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UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) Syllabus
India's premier exam for IAS, IPS, and IFS officer recruitment, conducted by the UPSC. The full UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) syllabus: 7 subjects, 35 chapters, 137 topics and 125 sub-topics, with 354 flashcards written against it.
UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) subjects
UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) has 7 subjects. Each one is listed below with its chapters in syllabus order; open a subject for every topic and sub-topic inside them.
General Studies I: Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society
- Art, Culture and Indian Heritage · 4 topics
- Modern Indian History (mid-18th century to 1947) · 5 topics
- Freedom Struggle and Post-Independence Consolidation · 4 topics
- World History · 5 topics
- Indian Society · 6 topics
- Geography of the World and India · 4 topics
General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations
- Indian Constitution and its Framework · 5 topics
- Structure and Functioning of Government · 5 topics
- Federalism, Devolution and Constitutional Bodies · 4 topics
- Governance, Transparency and Accountability · 4 topics
- Social Justice and Welfare · 4 topics
- International Relations · 4 topics
General Studies III: Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Security & Disaster Management
- Indian Economy and Development · 5 topics
- Agriculture and Food Management · 5 topics
- Science, Technology and Innovation · 5 topics
- Environment, Ecology and Biodiversity · 5 topics
- Internal Security and Defence · 5 topics
- Disaster and Disaster Management · 3 topics
General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
- Ethics and Human Interface · 3 topics
- Attitude and Emotional Intelligence · 3 topics
- Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service · 3 topics
- Thinkers, Philosophers and Public Administration Ethics · 4 topics
- Case Studies in Ethics · 3 topics
General Studies (Prelims): Current Affairs and Core GS
- Current Events of National and International Importance · 4 topics
- Indian Polity and Governance for Prelims · 3 topics
- Economic and Social Development for Prelims · 3 topics
- General Science · 3 topics
- Environment and Ecology for Prelims · 3 topics
CSAT (Prelims Paper-II): Aptitude and Reasoning
- Comprehension · 3 topics
- Interpersonal Skills, Communication and Decision Making · 3 topics
- Basic Numeracy and Mental Ability · 4 topics
- Data Interpretation · 3 topics
Essay Paper (Mains)
- Essay Writing Fundamentals · 3 topics
- Philosophical and Abstract Themes · 3 topics
- Issue-Based and Topical Essays · 4 topics
UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) flashcards
354 question-and-answer cards across 7 subject decks, each shown in full on its subject page.
- General Studies I: Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society — 52 cards
- General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations — 50 cards
- General Studies III: Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Security & Disaster Management — 51 cards
- General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude — 50 cards
- General Studies (Prelims): Current Affairs and Core GS — 50 cards
- CSAT (Prelims Paper-II): Aptitude and Reasoning — 51 cards
- Essay Paper (Mains) — 50 cards
UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) syllabus?
UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) covers 7 subjects: General Studies I: Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society, General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations, General Studies III: Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Security & Disaster Management, General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, General Studies (Prelims): Current Affairs and Core GS, CSAT (Prelims Paper-II): Aptitude and Reasoning and Essay Paper (Mains).
How many chapters and topics are in the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) syllabus?
35 chapters and 137 topics, broken down further into 125 sub-topics, across 7 subjects. General Studies I: Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society is the largest subject, with 28 topics in 6 chapters.
Are there UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) flashcards?
Yes — 354 question-and-answer flashcards in 7 subject decks. Each deck is printed in full on its subject page here, and the same cards are in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.
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