UPSC Civil Services 2025 Complete Syllabus Guide: Prelims, Mains & Recommended Books
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the detailed syllabus for the Civil Services Examination 2025. This comprehensive guide covers the complete syllabus for both Preliminary and Main examinations, along with recommended books to help aspirants prepare effectively.
UPSC CSE 2025: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | February 14, 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | March 5, 2025 |
| Preliminary Examination | May 25, 2025 |
| Main Examination | September 19, 2025 |
UPSC Civil Services Examination Pattern
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) – Qualifying in nature
- Main Examination (Written & Descriptive Type) – Merit based
- Personality Test (Interview) – Final selection
UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025
The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers, each of 200 marks, with a duration of 2 hours:
Paper I: General Studies
- 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
- General Science
Paper II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
- 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)
Note: Paper-II is of qualifying nature with 33% marks required to qualify.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2025
The Main Examination consists of nine papers, of which two are qualifying and seven are counted for the final merit ranking:
Qualifying Papers (300 marks each)
- Paper A: Any Indian Language from the 8th Schedule (Qualifying)
- Paper B: English (Qualifying)
Papers Counted for Merit (250 marks each, except Essay which is 250 marks)
- Paper I: Essay
- Paper II: General Studies I – Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography
- Paper III: General Studies II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
- Paper IV: General Studies III – Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Security and Disaster Management
- Paper V: General Studies IV – Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
- Paper VI: Optional Subject – Paper 1
- Paper VII: Optional Subject – Paper 2
Detailed Syllabus: GS Paper I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography)
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues
- The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
- History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. — their forms and effect on the society
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
- Salient features of world’s physical geography
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
Detailed Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)
- Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
- Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary, Ministries and Departments of the Government
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
- Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger
- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
- Role of civil services in a democracy
- India and its neighborhood- relations
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora
- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Detailed Syllabus: GS Paper III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Security and Disaster Management)
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
- Government Budgeting
- Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management
- Land reforms in India
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models
- Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
- Disaster and disaster management
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Detailed Syllabus: GS Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
- Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections
- Emotional intelligence – concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
- Case Studies on above issues
Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains
Candidates must choose one optional subject from the following list:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
- Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English
Recommended Books for UPSC CSE 2025
Prelims – General Studies Paper I
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| History |
|
| Geography |
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| Polity |
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| Economy |
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| Science & Technology |
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| Environment & Ecology |
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| Current Affairs |
|
Prelims – CSAT Paper II
- Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal
- NCERT Mathematics (Class 6-10)
Mains – General Studies
| Paper | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| Essay (Paper I) |
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| GS Paper I |
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| GS Paper II |
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| GS Paper III |
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| GS Paper IV |
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UPSC CSE 2025: Preparation Strategy
1. Understanding the Syllabus
The first step is to thoroughly understand the UPSC syllabus. Make a subject-wise plan and allocate time accordingly.
2. Current Affairs Strategy
Follow one good newspaper daily (preferably The Hindu) and make notes. Use magazines like Yojana, Kurukshetra, and PIB releases to supplement your current affairs preparation.
3. Note-Making
Develop a habit of making concise notes for revision. Use mind maps, flowcharts, and diagrams to make your notes more effective.
4. Answer Writing Practice
For Mains, practice writing answers regularly. Join a test series to get feedback on your answers.
5. Revision
Allocate sufficient time for revision. Multiple revisions help in retaining information for a longer duration.
6. Mock Tests
Take regular mock tests for both Prelims and Mains to assess your preparation level and identify weak areas.
FAQs on UPSC CSE 2025 Syllabus
Q1: Is studying NCERTs sufficient for UPSC Prelims?
NCERTs provide a strong foundation but are not sufficient. You need to supplement them with standard reference books and current affairs.
Q2: How to choose an optional subject for UPSC Mains?
Choose a subject based on your interest, academic background, availability of study material, and coaching facilities. Also, consider the scoring trend of the subject in recent years.
Q3: Is the CSAT paper easy to clear?
CSAT is qualifying in nature with a minimum requirement of 33% marks. With regular practice, it is manageable for most candidates.
Q4: How to prepare for current affairs for UPSC?
Read one good newspaper daily, follow PIB releases, and use magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra. Make notes topic-wise and revise them regularly.
Q5: How many hours of study are required for UPSC preparation?
Quality matters more than quantity. 6-8 hours of focused study daily is generally considered sufficient, but it varies from person to person.
Important Points to Remember
- The UPSC syllabus is vast but finite. With proper planning and execution, it is manageable.
- Consistency is key in UPSC preparation. Study regularly rather than in bursts.
- Develop a habit of reading newspapers and making notes from day one.
- Join a test series for both Prelims and Mains to assess your preparation level.
- Take care of your physical and mental health during the preparation period.
Official Links
We hope this comprehensive guide to the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 syllabus helps you in your preparation journey. Stay tuned for more updates on UPSC CSE 2025.
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