UPPSC 2020 Syllabus - Download UPPCS Syllabus PDF for Prelims & Mains Exam

UPPSC PCS Syllabus – Prelims

The prelims exam is the screening exam that weed out the undeserving candidates for the main exam. The prelims comprise two papers, the details of which are given below.

Paper Name	No. of Questions	Marks
General Studies – I	150	200
General Studies– II(Aptitude)	100	200

The General Studies Paper-II is qualifying in nature only and the candidates need not worry about that paper. The marks secured in the General Studies paper-I are considered for the prelims result.

General Studies Paper I Syllabus

The UPPSC notification defines the UPPSC prelims syllabus in detail. The list of the topics given in the official notification is given below.

Current events of national and international importance

On Current Events of National and International Importance, candidates will be expected to know about them.

History of India & Indian National Movement

In History, emphasis should be on broad understanding social, economic and political aspects of Indian History. In the Indian National Movement, the candidates are expected to have a synoptic view of nature and character of the freedom movement, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence.

India and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.

In World Geography only general understanding of the subject will be expected.
Questions on the Geography of India will relate to Physical, Social & Economic Geography of India.

Indian Polity and Governance 

Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.:- In Indian Polity, Economic and Culture, questions will test knowledge of country’s political system including Panchayati Raj and Community Development, broad features of Economic policy in India and Indian Culture.

Economic and Social Development

Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.:- The candidates will be tested regarding problems and relationship between Population, Environment and Urbanisation.

General Science

Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of Science, including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well-educated person, who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.

General Issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change that do not require subject specialisation. General awareness of the subject is expected from candidates.

General Studies Paper-II Syllabus

It is the qualifying paper only and the candidates need to secure minimum passing marks to qualify this paper. The minimum qualifying marks is 66 marks out of 200. The list of topics is as follows.

• Comprehension.
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making and problem-solving.
• General mental ability
• Elementary Mathematics up to Class X level- Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics.
• General English up to Class X level.
• General Hindi up to Class X level.

UPPSC PCS Syllabus- Main exam

The main exam is the main part of the UPPSC exam in real terms. The marks secured in the UPPSC PCS main exam are the deciding factor in the final selection. With the change in UPPCS exam pattern, new syllabus of the UPPSC main exam came into force.

There are two major changes in the main exam pattern. Firstly, UPPSC does away with the objective type papers and re-introduced the descriptive type papers as in the past but with the increase in the number of papers. Secondly, UPPSC introduced the ‘Ethics’ paper which was not there earlier.

The paper-wise official UPPSC syllabus is given below

Essay Paper Syllabus

The candidates need to write three essays (in about 700 word) in three hours. There will be three sections in the UPPSC Essay question paper and the candidates need to choose one topic from each section. The section-wise syllabus is as follows

Section A: (1) Literature and Culture. (2) Social sphere. (3) Political sphere.

Section B: (1) Science, Environment and Technology. (2) Economic Sphere (3) Agriculture, Industry and Trade.

Section C: (1) National and International Events. (2) Natural Calamities, Landslide, Earthquake, Deluge, Drought etc. (3) National Development programmes and projects.

General Studies Paper I Syllabus

The General Studies Paper I is the most static paper of the UPPSC PCS main exam. This paper has the least current orientation and the candidates should prepare it keeping in mind that its topics will be useful in other exams as well. The list of the topics is as follows

1- History of Indian Culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

2- Modern Indian history (from A.D.1757 to A.D. 1947): Significant events, personalities and issues, etc.

3- The Freedom Struggle- its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. 

4- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country (till 1965A.D.). 

5- History of the world will include events from 18th century to the middle of the 20th century such
as French revolution of 1789, the industrial revolution, World Wars, redraw of national boundaries, Socialism, Nazism, Fascism etc-their forms and effect on the society.

6- Salient features of Indian Society and culture.

7- Role of Women in society and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

8- Meaning of liberalization, privatization and globalization and their effects on the economy, polity and social structure.

9- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

10- Distribution of major natural resources of World- Water, Soils, Forests in reference to South and South-East Asia with special reference to India. Factors responsible for the location of industries (with special reference to India).

11- Salient features of Physical Geography- Earthquake, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclone, Ocean Currents, winds and glaciers.

12- Oceanic resources of India and their potential.

13- Human migration-refugee problem of the World with a focus on India.

14- Frontiers and boundaries with reference to Indian sub-continent.

15- Population and Settlements- Types and Patterns, Urbanization, Smart Cities and Smart Villages.

16- Specific knowledge of Uttar Pradesh – History, Culture, Art, Architecture, Festival, Folk-Dance, Literature, Regional Languages, Heritage, Social Customs and Tourism.

17- Specific knowledge of U.P.- Geography- Human and Natural Resources, Climate, Soils, Forest, Wild-Life, Mines and Minerals, Sources of Irrigation.

General Studies II Syllabus

This paper demands the knowledge of the Indian Constitution, the important Acts passed by the Parliament and important historical judgements related to the basic structure of the constitution of India. The list of the topics are as follows

1- Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure, Role of Supreme Court in the evolution of basic provisions of Constitution.

2- 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.

3- Role of Finance Commission in Centre-State financial relations. 

4- Separation of powers, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. Emergence and use of alternative dispute redressal mechanisms.

5- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other major democratic countries.

6- Parliament and State legislatures- structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers and privileges and concerned issues.

7- Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary: Ministries and Departments of the Government, Pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

8- Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.

9- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, Powers, functions and their responsibilities.

10- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies including NITI Aayog, their features and functioning.

11- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design, implementation and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

12- Development processes- the role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

13- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes, mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

14- Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

15- Issues relating to poverty and hunger, their implication on the body politic.

16- Important aspects of governance. Transparency and accountability, e-governance applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential, citizens, charters and institutional measures.

17- Role of Civil Services in a democracy in the context of emerging trends.

18- India and its relationship with neighbouring countries.

19- Bilateral, Regional and Global groupings and agreements involving India and/ or affecting India's interest.

20- Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests- Indian diaspora.

21- Important International Institutions, Agencies their structure, mandate and functioning.

22- Specific knowledge of Uttar Pradesh regarding Political, Administrative, Revenue and Judicial System.

23- Current affairs and events of Regional, State, National and International importance.

General Studies III Syllabus

This is the most dynamic paper of UPPSC PCS main exam. This paper's topics run in consonance with the current events all the time. The candidates need to update the textbooks for the new data and figures released by the government from time to time. The list of the topics are as follows

1- Economic planning in India, objectives and achievements. Role of NITI Aayog, Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's).

2- Issues of Poverty, Unemployment, Social justice and inclusive growth.

3- Components of Government Budgets and Financial System.

4- Major Crops, Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce, e-technology in the aid of farmers.

5- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices, Public Distribution System (PDS)- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping, issues of buffer stocks and food security, Technology missions in agriculture.

6- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.

7- Land reforms in India since independence.

8- Effects of liberalization and globalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

9- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

10- Science and Technology-developments and applications in everyday life and in National Security, India's Science and Technology Policy.

11- Achievements of Indians in science & technology, indigenization of technology. Developments of New technologies, transfer of technology, dual and critical use technologies.

12- Awareness in the fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Space Technology, Computers, Energy resources, nanotechnology, microbiology, biotechnology. Issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR), and digital rights.

13- Environmental security and Ecosystems, Conservation of Wildlife, Biodiversity, Environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

14- Disaster as a Non-traditional security and safety challenge, disaster mitigation and management.

15- Challenges of International Security: Issues of Nuclear proliferation, Causes and spread of extremism, Communication networks, the role of media and social networking, Basics of cybersecurity, money laundering and human trafficking. 
16- India's internal security challenges: Terrorism, corruption, insurgency and organised crimes.

17- Role, kind and mandate of security forces, higher defence organizations in India 

18- Specific knowledge of Uttar Pradesh Economy:-

• Overview of UP Economy: State Budgets. Importance of Agriculture, Industry,
• Infrastructure and physical resources. Human Resources and Skill development.
• Government Programmes and Welfare Schemes.

19- Issues in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Animal Husbandry.

20- Law and Order and Civil Defence with special reference to U.P.

General Studies IV- Ethics Syllabus

Ethics paper is introduced recently and the teachers are in the process to devise a strategy for the candidates. This paper was introduced to check the moral orientation of the candidates.

The list of the topics are as follows.

Ethics and Human Interface

Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human action, dimensions of ethics, ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values-lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators, the role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.

Attitude

Content, structure, function, its influence and relation with thought and behaviour, moral and political attitudes, social influence and persuasion.
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public services, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.

Emotional Intelligence - concept and dimensions, its utility and application in administration and governance.

Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.

Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration

Status and 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 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 charter, work culture, quality of service delivery, utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.

Case studies on the above issues.