What Is the UPSC Mains Syllabus?

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Mains syllabus guides students on the second stage of the Civil Service Examination (CSE), an entrance exam into civil service positions in India. When you think of who you want in positions of power, you likely think of someone knowledgeable, empathetic, fair, and with a strong sense of integrity. While knowledge is essential to make education decisions, especially when navigating complex social nuances, having leadership that can represent the people and stand against injustice is one of the factors that makes for a healthier and happier society. 

The CSE is UPSC’s three-stage exam to find people suited for these positions. It covers various subject matter topics and a personality interview to judge bias and moral character. Together, these three stages identify candidates with the requisite knowledge and aptitude for public service. The UPSC Mains is the second stage of this exam, designed to comprehensively test background knowledge and critical thinking before moving candidates to the interview stage. 

Delve into pertinent details, including using the UPSC Mains syllabus to help you prepare for this competitive exam.

What is the Civil Service Examination?

The CSE is a three-stage exam that selects and recruits candidates for various civil service positions with the Government of India. After passing this exam, you can enter a career in over 20 types of civil service professions, including those in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). This includes many prestigious positions such as commissioner, chief secretary, and cabinet secretary, along with positions that work in inter-governmental positions such as with the World Bank (WB) and United Nations (UN). 

Because of the importance of these positions, the UPSC test makers designed this test to cover a broad topic base, including current events, general knowledge, Indian politics, Indian language, and subject matter expertise. You’ll also complete specific questions to test your analytical skills and ability to articulate your thoughts. 

After passing the core knowledge and problem-solving focus on the Mains exam, you can take the personality test interview. In this stage, you will typically speak with a panel for around 30 minutes to assess whether your disposition suits this type of work. Your combined Mains and interview scores represent your final marks, and the top candidates are eligible for professional positions. 

Why choose a career in civil services?

When you work in civil services, you have high responsibility and reverence. You can impact your community, whether at the district, state, national, or international level. For example, if you were to work as a District Officer (which may include a District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner), you would manage district affairs and implement developmental programmes that affect people within the community. After passing the CSE, you will have diverse opportunities across civil service sectors, including leadership roles, making it an excellent option if you want to open career opportunities across different government sectors.

In addition to making a difference, many professionals in the civil services offer attractive annual salaries and perks. A lifetime pension is a strong motivator for all government jobs in India. In the IAS, officers generally have a long list of employment perks, including subsidised or partially subsidised housing, security guards when applicable, study leaves, and transport. Pay for these positions is also attractive, as set by the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC). As you gain more experience, you can expect your salary to increase. Typically, in the IAS, you can expect to start around INR 50,000 annually in junior positions with no experience and gradually increase pay until you reach INR 2,50,000 at the highest levels with over 16 years of service [1]. 

What is the UPSC Mains?

The UPSC Mains exam is a critical element of the selection process for civil service positions in India. It is the second phase in the UPSC CSE structure, open to students who scored above the cut-off in the preliminary examination papers (usually 33 percent). 

Unlike the objective-type preliminary exam, in which participants mark answers on a sheet, the Mains exam is descriptive, requiring you to write out answers. The UPSC Mains comprises nine papers you complete over several days. UPSC designed this stage to test your knowledge of a wide variety of subjects in-depth, assess your analytical skills, and provide a space for you to demonstrate your ability to present your arguments coherently in writing.

What is the UPSC Mains syllabus?

The UPSC Mains exam includes nine theory papers, of which seven count towards the merit ranking that decides whether test takers move to the interview stage. The general breakdown of the papers on the syllabus is as follows:

1. Qualifying papers: Paper A and Paper B

2. Papers counted in merit ranking

   1. Essay: Paper I

   2. General knowledge: II, III, IV, V

   3. Optional subjects: VI and VII 

What’s on the UPSC Mains exam?

The first two UPSC Mains papers are qualifying: the first covers the Indian language, and the second covers English. These papers will target your language comprehension, vocabulary, ability to translate between English and the Indian language, and ability to write short essays. You must score 25 percent or better on these papers to move on to the next step.

Once you pass the language papers, you have an essay paper, followed by four general studies papers. The first general studies paper covers history topics, including Indian heritage and culture, world geography, and social justice topics. The following paper will likely move into political issues, where you will answer questions on governance, polity, the constitution, and international relations. Next, paper IV will typically cover topics such as technology, economics, security and disaster management, and environmental issues. Finally, the fourth general studies paper usually focuses on ethics and integrity, including aptitude tests.

The final two papers of the UPSC Mains exam are on an optional subject of your choosing. You can choose between literature topics (e.g., Hindi or Nepali), science topics (e.g., physics, mechanical engineering, statistics), social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology), anthropology, animal husbandry, law, and more. Once you choose a topic, you will write two papers that count towards your merit ranking. 

How to prepare to take the UPSC Mains exam

Succeeding in this exam often involves a rigorous study schedule, and many students begin preparing years in advance. 

Step 1: Understand the UPSC Mains syllabus

Review the UPSC Mains syllabus thoroughly, including exam patterns and topic trends. Understanding the breadth of the topics covered is crucial for adequate preparation. The syllabus serves as a roadmap, guiding what to study and highlighting areas you should focus on.

Step 2: Create a timeline for study

Develop a realistic study plan for the months leading to the Mains exam. Allocate time for each paper based on complexity and your current knowledge level. Ensure your timeline includes ample time for revision and practice tests.

Step 3: Make incremental progress on a steady basis

Steady and consistent efforts are vital to covering the expansive syllabus of UPSC Mains. Break down your study plan into manageable tasks and focus on making daily progress. Regularly review what you’ve learned to reinforce your understanding and retention of information.

Step 4: Manage your mental health

The intensity of preparing for the UPSC Mains can be mentally taxing. Taking care of your mental health requires a balanced lifestyle that includes getting ample rest and physical activity, prioritising nutrition, and using relaxation techniques. 

Additional tips for success on the UPSC Mains exam

Succeeding in the UPSC Mains exam requires a well-rounded preparation strategy, focus, and persistence. As you go through your studies, remember why you’re preparing for this exam and why you are passionate about a career in the public sector. Staying connected to your goals and desired future can help you stay motivated through long study periods. In addition to this, make sure you:

• Practice answer-writing skills within the given time: Practice writing answers comprehensively and convincingly in the allotted time. Focus on structuring your answers well, incorporating relevant facts, and adhering to word limits. By practicing within the test time, you can improve time management and prime yourself to design answers quickly in a way that represents your ideas well.

• Choose your optional subject wisely: Select an optional subject that interests you and that you have resources readily available. You should review how much the subject material overlaps with the Mains syllabus material and how much additional study time each subject option would require. It can significantly impact your performance.

• Obtain recommended study books: Several books and resources are recommended, including books focused on specific syllabus topics such as Indian polity, modern Indian history, Indian art and culture, and ethics. Once you review topics and your strengths and weaknesses, you can obtain books that suit your study needs.

• Stay updated on current affairs: Pay attention to national and international events, policies, and significant developments, and link them with the syllabus where applicable. By incorporating current events in your answers, you can stand out by showing your knowledge of real-world happenings and their implications.

• Sign up for a UPSC Mains test series: By signing up for a test series, you will naturally learn what the test includes and cover important topics on the syllabus. Plus, you will see which subjects you consistently score well or poorly on to help inform your study strategy.

Learn more with Coursera

The UPSC Mains syllabus outlines the key concepts to succeed on the CSE examination and enter into an exciting career in the public sector. Elevate your understanding of topics covered in the UPSC Mains syllabus with exciting courses and Specialisations on the Coursera learning platform. For example, to build your knowledge of global history, consider the two-part course by the University of Virginia, including The Modern World Part 1: Global History from 1760 to 1910 and Part 1: Global History since 1910.