IAS Mains Exam is the second phase of the selection procedure for UPSC. It is conducted for testing the academic excellence and ability to present his/her academic talent in a reasonable manner. This exam is planned to assess the inclusive intellectual traits and understanding of the contender.

The syllabus of IAS Main Exam was revised in the year 2015. USPC IAS Mains Examination comprises of 9 papers, two among them are of qualifying nature and are of 300 marks each:

IAS Mains Syllabus

General Studies - PAPER I

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 effect on the society from 18th century like world wars, industrial revolution, colonization, redrawal 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

General Studies - PAPER II

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. Health, Education, Human Resources
13. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
14. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to
15. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
16. Issues relating to poverty and hunger
17. Role of civil services in a democracy
18. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
19. India and its neighborhood- relations
20. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate
21. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

General Studies - PAPER III

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, Bio diversity, 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 & technology;
14. Indigenization 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, 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

General Studies - Paper IV

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude:

This paper includes questions to check the candidate's attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his/her problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him/her while dealing with society.

Questions may utilize the case study approach to determine these aspects and covers 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 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 above issues

Indian Languages and Scripts permitted by UPSC for Civil Services Exam: The candidates may use the following scripts as shown against the respective languages below.

Note: For Santhali language, question paper will be printed in Devanagari scriptbut candidates will be free to answer either in Devanagari script or in Olchiki

Note: Paper A will not be compulsory for candidates hailing from the following states Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim

Candidates who attain the minimum qualifying marks in IAS Mains examination enter the last and the final phase of the selection procedure i.e. Interview Round also known as Personality Test. Interview or Personality Test Candidates, who qualify IAS Mains Exam are called to appear for the next round i.e. Interview or Personality Test. This is the third and the final round of the selection procedure. A Board having candidates’ resume will interview them. All the board members are unbiased, highly intelligent and competent and interview the candidates to analyze their inter-personal skills, social traits, decision making power and personal suitability as a candidate for Civil Services. Critical power of assimilation, mental alertness, interest in current affairs, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, moral and intellectual integrity are some of the qualities that evaluated during Personality Test. Candidates can take interview in their preferred Indian language as arrangement of translators is made by UPSC.

1. The Interview test comprises of total 275 marks.
2. The written examination comprises of total 1750 Marks.
3. The Grand Total 2025 Marks

IAS Mains Exam Pattern

Candidates who attain the minimum qualifying marks in IAS Mains examination enter the last and the final phase of the selection procedure i.e. Interview Round also known as Personality Test.

Interview or Personality Test

Candidates, who qualify IAS Mains Exam are called to appear for the next round i.e. Interview or Personality Test. This is the third and the final round of the selection procedure. A Board having candidates’ resume will interview them. All the board members are unbiased, highly intelligent and competent and interview the candidates to analyze their inter-personal skills, social traits, decision making power and personal suitability as a candidate for Civil Services. Critical power of assimilation, mental alertness, interest in current affairs, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, moral and intellectual integrity are some of the qualities that evaluated during Personality Test.

Candidates can take interview in their preferred Indian language as arrangement of translators is made by UPSC.

1. The Interview test comprises of total 275 marks.
2. The written examination comprises of total 1750 Marks.
3. The Grand Total 2025 Marks