Free UPSC Material: The prestigious UPSC Exam is all about proper dedication, determination, and consistent hard work in the right direction with authentic and reliable Free Study Material. This article focuses mainly on the syllabus and some important materials to focus on.
Contents
UPSC PRELIMS 2020
Civil Services Preliminary exam comprises two compulsory papers of 200 marks each:
- General Studies Paper I
- General Studies Paper-II
The questions will be of multiple choice and objective type. The marks in prelims will not be counted for final ranking, but just for the qualification for the main exam.
The Commission will draw a list of candidates to be qualified for Civil Service (Main) Examination based on the criterion of minimum qualifying marks of 33% in General Studies PaperII of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination and total qualifying marks of General Studies Paper-I of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination as may be determined by the Commission.
Free UPSC Material:
UPSC Syllabus for Paper I – (200 marks)
Duration: Two hours (Counted for the merit rank in the Prelims)
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography 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.
UPSC Syllabus for Paper II- (200 marks)
Duration: Two hours (Not counted for the merit rank in Prelims but a qualifying Paper; just needs 33% marks)
- 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 MAINS 2020
Civil Services Mains Exam Pattern and Syllabus
A candidate’s rank in the UPSC Civil Service Exam depends only on the mark scored in Main and Interview. The main exam has 1750 marks while the interview has 275 marks.
The written examination (main) consists of the following nine papers, but only 7 papers will be counted for final merit ranking.
For the rest two papers, the candidate should secure minimum marks prescribed by the UPSC each year.
Qualifying Papers – Not counted for final ranking
Paper ‐ A – Indian Language – Syllabus. (One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. This paper will not be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim.) 300 Marks.
Paper‐ B – English Language – 300 Marks.
Papers to be counted for merit ranking:
- Paper‐I Essay – 250 Marks.
- Paper‐II General Studies – I – 250Marks. (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society).
- Paper‐III General Studies –II – 250 Marks. (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations).
- Paper‐IV General Studies –III – 250 Marks. (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management).
- Paper‐V General Studies –IV – 250 Marks. (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude).
- Paper‐VI Optional Subject – Paper 1 – 250 Marks.
- Paper‐VII Optional Subject – Paper 2 – 250 Marks.
UPSC 2020 Optional
The decision of selection of the optional paper for the IAS exam is an age-old dilemma for Civil Services aspirants. As per the latest syllabus, the number of optional subjects to be selected is reduced to one, but aspirants are confused as to which one they should select.
Though the weightage of the optional paper is only 500 marks out of 2025 marks as per the latest pattern of UPSC Civil Services exam, it is still a deciding factor in the final ranks due to the unpredictability associated with General Studies Papers (1000 marks GS + 250 marks essay) and Interview (275 marks).
- Current affairs 2020
Most of the preparation for IAS falls under Current Affairs and choosing what to read and what not makes a huge difference in the overall preparation. Analyzing the Previous Year’s Papers of the past 8-9 years reveals that the number of questions from this section varies a lot, but directly or indirectly at least 5-8 questions are linked to International Affairs.
IAS prelims syllabus doesn’t mention the topics specifically, but the trend reveals that questions are asked from the Static Part i.e. International Organisations (UN, ASEAN, SAARC, WHO, etc, ) and Current part i.e. International Treaties, Strategic relations between countries (in the context of India), international laws, Nuclear deals, and summits, etc.
Here’s a compilation of the major international affairs:-
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS covering all the important dimensions such as INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ( UN, UNSC, IMO, WMO, WIPO, ICAO, etc), INTERNATIONAL/ REGIONAL GROUPINGS (OPEC, CARICOM, BIMSTEC, etc.), BILATERAL RELATIONS (India and Neighbours, India and USA, India and East Asia, etc), SUMMITS (G-20, Budapest Convention), REPORTS and INDEXES and MAJOR DEFENCE EXERCISES.
- Science and Technology
In this area, there is always new innovation and developments in Science and Technology and hence this subject is more dynamic. One of the best ways to prepare this section is to get familiar with the current developments in the field of science and technology.
IAS Prelims Science Syllabus can be classified as:
> Fundament Concepts and Facts of PHYSICS (Basic Laws and its Application in day to day life),
> CHEMISTRY (Elements and Rare Earths, Heavy Metals, etc)
> BIOLOGY (Diseases like H5N1, COVID-19, etc.)
> DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY, SPACE TECHNOLOGY (Latest Missions and technologies),
> IT AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY,
> HEALTH AND BIOTECHNOLOGY,
> Latest ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES (Artificial intelligence and Facial Recognition),
> Current SCHEMES & INITIATIVES
> MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES like Smart India Hackathon, International Days and Science Congress, and Institutions.
- Indian Economy
Questions asked in the previous years are based on basic concepts of Macroeconomics as well as Current affairs. For the last 8-9 years, the number of questions from the Economy section is consistently 14-19 questions only. To score well in this section, always remember that – “Conceptual clarity and Interlinking of concepts” is what is most important.
UPSC IAS Exam Syllabus mentions the Topic as Economic and Social Development which can be broadly classified into major Sections such as:-
> GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT(Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, etc.),
> BANKING & FINANCIAL SECTOR (RBI and its Functions, Banking Sector and Reforms, Financial Inclusion, Micro Finance initiatives, and Committees),
> PUBLIC FINANCE (Social Sector Initiatives),
> EXTERNAL SECTOR, AGRICULTURE,
> INFRASTRUCTURE and REPORTS,
> COMMITTEES & INDEXES.
Important Social Sector Initiatives and Schemes like Subsidy and Minimum Support Price (MSP) and also Human Development Report (HDI), Index of Industrial Production (IIP) are always the consistent focus areas in the UPSC IAS PRELIMS EXAM.
- Indian Polity
The UPSC Prelims syllabus mentions it as “Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc” thus a significant portion is expected from current developments in Indian Polity apart from the main concepts.
- Art and Culture
Art & Culture is an important aspect of the “Indian History” which is mentioned in UPSC Prelims Syllabus as “History of India”. Every year 14 to 17 Questions are asked from this section and Art & Culture contributes nearly 5 to 7 questions. Most of the questions of Art & Culture take a cue from current affairs in the news like architecture, music, dance, paintings, historical events, personalities, festivals, and schemes related to the cultural promotion.
Conclusion
Preparing for the prestigious UPSC Civil Services examination is demanding as the syllabus is vast and varied. People who prepare with wholehearted devotion find this experience to be deeply enriching as well. It is an examination that aims to choose the best talent for a career, so one has to understand the syllabus, what’s important and what’s not. Make notes, revise, and do mock tests regularly. Start your preparation now and convert your dream into reality.
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