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UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus for IAS Exam 2025

PWOnlyIAS October 18, 2024 06:00 2218 0

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus for IAS Exam 2025 is provided here in detail. Keep on reading to understand the Current Affairs syllabus and its weightage.

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus for IAS Exam 2025

The Union Public Service Commission Preliminary Examination, or UPSC Prelims, is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC. The Prelims exam consists of two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT), both of which are objective-type multiple-choice exams. Candidates need to stay continuously updated on national and international events, policies, and issues, as the UPSC Prelims often draws questions from dynamic areas like government schemes, international relations, economic developments, and environmental concerns.

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus 2025

Current Affairs plays a crucial role in the UPSC Prelims examination. The weightage of current affairs varies from year to year, but it typically has a significant impact on the exam. Based on recent years’ trends, the number of questions related to Current Affairs in the Prelims has ranged from 11 to 24 questions. The detailed UPSC Prelims Syllabus is provided in the table below:

Paper 1: General Studies Paper 2: CSAT
  • Current events of national and international importance. 
  • History of India and Indian National Movement.
  • Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Current Affairs 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.
  • 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).

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus in Detail

UPSC prelims Current Affairs syllabus focuses on current events of national and international importance. While this does not directly tell us the types of questions asked, an analysis of previous year’s questions has given us some hints on the current affairs questions. The complete details of the UPSC Prelims Current Affairs syllabus are as follows:

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1. National Issues
  • Government Policies and initiatives Such as Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission
  • Social Issues Like Gender Equality, Caste-Based Discrimination, and Poverty Alleviation Programs.
  • Education Reforms and Challenges in The Education Sector.
  • Healthcare Policies, Vaccination Drives, and Disease Outbreaks.
  • Infrastructure Development Projects and Challenges.
  • Security Issues include Border Disputes, internal Security Threats, and Counter-Terrorism Measures.
  • Judicial Reforms, Landmark Court Judgments, and Legal Issues of National Importance.
  • Environmental Conservation Efforts and initiatives To Tackle Pollution.
  • Economic Challenges Such as Unemployment, Inflation, and Poverty.
  • Cultural and Heritage Preservation initiatives, Festivals, and Celebrations of National Significance.
2. International Issues
  • International Summits
  • International Crisis
  • International Groupings
  • International organisations
  • India’s Stakes in international Issues
  • Geo-Political Events
  • Political Crisis and Security Crisis
  • Global Health Crisis
  • Civil War and War-Torn Regions
  • Bilateral Disputes
  • International Conflicts and Resolutions
  • Diplomatic Relations Between Countries
  • New Treaties and Agreements
  • Global organizations Such as The United Nations, World Trade organization, and Nato
  • Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Measures
  • Immigration Policies
  • International Trade Agreements
  • Emerging Global Challenges Such as Climate Change and Pandemics
3. Sports
  • Major Sporting Events Such as The Olympics, Fifa World Cup, Cricket World Cup, or asian Games
  • Achievements and Records Set By Athletes
  • Controversies in Sports Governance
  • Doping Scandals
  • Policies Promoting Sports Development in India
  • Initiatives For Promoting indigenous Sports
  • Hosting of international Sporting Events
  • Sports Diplomacy
  • The Impact of Sports on Society and Culture.
4. Awards
  • Prestigious Awards Such as The Nobel Prize, Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Others
  • Controversies Surrounding Awards
  • Contributions of Awardees To Their Respective Fields
  • Significance of Awards in Recognizing Excellence
  • Environmental Awards
  • Indian Receiving a Particular international Award
5. Economic Developments
  • Indian Trade
  • Balance of Payment
  • New Economic Policy
  • Regulatory Bodies Such as SEBI, IRDA Etc.
  • Economic Crisis in India and World
  • Economic Bodies Such as Imf, WTOEtc
  • Banking Systems
  • Banking Norms
  • New National and international Economic Policies
  • New Changes in Fiscal and Monetary Measures
  • Trade Agreements and Disputes
  • Inflation Trends
  • Employment Statistics
  • New Developments in Sectors Like Agriculture, Industry, and Services
  • Global Economic Trends
  • Government initiatives For Economic Reforms
  • Emerging Technologies Impacting The Economy, Such as Fintech, Blockchain, Etc.
  • Government Schemes Related To Economic Development
  • New Reforms in Taxation or Banking Sectors
  • Global Economic Events Impacting India’s Economy.
  • Economic Survey and Unioin Budget
6. Indian Polity Developments
  • Challenges To Constitutional or Non-Constitutional Bodies
  • Developments Related To Parliament
  • Recent Amendments To The Constitution of India.
  • Changes in Electoral Laws and Regulations.
  • Landmark Judgments By The Supreme Court of India Related To Constitutional Matters.
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution, Judicial Oversight
  • Reforms in The Functioning of Constitutional Bodies Like The Election Commission of India or The Finance Commission.
  • Updates on Federalism and Center-State Relations.
  • Legislative Developments Such as The Passing of Important Bills in Parliament.
  • New initiatives in Governance, Administrative Reforms, and Decentralization.
  • The Emergence of New Political Parties or Coalitions.
  • Debates on Contentious Political Issues Like Reservation Policies, Secularism, or Federal Structure.
  • New Reforms in Public Service Delivery Mechanisms and Administrative Accountability.
7. Science and Technology
  • Discovery Important For Mankind
  • New Species Discovered
  • New Vaccine Development
  • New Diseases and Health Crises
  • Recent Scientific Discoveries 
  • Advancements in Technology, Such as Artificial Intelligence, Space Exploration Missions and Achievements
  • Developments in Renewable Energy Sources
  • Innovations in Healthcare 
  • Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Gmo Crops, Nanotechnology, Etc.
  • Renewable Energy innovations
  • Developments in Robotics
  • Environmental Conservation Technologies
  • Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity
  • Significant Scientific Collaborations
  • Government Schemes
  • Digital initiatives in India
8. Committee, Report and Task Force
  • Recommendations And Findings Of Recent Government-Appointed Committees Or Task Forces.
  • Committees Formed To Address Specific Issues Like Corruption, Environmental Conservation, Or Education Reforms.
  • Recommendations Of Committees On Healthcare Policies, Vaccination Strategies, Or Pandemic Management.
  • Task Forces Established To Tackle Cybersecurity Threats, Terrorism, Or Internal Security Challenges.
  • Findings Of Committees Investigating Incidents Of Communal Violence, Human Rights Violations, Or Disasters.
  • Recommendations Of Committees On Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment, Or Child Welfare.
  • Reports On Agrarian Reforms, Rural Development Initiatives, Or Agricultural Policies.
  • Reports On Economic Reforms, Social Welfare Schemes, Or Infrastructure Development Projects.
  • Reports On Urban Planning, Smart City Initiatives, Or Transportation Infrastructure.
  • Report On Human Development. Mpi, World Bank Reports, Imf Reports, Wef Reports And Other Major Institutes Report
  • Various Reports Released By Niti Ayog, Ministry Of Hrd, Ministry Of Wcd And Other Ministries’s Reports 
  • Task Forces Formed To Promote Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Or Digital Transformation In Various Sectors.
9. Environment
  • Climate Change Events such as COP
  • Threat to Environment
  • Species in Danger and Species in News.
  • Natural Disasters such as Hurricanes, Floods,  wildfires, Natural or Man-made Disasters and Droughts
  • New Environmental policies and agreements at national or international levels
  • Conservation efforts for endangered species
  • Initiatives for renewable energy,
  • Pollution Control measures
  • Advancements in Sustainable Development Practices
  • Waste Management
  • New Amendments to Environmental Acts and Policies
  • Major Environmental organizations
  • India’s initiatives in Conservation Efforts
  • International Regulatory Bodies and initiatives
  • Government Schemes
10. Security
  • Geopolitical Developments Affecting India’s Security Interests.
  • Border Disputes and Conflicts with Neighboring Countries.
  • Counter-Terrorism Measures and Recent Anti-Terrorism Operations.
  • Military Modernization Initiatives and Defense Acquisitions.
  • Cybersecurity Threats and Measures to Enhance Cyber Defense Capabilities.
  • Maritime Security Challenges and Initiatives to Protect Coastal Borders.
  • Internal Security Issues such as Naxalism, Insurgency, or Communal Tensions.
  • Defense Cooperation Agreements with Foreign Countries.
  • Role of Paramilitary Forces in Maintaining Internal Security.
  • Strategic Partnerships and Alliances with Other Nations to Address Security Concerns.
  • New Initiative of DRDO, ISRO, and Other Research Body.
  • New Initiatives by the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Governement of India.
11. Governement Schemes
  • New Schemes Launched by Ministries 
  • Objectives and Key Features of Recently Launched Government Schemes.
  • Challenges Faced in the Implementation of Welfare Schemes and Measures Taken to Address Them.
  • Evaluation of Schemes Aimed at Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development, or Urban Renewal.
  • Government Schemes Promoting Inclusive Growth, Gender Equality, or Empowerment of Marginalized Communities and Rural Development
  • Reforms in Existing Schemes or Introduction of New Schemes to Address Emerging Challenges.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns and Outreach Programs to Promote Participation in Government Schemes.

Sources for the UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus

UPSC prelims Current Affairs syllabus is not covered in any static books because it is not fixed. Candidates have to refer to newspapers and magazines to cover current affairs for UPSC prelims. Some of the Important sources for current affairs are as follows:

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Sources
Newspapers
  • The Hindu
  • The Indian Express
Annual Ministry Reports
  • Ministry of Environment
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Earth Science
  • Ministry of Road Transport
  • Ministry of Renewable Energy
  • Ministry of Power
Websites
Magazines
  • Down to Earth
  • Nature
  • Yojana
  • Kurukshetra
Miscellaneous
  • Economic Survey
  • NITI Aayog Reports
  • international organisation Reports (World Bank, IMF, WTO, UNFCCC, IUCN etc)
  • Annual Budget
  • India Year Book
  • PIB
Editorials
  • Economic and Political Weekly (EPW)
  • Editorial Analysis by PW OnlyIAS

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Weightage

In UPSC Prelims, current affairs have a significant weightage for UPSC prelims exam. So, if you are wondering how Current Affairs are asked In Upsc, some of the questions asked are static topics that have relevance due to recent events; other questions are directly based on recent events. The number of Current Affairs questions asked in the last few years are as follows:

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Year of Preliminary Examination Number of Current Affairs Questions
2024 20
2023 15
2022 15
2021 17
2020 18
2019 22
2018 14
2017 15
2016 27
2015 22
2014 8

Current Affairs is indeed an important component of UPSC preparation. Candidates cannot score well by ignoring UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Syllabus. The syllabus of current affairs, according to UPSC, is very generic and vague. This increases the scope of asking random questions that may not resonate well with candidates. Hence, candidates must be prepared to tackle unexpected questions by covering all the topics mentioned above in the syllabus.

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UPSC Prelims Current Affairs FAQs

The major source of current affairs is the newspaper. Apart from newspapers, candidates can also read magazines such as Down to Earth, Kurukshetra, Yojana, Ministry reports, budget documents, etc.

Yes. Candidates are advised to make their own notes on current affairs. This will help them retain content and also cover most of the important topics.

Yes. Many candidates subscribe to any reputed current affairs magazine and read it to cover current affairs syllabus. However, current affairs magazines are not a substitute for newspapers.

Even though there is no fixed way of reading current affairs, candidates are not advised to cover whole current affairs at a time, as it will reduce scope for revision.

No. UPSC asks questions beyond newspapers, and hence candidates are advised to read current affairs from other sources such as magazines, ministry reports, budget etc.
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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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