The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) Preliminary Examination consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Here’s the syllabus for each of these papers:
General Studies Paper I:
- Current events of national and international importance: This section covers current affairs, including events, issues, and developments both in India and around the world.
- History of India and Indian National Movement: It includes topics related to ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history, as well as the Indian independence struggle.
- Indian and World Geography: This section encompasses physical, social, economic geography of India and the world. It also includes questions on environmental ecology, biodiversity, and climate change.
- Indian Polity and Governance: It covers topics related to the Constitution of India, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues, and governance.
- Economic and Social Development: This section includes topics related to sustainable development, poverty, social sectors, demographics, and various government schemes.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change: This section deals with environmental and ecological concepts, conservation efforts, and climate change-related issues.
- General Science: It includes questions on general scientific phenomena, developments, and innovations.
General Studies Paper II (CSAT):
This paper is meant to test the candidate’s aptitude and reasoning abilities. The CSAT paper includes the following areas:
- Comprehension: Candidates will be tested on their ability to understand and analyze written information.
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills: This section evaluates the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively.
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability: Questions in this section assess the candidate’s logical reasoning and analytical skills.
- Decision-making and problem-solving: Candidates are tested on their ability to make decisions and solve problems.
- General mental ability: This section examines the candidate’s overall mental ability and cognitive skills.
- Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.): Questions related to basic numerical concepts are included.
- Data interpretation: Candidates will be tested on their ability to interpret data from tables, graphs, and charts.
It’s important to note that the CSAT (General Studies Paper II) is a qualifying paper. The marks obtained in this paper are not counted for determining the candidate’s rank in the Preliminary Examination. However, candidates must secure a minimum qualifying score in this paper to be eligible for the Main Examination.
The UPSC may make slight modifications or updates to the syllabus from time to time, so it’s advisable to check the official UPSC website or notifications for the most current syllabus and exam details.