UPSC CSE 2027 Syllabus:
Prelims & Mains, on paper.

• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography — physical, social, economic
• Indian Polity & Governance — Constitution, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
• Economic & Social Development — sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics
• Environmental ecology, biodiversity & climate change (non-specialist level)
• General Science

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision making and problem solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy — numbers, orders of magnitude (Class X level)
• Data interpretation — charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency (Class X level)

• Essays on multiple topics — the paper may ask you to write more than one essay
• Keep closely to the subject of the essay
• Arrange your ideas in an orderly fashion
• Write concisely — credit is given for effective and exact expression

Official syllabus text: “Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.”

• Comprehension of given passages
• Precis writing
• Usage and vocabulary
• Short essays
• Translation from English to the Indian language and vice versa (Paper-A only)

Both papers test your ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and to express ideas clearly and correctly. They are of Matriculation (Class 10) standard and their marks are not counted for ranking, but you need at least 25% in each: your Essay, GS and Optional papers are taken into account only if you clear both. Paper-A is not compulsory for candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, or for PwBD (hearing impairment) candidates exempted from a 2nd/3rd language by their Board/University.

• Indian Culture — salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
• Modern Indian History from the mid-18th century to the present — significant events, personalities, issues
• The Freedom Struggle — its stages and important contributors from different parts of the country
• Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country
• History of the World from the 18th century — Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies (Communism, Capitalism, Socialism) and their effects on society
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
• Role of Women and Women's Organizations, population issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization — problems and remedies
• Effects of Globalization on Indian society
• Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism
• Salient features of World's Physical Geography
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (incl. South Asia & the Indian sub-continent); factors behind the location of primary, secondary & tertiary industries
• Important geophysical phenomena — earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity, cyclones; changes in critical geographical features (water-bodies, ice-caps, flora & fauna) and their effects

• Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions & basic structure
• Functions & responsibilities of the Union and the States; federal-structure issues; devolution of powers & finances to local levels
• Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament & State Legislatures — structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
• Structure, organization & functioning of the Executive and Judiciary; Ministries & Departments; pressure groups and formal/informal associations
• Salient features of the Representation of the People's Act
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts; powers, functions & responsibilities of Constitutional Bodies
• Statutory, Regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Government policies & interventions for development across sectors, and issues from their design & implementation
• Development processes & the development industry — role of NGOs, SHGs, donors, charities and other stakeholders
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections by Centre & States, their performance, and related mechanisms, laws, institutions & bodies
• Development & management of social-sector services — health, education, human resources
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger
• Governance, transparency & accountability; e-governance — applications, models, successes & limits; Citizens' Charters
• Role of Civil Services in a democracy
• India and its neighbourhood — relations
• Bilateral, regional & global groupings and agreements involving or affecting India
• Effect of developed & developing countries' policies on India's interests; the Indian diaspora
• Important international institutions, agencies and fora — their structure & mandate

• Indian Economy — planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
• Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it
• Government Budgeting
• Major crops & cropping patterns, irrigation systems, storage/transport/marketing of produce, e-technology for farmers
• Farm subsidies & MSP; PDS — objectives, functioning, limitations; buffer stocks & food security; technology missions; economics of animal-rearing
• Food processing & related industries — scope, location, supply chain management
• Land Reforms in India
• Effects of Liberalization on the economy; changes in industrial policy & their effects on industrial growth
• Infrastructure — energy, ports, roads, airports, railways etc.
• Investment Models
• Science & Technology — developments, applications and effects in everyday life
• Achievements of Indians in S&T; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
• Awareness in IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology & Intellectual Property Rights
• Conservation, environmental pollution & degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment
• Disaster and Disaster Management
• Linkages between development and the spread of extremism
• Role of external state & non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security
• Internal security challenges via communication networks, media & social networking; basics of cybersecurity; money laundering & its prevention
• Security challenges & management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
• Various security forces & agencies and their mandate

• Attitude & approach to integrity, probity in public life, and a problem-solving approach to conflicts in society (case-study based)
• Ethics & Human Interface — essence, determinants & consequences of ethics; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private & public relationships. Human values from great leaders, reformers, administrators; role of family, society & education
• Attitude — content, structure, function; influence on thought & behaviour; moral & political attitudes; social influence & persuasion
• Aptitude & foundational values for civil service — integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication, empathy, tolerance, compassion
• Emotional Intelligence — concepts and application in administration & governance
• Contributions of moral thinkers & 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 ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
• Probity in Governance — concept of public service; 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
• Case studies on the above issues