Syllabus of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

 Syllabus of  the (IAS) Indian Administrative Service 

The syllabus for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination may vary slightly from year to year, However, the IAS exam typically consists of three stages: the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Interview (Personality Test). Here is a general overview of the IAS syllabus for 2023, based on the pattern in previous years. Please check the official UPSC website or notifications for the most current and accurate syllabus for 2023:

 

Preliminary Examination (Objective Type):

 

1.  Paper-I: General Studies (GS)

·         Current events of national and international importance

·         History of India and the Indian National Movement

·         Indian and World Geography

·         Indian Polity and Governance

·         Economic and Social Development

·         Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change

·         General Science

2.  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 (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)

 

Main Examination (Descriptive Type):

The Main Examination consists of 9 papers, which are divided into two qualifying papers and seven merit-based papers.

 

Qualifying Papers:

1.  Paper-A: Indian Language (Qualifying)

·         Candidates have to choose one of the Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This paper is of qualifying nature, and candidates need to score a minimum of 25% marks to pass.

2.  Paper-B: English (Qualifying)

·         This paper is of qualifying nature, and candidates need to score a minimum of 25% marks to pass.

 

Merit-Based Papers:

3.  Essay Paper

 

4.  General Studies Paper-I

·         Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society

 

5.  General Studies Paper-II

·         Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

 

6.  General Studies Paper-III

·         Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

 

7.  General Studies Paper-IV

·         Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude

 

8.  Optional Subject Paper-I

·         Candidates can choose an optional subject from a list of approved subjects.

 

9.  Optional Subject Paper-II

 

Interview (Personality Test): The final stage of the IAS exam is the Interview or Personality Test, which evaluates the candidate's overall personality, communication skills, and suitability for the civil services.

 

Please note that the optional subjects for Paper VIII and Paper IX may change from year to year. Candidates should refer to the official website - https://upsc.gov.in/  UPSC notification for the most up-to-date information on the syllabus and any changes for the 2023 IAS examination.