IAS Mains Exam Syllabus and Pattern

The IAS Main Examination (Mains) is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is designed to assess the candidate’s in-depth knowledge and understanding of various subjects, as well as their ability to present ideas clearly and concisely. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the IAS Mains Exam:

IAS Main Examination (Mains)

Objective: To evaluate the academic talent and depth of understanding of candidates.

Components:

  1. Qualifying Papers:
  2. Papers Counted for Merit:

Qualifying Papers:

  1. Paper A: Indian Language (selected by the candidate from the languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution)
    • Total Marks: 300
    • Purpose: Qualifying (candidates need to score at least 25% to pass)
  2. Paper B: English
    • Total Marks: 300
    • Purpose: Qualifying (candidates need to score at least 25% to pass)

Papers Counted for Merit:

  1. Paper I: Essay
    • Total Marks: 250
    • Description: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They are expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay, arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion, and write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
  2. Paper II: General Studies I
    • Total Marks: 250
    • Description: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society
  3. Paper III: General Studies II
    • Total Marks: 250
    • Description: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
  4. Paper IV: General Studies III
    • Total Marks: 250
    • Description: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
  5. Paper V: General Studies IV
    • Total Marks: 250
    • Description: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
  6. Papers VI and VII: Optional Subject Papers I and II
    • Total Marks: 250 each
    • Description: Two papers based on the candidate’s chosen optional subject. The list of optional subjects includes disciplines like History, Geography, Sociology, Public Administration, Literature, etc.

Total Marks for Mains (excluding qualifying papers): 1750

Personality Test (Interview):

  • Total Marks: 275
  • Description: The Personality Test assesses the candidate’s overall personality, communication skills, and suitability for a career in public service. The final ranking is based on the marks obtained in the Mains (written exam) and the Interview.

Detailed Syllabus Overview:

Paper I: Essay:

  • Candidates will be required to write essays on specific topics. They are expected to arrange their ideas logically, present arguments coherently, and use precise language.

Paper II: General Studies I (GS I):

  • Indian Heritage and Culture: Art forms, literature, architecture from ancient to modern times.
  • History: Modern Indian history, significant events, personalities, freedom struggle.
  • World History: Industrial revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, and political philosophies.
  • Geography: Physical geography, important geographical phenomena, features, and their locations.

Paper III: General Studies II (GS II):

  • Governance: Important aspects of governance, transparency, accountability, and e-governance.
  • Constitution and Polity: Indian Constitution, functions and responsibilities of the Union and States, separation of powers, and judiciary.
  • Social Justice: Issues relating to poverty, hunger, inclusion, welfare schemes.
  • International Relations: India and its neighborhood, bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements.

Paper IV: General Studies III (GS III):

  • Economic Development: Indian Economy, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment.
  • Technology: Developments and their applications, energy, IT, space, biotechnology.
  • Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution, degradation, climate change.
  • Security: Challenges to internal security, terrorism, organized crime, cyber security.
  • Disaster Management: Disaster and disaster management.

Paper V: General Studies IV (GS IV):

  • Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions.
  • Attitude: Content, structure, and function of attitude; its influence and relation with thought and behavior.
  • Aptitude and Foundational Values: Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Concepts and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
  • Public/Civil Service Values: Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.
  • Probity in Governance: Concept of public service, philosophical basis of governance and probity.

Optional Subjects:

  • Candidates choose one optional subject that has two papers. The list of optional subjects includes, but is not limited to:
    • 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, and various literature subjects.

Preparation Strategy for IAS Mains:

  1. Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern:
    • Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the detailed syllabus and exam pattern for each paper.
  2. Standard Reference Books and Materials:
    • Use standard reference books and materials for each subject. NCERT books are crucial for building a strong foundation.
  3. Current Affairs:
    • Stay updated with current events by reading newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express, and magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra.
  4. Regular Revision:
    • Regularly revise the topics you have studied to ensure retention of information.
  5. Answer Writing Practice:
    • Develop answer-writing skills by practicing regularly. Focus on structuring your answers well, being concise, and addressing the question directly.
  6. Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Papers:
    • Solve previous years’ question papers and take mock tests to get a feel of the exam environment and improve your time management.
  7. Optional Subject Preparation:
    • Choose an optional subject based on your interest and background. Thoroughly prepare for both papers of the optional subject.
  8. Ethics and Essay Papers:
    • Prepare real-life examples and case studies for the Ethics paper.
    • Practice essay writing to improve articulation and coherence.

By focusing on a structured and disciplined preparation strategy, candidates can significantly enhance their chances of success in the IAS Main Examination. Good luck with your preparation!

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