II
Both papers have the maximum time limit of two hours and the General Studies Paper-II, which is popularly known as CSAT, is only qualifying in nature. The exam is conducted on a single day with Paper 1 in the morning session and paper 2 in the evening session.
Check Tina Dabi’s (AIR 1) Preparation Strategy & Study Plan for Last 3 Months
UPSC IAS Syllabus Prelims Exam 2021: GS Paper I |
Marks: 200
Duration: 2 hours
Sl. No |
Subject-wise Division |
Detailed Syllabus |
1 |
History History of India and Indian Freedom Struggle |
|
2 |
Geography Geography of India and Concept of Physical Geography |
|
3 |
Polity Indian Polity and Governance issues |
|
4 |
Economy Indian Economy and Social Development |
Basic Principles of Indian Economy |
5 |
Environment and Ecology Principles of Environment and Ecology |
|
6 |
General Science Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Technology |
General Principles Latest Science and Technological Development |
7 |
Current Events It covers all the events of National and International Importance |
The UPSC does not follow any particular trend in its prelims question paper, hence it is tough to comprehend anything from the previous year question papers. But they can definitely give a clarity about what type of questions are asked in the UPSC IAS exam.
UPSC IAS Syllabus Prelims Exam 2021: General Studies Paper II (CSAT) [Qualifying] |
Marks: 200 marks
Duration: 2 hours
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision making and problem-solving ability
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)
7. English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).
8. Questions relating to English Language Comprehension skills of Class X level (last item in the Syllabus of Paper-II) will be tested through passages from English language only without providing Hindi translation thereof in the question paper.
UPSC IAS Mains Exam 2020-21
IAS Main Exam has four general studies papers, two compulsory language papers, one essay paper, and two papers of Optional subject. It is a descriptive type of exam and has a totally enhanced version of the IAS Prelims exam.
IAS Main Exam 2021 Syllabus
it can be said that the IAS Main Syllabus is a mammoth expansion of the IAS Prelims Syllabus.
Sl. No. |
Name of Paper |
Syllabus |
Marks |
1 | Essay Paper | Any Topic/Topics (Current issues) | 250 |
2 | Indian Heritage and |
250 | |
3 |
Governance, Indian Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and |
250 | |
4 |
Technology, |
250 | |
250 | |||
6 | Indian Language Paper |
(i) Comprehension of given passages (ii) Précis Writing (iii) Usage and Vocabulary (iv) Short Essays (v) Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa |
300 |
7 | English | Comprehension of given passages Précis Writing Usage and Vocabulary Short Essays |
300 |
8 |
Optional Paper I |
As opted by Candidate |
250 |
9 |
Optional Paper II | As opted by Candidate | 250 |
List of Optional Subject and Syllabus in IAS Mains Exam 2021 |
The List of Optional Subjects is as follows:
(Click on the subject to access its syllabus)
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
(iii) Anthropology
(iv) Botany
(v) Chemistry
(vi) Civil Engineering
(vii) Commerce and Accountancy
(viii) Economics
(ix) Electrical Engineering
(x) Geography
(xi) Geology
(xii) History
(xiii) Law
(xiv) Management
(xv) Mathematics
(xvi) Mechanical Engineering
(xvii) Medical Science
(xviii) Philosophy
(xix) Physics
(xx) Political Science and International Relations
(xxi) Psychology
(xxii) Public Administration
(xxiii) Sociology
(xxiv) Statistics
(xxv) Zoology
The literature of any one of the languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Manipuri, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, English.
Once you have thoroughly assessed the syllabus, the next step is the right selection of reference books.
Also Check: UPSC IAS Mains Previous Years' Papers of all GS Papers
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