PM Institute

Mains Examination

The Main Examination will consist of written examination and an interview test.

Mains Written Examination

The written examination will consist of 9 papers of conventional essay type out of which two papers will be of qualifying in nature.

Marks obtained for all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and Marks obtained in Interview for Personality Test will be counted for ranking. Candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in the written part of the Main Examination as may be fixed by the Commission at their discretion, shall be summoned by them for an interview for a Personality Test. The number of candidates to be summoned for interview will be about twice of the number of vacancies to be filled. The interview will carry 275 marks (with no minimum qualifying marks).

Marks thus obtained by the candidates in the Main Examination (written part as well as interview) would determine their final ranking. Candidates will be allotted to the various Services keeping in view their ranks in the examination and the preferences expressed by them for the various Services and posts.

The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.

The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate’s basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands.

The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers.

The scope of the syllabus for optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) for the examination is broadly of the honours degree level i.e. a level higher than the bachelors’ degree and lower than the masters’ degree. In the case of Engineering, Medical Science and law, the level corresponds to the bachelors’ degree.

UPSC Mains Examination Pattern

Paper	Subject	Duration	Total Marks
Paper A	Compulsory Indian language	3 hours	300 (Qualifying)
Paper B	English	3 hours	300 (Qualifying)
Paper I	Essay	3 hours	250
Paper II	General Studies I – Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society	3 hours	250
Paper III	General Studies II – Governance, Constitution, Welfare Initiatives, Social Justice & International Relations	3 hours	250
Paper IV	General Studies III – Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management	3 hours	250
Paper V	General Studies IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude	3 hours	250
Paper VI	Optional Subject – Paper I	3 hours	250
Paper VII	Optional Subject – Paper II	3 hours	250

Mains Examination Syllabus

Essay

The UPSC mains syllabus does not have any prescribed syllabus for the essay paper as such. As per the UPSC, “Candidates are expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in an orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.”

Candidates are required to write two essays from a list of given topics for a combined total of 250 marks.

GS Paper 1

Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Modern Indian History

Significant events, issues, personalities during the middle of the eighteenth century (1750s) until the present.
Different stages and important contributors and contributions from various parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’.
Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.

History of the world
Events, forms and effect on society since the 18th century (world wars, industrial revolution, colonisation, redrawal of national boundaries, decolonisation, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.)
Society

Indian society and diversity – Salient aspects.
Role of women and women’s organisations, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanisation, their problems and remedies.
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Effects of globalisation on Indian society.

Geography

Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent; factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world including India.
Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.
Geographical features and their location, changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and polar ice caps) and, in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Salient features of world’s physical geography.

GS Paper II

Indian Constitution

Historical underpinnings,
Evolution, features
Amendments, significant provisions
Basic structure doctrine
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
Parliament and State Legislatures

Structure, functioning
Conduct of business
Powers & privileges and issues arising out of these

Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Government policies and interventions aimed at development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development processes and the development industry – the role of NGOs, Self Help Groups, various groups and associations, institutional and other stakeholders.
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and the States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
Role of civil services in a democracy
International Relations

India and its neighbourhood – International relations
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Important International institutions, agencies, their structure and mandates

GS Paper III

Economy

Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.
Government Budgeting.
Inclusive growth and associated issues/challenges
Effects of liberalisation on the economy (post 1991 changes), changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment models (PPP etc)
Agriculture

Major cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
Economics of animal rearing.
Food processing and related industries in India – scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions
Land reforms in India.

Science and Technology

Recent developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Achievements of Indians in science & technology.
Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
General awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, bio-technology
Issues relating to intellectual property rights

Environment

Conservation
Environmental pollution and degradation
Environmental impact assessment

Disaster Management (Laws, Acts etc.)
Security

Challenges to internal security (external state and non-state actors)
Linkages between development and spread of extremism
Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges
Basics of cyber security, money-laundering and its prevention
Security challenges and their management in border areas, linkages of organised crime with terrorism
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandates

GS Paper IV

This Ethics paper in the UPSC mains syllabus includes questions to check the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity and probity in public life and his/her problem-solving approach to various societal issues. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects and the exam covers area as mentioned in the syllabus given below.

Ethics and Human Interface

Essence of Ethics, Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in Human Interaction
Dimensions of Ethics
Ethics in private and public relationships
Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators
Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating moral and ethical values

Attitude

Content, structure and function of attitude
Influence of attitude in thought and behaviour
Relation of attitude to thought and behaviour
Moral and Political attitudes
Social influence and persuasion

Aptitude

Aptitude and foundational values of Civil Service
Integrity
Impartiality and non-partisanship
Objectivity
Dedication to public service
Empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections of the society

Emotional Intelligence

Concepts of emotional intelligence
Utility and application of emotional intelligence in administration and governance

Contributions of Thinkers and Philosophers

Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world to the concepts of morality

Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration

Status and associated 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
The philosophical basis of governance and probity
Information sharing and transparency in government
Right to Information
Codes of ethics
Codes of Conduct
Citizen’s Charters
Work culture
Quality of service delivery
Utilization of public funds
Challenges of corruption

Optional Subject (Two Papers)

A candidate has to choose one optional subject (out of a total of 48 options). There will be two papers for a combined total of 500 marks

Personality Test/ Interview

The candidate will be interviewed by a Board who will have before them a record of his career. He will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment of not only his intellectual qualities but also social traits and his interest in current affairs. Some of the qualities to be judged are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, intellectual and moral integrity.

The technique of the interview is not that of a strict cross-examination but of a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate.

The interview test is not intended to be a test either of the specialised or general knowledge of the candidates which has been already tested through their written papers. Candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest not only in their special subjects of academic study but also in the events which are happening around them both within and outside their own State or Country as well as in modern currents of thought and in new discoveries which should rouse the curiosity of well educated youth.

Personality Test Mark

Personality Test Mark - 275

Civil Service Examination Final Mark

Civil Service Mains Examination - 1750

Personality Test - 275

Final Mark - 2025