UPSC Prelims GS PAPER 1

GS Paper 1 UPSC Mains is among the four general studies that are part of the subjective type of exam. The paper covers subjects like history, geography, art and culture and Indian society. Apart from GS Paper 1, the main stage of the IAS exam includes eight other papers. This article aims to provide you with the GS 1 Syllabus and structure for UPSC preparation.

UPSC IAS GS Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2023

The UPSC civil services exam has a two stage pattern which includes preliminary and mains exam. However, it is actually a three-stage exam, with the third stage being the Personality Test/Interview.

As per the IAS exam pattern, candidates who clear the Prelims can appear for the Mains and those who qualify the Mains can proceed to the interview stage.

Stage 1: UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern

UPSC conducts the preliminary exam in two papers which are held on the same day. Both papers are composed of multiple-choice objective type questions. The preliminary examination aims to select candidates for the main examination. Although the marks obtained at this stage are not considered for the final merit list, candidates should prepare thoroughly for this exam as the cut-offs can be unpredictable and are based on the average score every year. Below are the specifics of the UPSC Prelims pattern:

Stage 2: UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC Mains Exam Pattern consists of nine papers which are held over a period of 5-7 days. Only those candidates who secure the declared cutoff in General Studies I and at least 33% in General Studies II in Prelims can appear for the main examination.

As per the UPSC Mains exam pattern, all the papers consist of descriptive answer-type questions. It is a comprehensive phase and the aggregate marks obtained in UPSC mains can directly affect the final score. Hence, the marks obtained in the mains phase of UPSC are extremely valuable as they act as a key factor in the declaration of merit. Below are the details of the UPSC Syllabus with Marks:

UPSC Prelims Syllabus (GS – I) 2023

UPSC Mains Syllabus (GS – I) 2023

One of the four general studies in UPSC Mains is GS Paper 1. It is a subjective type of exam that covers various topics like history, geography, art and culture and Indian society. The main phase of the IAS exam includes eight other papers apart from GS Paper 1.

UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus is unique compared to other general studies as it includes subjects from which questions can be asked directly. For example, in the case of history, questions can be directly related to ancient, medieval, modern and world history. However, there are also topics in Indian society and geography where aspirants need to connect the static syllabus of GS Paper 1 with current affairs.

The following table outlines the focus areas in Mains GS Paper-I that aspirants should prioritize:

• Indian culture, including significant aspects of art forms, literature and architecture from ancient times to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from the mid-18th century to the present day, including major events, personalities and issues.
• Freedom struggle and its various phases with emphasis on major contributors and contributions from different parts of the country.
• Consolidation and reorganization after independence within the country.
• World history, including events such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national borders, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies such as communism, capitalism, socialism and their impact on society.
• Salient features of Indian society, diversity of India, role of women and women’s organizations, population and related problems, poverty and development problems, urbanization and its problems and remedies.
• Impacts of globalization on Indian society, social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism.
• The main features of the world’s physical geography, the distribution of key natural resources around the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent) and the factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary and tertiary sector industries in different parts of the world (including India).
• Important geophysical phenomena include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, cyclones, geographic features, their locations, changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice caps), and changes in flora and fauna effects.

The Structure of General Studies Paper-I for the IAS Mains Exam

• The paper consists of 20 compulsory questions in Hindi and English to be answered in the language chosen during the application process. Answers in another language are not evaluated.

• The total number of points for the work is 250.

• For 10-mark questions, the word limit is 150, while for 15-mark questions, it is 250.

• The history syllabus significantly focuses on modern history with questions related to the freedom struggle, the Indian Renaissance and related sub-themes.
• The geography syllabus emphasises current topics associated with static subtopics.

• Questions from the Indian Society syllabus include topics like women empowerment, secularism and Indian society culture.

Also, CHECK UPSC IAS GS PAPER PYQ

Conclusion

The conclusion for GS Paper 1 of the UPSC IAS exam would depend on the specific question asked. But generally, GS Paper 1 covers a wide range of topics including Indian heritage and culture, history, geography and society.

To do well on this paper, it is important to have a good understanding of the topics, be able to relate them to current events and present your answers in a clear and concise manner. It is also important to provide examples and evidence to support your arguments and demonstrate your understanding of the topics.

In conclusion, to score well in GS Paper 1 of the UPSC IAS exam, it is important to have a solid understanding of the topics, be able to relate them to current affairs and provide clear and concise answers supported by examples and evidence.

FAQs

Q1: What is GS Paper 1?

Ans: GS Paper 1 is one of the papers of the UPSC IAS exam which tests candidates’ knowledge and understanding of various topics including Indian heritage and culture, history, geography and society.

Q2:How to study GS Paper 1 for UPSC?

Ans: Understand the Syllabus: First go through the syllabus of GS Paper 1. Make a list of topics and sub-topics and make a study plan accordingly.

Read textbooks and other relevant materials: Start reading textbooks and other reference materials on various subjects covered in the article such as history, geography, art and culture and society. Take notes and highlight important points as you read.

Keep abreast of current affairs: Keep updated on current affairs and issues related to India as many questions in GS Paper 1 may be based on current affairs. Read newspapers, watch news channels and follow online news portals.

Practice Past Papers and Mock Tests: Practice past papers and mock tests regularly to improve your timing and understand the exam pattern better. Analyze your mistakes and focus on improving your weak points.

Use diagrams and maps: Use diagrams, flow charts and maps to explain concepts related to geography and history. This will help you understand the concepts better and also make your answers more visually appealing.

Revision: Revision is a crucial aspect of exam preparation. Don’t forget to revise all the topics and sub-topics multiple times to improve your retention.

Q3: What are the qualifying marks in GS Paper 1?

Ans: The qualifying marks for GS Paper 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination is decided every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The committee will decide on the minimum cut offs that a candidate must achieve to qualify for the next stage of the exam.

Generally, the qualifying marks for GS Paper 1 is around 33% of the total marks, which means a candidate must score at least 83-85 marks out of the total 250 marks to clear this paper. However, it is only an approximation and may vary from year to year depending on the difficulty of the paper and the overall performance of the candidates.

Q4: How many hours is the GS paper?

Ans:The duration of GS Paper 1 in UPSC Civil Services Exam is 3 hours. The written work is conducted in the main phase of the exam and is a subjective type of written work.

The paper consists of 20 compulsory questions, each carrying different marks. Applicants are required to answer all questions within the given time frame. The total number of points for the work is 250.

Q4:What is CSAT full form?

Ans:CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test was introduced in 2011 as part of UPSC Prelims examination. The objective of adding CSAT to the UPSC CSE exam is to test candidates’ analytical skills, interpersonal skills, decision making, general mental ability, aptitude and reasoning ability.

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