The syllabus for the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test is as follows
Subjects for Preliminary Examination
Subparts of General Studies for Preliminary Examination
General Science
Current Events (National)
Current Events (International)
History of India and Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography
Indian Polity and Economics
General Mental ability
List of Optional Subjects for Preliminary Examination
Agriculture
Botany
Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Science
Chemistry
Commerce
Economics
Geography
Indian History
Psychology
Political Science
Sociology
Zoology
Physics
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Geology
Law
Mathematics
Public administration
Statistics
Subjects for Main Examination The aim of papers I and II is to test the candidates ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and to express their ideas clearly and correctly in English / the Indian Language concerned.The questions in these papers will be of matriculation level.
Subparts of General Studies for Main examination(as per 2008 papers):
Paper 1
Total 300 Marks
1.History of modern India and Indian Culture
60
2.Geography of India
40
3.Constitution of India & Indian Polity
100
4.Current National Issues & Topics of Social Relevance
100
Paper 2
Total 300 Marks
5.India and the World
80
6.India's Economic Interaction with the World
70
7.International Affairs and Institutions
35
8.Developments in Science and Technology,IT and Space
85
9Statistical Analysis,Graphs and Diagrams
30
List of Optional Subjects for UPSC Main Examination
Agriculture
Anthropology
Botany
Physics
Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Science
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Psychology
Medical Science
Mechanical Engineering
Philosophy
Public Administration
Political Science and International Relations
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Literature of Languages
Arabic
Assamese
Bengali
Chinese
English
French
German
Gujrati
Hindi
Kannada
Kashmiri
Konkani
Malyalam
Manipuri
Marathi
Nepali
Oriya
Pali
Persian
Punjabi
Russian
Sanskrit
Sindhi
Tamil
Telgu
Urdu
Note regarding optional subjects 1.Candidates while choosing the optional subjects will not be allowed to offer the following combinations of subject:
Political Science and International Relations and Public Administration.
Commerce and Accountancy and Management
Anthropology and Sociology
Mathematics and Statistics
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Of the Engineering subjects viz.Civil Engineering,Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering,not more than one subject
Management and Public Administration
2.The questions for the examination will be of conventional essay type,with two compulsory questions,having a word limit
3.Each paper will be of 3 hours duration
4.Candidates will have the option to answer all the question papers except the language papers (papers I & II above) in any of the languages included in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution or in English.The candidates writing the answer papers III to IX in any one of the languages included in Schedule VIII of the Constitution may, if they desire give English version (within brackets) of technical terms,if any,in addition to the version in language opted by them.
Candidates should,however note that if they use the wrong translation of technical terms,a deduction will be made on this account from the total marks.
5.The question papers other than language papers will be set both in Hindi and English.The objective of the first two papers is to judge the students linguistic Knowledge,style of presenting a subject,span of reading.Except the two language papers(papers I & II above),candidates will have the option to answer all the questions papers in any one of the languages included in the Schedule VIII of the Constitution or in English.
Personality Test(Interview)
The technique of interview is such that interviewers try to assess a person's knowledge by striking a dialogue with him / her. An interviewee is expected to keep himself abreast of all current events-taking place in National and International areas, as well as new research developments and current school of thought. Marks alloted for interview are 300.
