UPSC Syllabus 2027: Prelims, Mains and Optional Subjects

The UPSC syllabus covers the topics and papers included in the Civil Services Examination. It is divided into Prelims, Mains and the Personality Test. Prelims includes General Studies Paper I and CSAT, while Mains covers Essay, General Studies, qualifying language papers and optional subjects.

If you are preparing for UPSC CSE 2027, understanding the syllabus can help you plan your studies and prioritise important topics. You can review the paper-wise syllabus, compare the available optional subjects and refer to the official UPSC syllabus PDF to build a clear preparation plan.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus: Paper I and Paper II

Prelims is the first stage of the exam. It has two papers, and both have multiple-choice questions. The table below shows the basic details of each paper with the UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus. You must appear in both papers, or you will be disqualified.

Paper I topics

• Current events of national and international importance

• History of India and the Indian National Movement

• Indian and world geography, covering physical, social and economic geography

• Indian polity and governance, including the Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy and rights issues

• Economic and social development, including sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social sector schemes

• General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change that need no subject specialisation

• General science

Paper II topics

Paper II is also known as the CSAT paper. It tests how well you read, think and solve problems.

• Comprehension

• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills

• Logical reasoning and analytical ability

• Decision-making and problem-solving

• General mental ability

• Basic numeracy (numbers, their relations, orders of magnitude) at Class X level

• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency) at Class X level

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UPSC Mains Syllabus: Paper-Wise Details

Mains checks how well you understand a subject, not just how much you remember. The General Studies questions are set so that a well-educated person can answer them without special study, but answers must be relevant, meaningful and short. 

The table below lists every Mains paper in order. The two language papers are only for qualifying, and their marks are not counted for ranking.

Indian language and English papers

These papers test whether you can read and understand serious prose and express ideas clearly. The level is Matriculation or equal. The questions include comprehension of passages, precis writing, usage and vocabulary, and short essays. The Indian language paper also has translation from English to that language and the other way round. You answer in English and in the chosen Indian language, except where translation is needed.

Paper I: Essay

You may have to write essays on more than one topic. Stay close to the subject, arrange your ideas in order and write briefly. Marks are given for clear and exact expression.

General Studies I: Heritage, history, geography and society

• Indian culture, covering art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times

• Modern Indian history from the middle of the eighteenth century, with key events, people and issues

• The freedom struggle, its stages and contributors from different parts of the country

• Consolidation and reorganisation of India after Independence

• World history from the 18th century, such as the Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawing of borders, colonisation, decolonisation and ideas like communism, capitalism and socialism, with their effect on society

• Main features of Indian society and its diversity

• Role of women and women’s organisations, population, poverty, development issues and urbanisation, with their problems and remedies

• Effects of globalisation on Indian society

• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism

• Main features of world physical geography

• Spread of key natural resources across the world, including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the factors behind the location of primary, secondary and tertiary industries

• Events like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity and cyclones, and changes in water bodies, ice caps, flora and fauna with their effects

General Studies II: Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations

• Indian Constitution: historical base, evolution, features, amendments, key provisions and basic structure, and its comparison with other countries

• Roles of the Union and States, federal issues, devolution of powers and finances to local levels, separation of powers and dispute redressal bodies

• Parliament and State legislatures: structure, working, conduct of business, powers and privileges, and the main features of the Representation of the People’s Act

• Structure and working of the Executive and the Judiciary, ministries and departments, pressure groups and associations

• Appointments to constitutional posts, constitutional bodies, and statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies

• Government policies for development and issues in design and implementation

• The development industry, including NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities and other stakeholders

• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections by the Centre and States, with the laws, bodies and institutions meant for their protection

• Health, education and human resources, along with poverty and hunger

• Governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance, citizens’ charters and the role of civil services in a democracy

• India and its neighbourhood, bilateral, regional and global groupings, the effect of policies of other countries on India’s interests, the Indian diaspora and important international institutions

General Studies III: Technology, economy, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management

• Indian economy: planning, resource mobilisation, growth, development, employment, inclusive growth and government budgeting

• Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, storage, transport and marketing of farm produce, and e-technology for farmers

• Farm subsidies, minimum support prices, the Public Distribution System, buffer stocks, food security, technology missions and the economics of animal rearing

• Food processing industries, including scope, location, supply chain management and land reforms

• Effects of liberalisation, changes in industrial policy and their effect on industrial growth

• Infrastructure such as energy, ports, roads, airports and railways, and investment models

• Science and technology, Indian achievements, indigenisation of technology, and awareness of IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and intellectual property rights

• Conservation, pollution, environmental degradation, environmental impact assessment, and disaster management

• Internal security: links between development and extremism, role of outside state and non-state actors, risks through communication networks and social media, basics of cyber security, money laundering, border area challenges, links between organised crime and terrorism, and the security forces and agencies

General Studies IV: Ethics, integrity and aptitude

This paper tests your attitude and your approach to integrity and probity in public life. It may use case studies. The areas are:

• Ethics and human interface, including human values and the role of family, society and schools

• Attitude, its content, structure and function, and social influence and persuasion

• Aptitude and core values for civil service, such as integrity, impartiality, objectivity, empathy and compassion towards weaker sections

• Emotional intelligence and its use in administration

• Contributions of moral thinkers from India and the world

• Values and ethics in public administration, including ethical issues in government, private bodies and international relations

• Probity in governance, including transparency, Right to Information, codes of conduct, citizens’ charters and corruption

• Case studies on the above issues

UPSC Subject Wise Syllabus: Optional Subjects

The optional papers are Paper VI and Paper VII. The level is roughly an honours degree, which is above a bachelor’s degree and below a master’s degree. For Engineering, Medical Science and Law, the level matches a bachelor’s degree. The table below splits the options into non-literature and literature subjects. You choose only one subject from the full list of 48. 

UPSC Syllabus 2027 PDF

The UPSC Syllabus PDF covers the paper-wise topics for Prelims, Mains and optional subjects in one place. Download the PDF to refer to the syllabus during preparation and track topics as you complete them.

How to Understand the UPSC Syllabus for Beginners

If you are new to the exam, the long list of topics can feel heavy. A simple plan makes it easier.

1. Read the full syllabus once, without trying to learn anything.

2. Start with the basics of Prelims Paper I, such as history, geography, polity and economy.

3. Note the topics that repeat in Prelims and Mains, because one study effort then helps both stages.

4. Practise numeracy and reasoning early for Paper II, since you need 33% to qualify.

5. Read the optional subject list after you have a feel for the exam, then choose.

6. Also confirm that you meet the UPSC eligibility criteria before you plan your study hours.

A clear plan starts with knowing every paper and topic, and the syllabus above gives you that base. Students who like guided learning can explore PW UPSC, which offers online courses, live classes and test practice to match each stage of the exam.

The UPSC CSE syllabus is your roadmap to effective preparation. Understanding the Prelims, Mains, and optional subjects helps you prioritise topics and plan your studies. Keep the official syllabus PDF handy, revise regularly, and practise with previous year question papers and mock tests to prepare confidently for UPSC CSE 2027.