UPSC Civil Services Exam Syllabus 2026

• 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
• General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change
• General Science

• 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

• Indian Culture - salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
• Modern Indian History - significant events, personalities, issues from the mid-18th century
• 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 - 18th century events, industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization
• 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 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
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone
• Geographical features and their location - changes in critical geographical features and their effects

• 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
• 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
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
• 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
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections - their performance, mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability
• Role of civil services in a democracy, India and its neighborhood relations, Bilateral, regional and global groupings
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora - their structure, mandate

• 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, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Basics of cyber security, money-laundering and its prevention
• Security challenges and their management in border areas, various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

• 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 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
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service
• Emotional intelligence - concepts, 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
• Case Studies on above issues (actual case studies from published material)

Candidates must write two essays from a choice of topics. Each essay carries 125 marks. Topics are drawn from a wide range of subjects relevant to Indian society, economy, culture, and global affairs.

• Section A - Choose one topic (125 marks)
• Section B - Choose one topic (125 marks)
• Topics may range across current affairs, social issues, philosophy, economy, governance, science, environment, and abstract themes

Choose one optional subject. Each optional has two papers of 250 marks each. Popular choices include: