UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2025: IAS Exam Pattern, Subject-wise Topics (Prelims, Mains & Interview)
Latest Update: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the detailed syllabus for Civil Services Examination 2025. This comprehensive guide covers the complete syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages of the IAS examination.
Important Notice: UPSC CSE 2025 notification is expected to be released in February 2025. The Preliminary examination is likely to be conducted in May/June 2025.
| Examination Name | Civil Services Examination 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Stages | Preliminary, Main & Interview |
| Services | IAS, IPS, IFS & Other Central Services |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE 2025 Exam Pattern
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 200 | 2 Hours | Objective |
| Paper II | CSAT (Qualifying) | 200 | 2 Hours | Objective |
Stage 2: Main Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 | 3 Hours |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | GS-I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography) | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper III | GS-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice) | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper IV | GS-III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security) | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper V | GS-IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 | 3 Hours |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 | 3 Hours |
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)
- Total Marks: 275
- Duration: 25-30 minutes
- Nature: Personal interview by board members
Detailed UPSC CSE Syllabus 2025
Preliminary Examination Syllabus
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
- Economic and Social Development
- Sustainable Development
- Poverty
- Inclusion
- Demographics
- Social Sector Initiatives
- Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
- General Science & Technology
Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (Class X level)
- Numbers and their relations
- Orders of magnitude
- Data interpretation
- English language comprehension skills (Class X level)
Main Examination Syllabus
Paper-I: Essay
- Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics
- Topics can be:
- Current affairs
- Socio-economic issues
- Abstract topics
- Philosophy-based topics
Paper-II: General Studies-I
- Indian Heritage and Culture
- Art forms
- Architecture
- Literature
- Modern Indian History
- Significant events
- Personalities
- Developments
- World History
- Industrial revolution
- World wars
- Colonization
- Decolonization
- Indian Society
- Diversity
- Women
- Urbanization
- Globalization
- World Geography
- Physical Geography
- Resources
- Economic Geography
Paper-III: General Studies-II
- Indian Constitution
- Historical underpinnings
- Evolution
- Features
- Amendments
- Functions and responsibilities of Union and States
- Issues and challenges pertaining to federal structure
- Separation of powers
- Parliament and State legislatures
- Executive and Judiciary
- Local government
- Constitutional/statutory/regulatory/quasi-judicial bodies
- Government policies and interventions
- Development processes and development industry
- NGOs, SHGs, associations, groups
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
- Social sector/services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- Issues relating to poverty and hunger
- Important aspects of governance
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements
Paper-IV: General Studies-III
- Indian Economy
- Issues relating to planning
- Mobilization of resources
- Growth
- Development
- Employment
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
- Government Budgeting
- Major crops and cropping patterns
- Food processing and related industries
- Land reforms in India
- Effects of liberalization on the economy
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Science and Technology developments
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology
- Indigenization of technology
- Environmental issues
- Disaster Management
- Security challenges and their management
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Role of external state and non-state actors
- Challenges to internal security
- Media and social networking sites in internal security
Paper-V: General Studies-IV
- Ethics and Human Interface
- Attitude and foundational values for Civil Service
- Emotional intelligence
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration
- Probity in Governance
- Case studies on above issues
Optional Subjects for Main Examination
| Literature Subjects | Science Subjects | Humanities Subjects |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Personality Test/Interview
The interview test will be conducted to test the following qualities:
- Mental alertness
- Critical powers of assimilation
- Clear and logical exposition
- Balance of judgment
- Variety and depth of interest
- Ability for social cohesion and leadership
- Intellectual and moral integrity
Important Books for UPSC CSE 2025
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| History |
|
| Geography |
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| Polity |
|
| Economics |
|
Preparation Strategy for UPSC CSE 2025
- Understanding the Syllabus:
- Thoroughly analyze the complete syllabus
- Make topic-wise notes
- Focus on interconnections between topics
- Reading Newspapers:
- Daily newspaper reading habit
- Focus on editorials
- Make notes of important current affairs
- Standard Books:
- Start with NCERT books
- Move to standard reference books
- Regular revision of notes
- Answer Writing Practice:
- Daily answer writing practice
- Time management
- Focus on presentation
- Test Series:
- Join prelims test series
- Practice mains answer writing
- Regular performance analysis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2025?
For General category candidates, the age limit is 21-32 years. OBC: 21-35 years, SC/ST: 21-37 years. The age is calculated as on 1st August 2025.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC CSE?
General category candidates get 6 attempts, OBC candidates get 9 attempts, while there is no limit on attempts for SC/ST candidates within the age limit.
Is CSAT qualifying or counted in merit?
CSAT (Paper-II) in Prelims is qualifying in nature. Candidates need to score minimum 33% marks. Only Paper-I marks are considered for merit.
How to choose an optional subject?
Choose an optional subject based on your academic background, interest, availability of study materials, and previous years’ trends. The subject should have overlap with GS papers.
Conclusion: The UPSC Civil Services Examination is considered one of the toughest competitive examinations in India. Success requires thorough understanding of the syllabus, consistent preparation, and a well-planned strategy. Keep visiting Best Sarkari Naukri for the latest updates on UPSC CSE 2025.
