Simplifying UPSC Civil Services 2026| यूपीएससी सिविल सेवा अभिक्षमता परीक्षा (प्रारंभिक) परीक्षा

UPSC Civil Services Selection Process (Exam): Civil Services competitive examination comprises of two successive stages : (i) Civil Services (Preliminary) Examinations (Objective Type) for the selection of candidates for Main Examination; and (ii) Civil Services (Main) Examination (Written and Interview) for the selection of candidates for the various services and posts. Also, CheckOut the Article on Civil Services Exam 2. The Preliminary Examination will consist of two papers of Objective type (multiple choice questions) and carry a maximum of 400 marks (Please, refer to Civil Services(Pre) Examination Syllabus for the detailed syllabus, and also check out article on Cracking the UPSC CSAT Examination ). This examination is meant to serve as a screening test only; the marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by the candidates who are declared qualified for admission to the Main Examination will not be counted for determining their final order of merit. The number of...

Syllabus of the Civil Services Main Examination  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 scope of the syllabus for the optional subject papers 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 and law, the level corresponds to the bachelor's degree. COMPULSORY SUBJECTS ENGLISH AND INDIAN LANGUAGUES The aim of the paper is to test the candidate's ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly in English/Indian language concerned. The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :- (i) Comprehension of given passages. (ii) Precis Writing (iii) Usage and Vocabulary (iv) Short Essay INDIAN LANGUAGES (i) Comprehension of given passages. (ii) Precis Writing (iii) Usage...

General Guidelines: The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers 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. PAPER - I 1. History of Modern India and Indian Culture : The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the freedom movement and social reforms. The part relating to Indian culture will cover all aspects of Indian culture from the ancient to modern times as well a...

PAPER-I  There will be three questions as indicated in the question paper which must be answered in Sanskrit.  The remaining questions must be answered either in Sanskrit or in the medium of examination opted by the candidate.  Section-A  1. Significant features of the grammar, with particular stress on Sanjna, Sandhi, Karaka, Samasa, Kartari and Karmani vacyas (voice usages) (to be answered in Sanskrit).  2.  (a) Main characteristics of Vedic Sanskrit language.  (b) Prominent features of classical Sanskrit language.  (c) Contribution of Sanskrit to linguistic studies.  3. General Knowledge of:-  (a) Literary history of Sanskit, (b) Principal trends of literary criticism  (c) Ramayana,  (d) Mahabharata  (e) The origin and development of literary geners of: Mahakavya Rupaka (drama) Katha Akhyayika Campu Khandakavya Muktaka Kavya.  Section-B  4. Essentials of Indian Culture w...

Pali subject has two papers, one covering the language (i.e. Grammar, writing skills etc.) and the other covering literature. Beauty of the subject is that it has got very limited syllabus , so you can prepare well within the defined limits; you can concentrate more on effectiveness of your answers rather than striving for somehow finishing the syllabus, as may be the case with many other literature subjects.  PAPER-I (Pãli Language)  (N.B. All answers must be written in Pali language in Devanãgarî or Roman Script)  Section-A  1. Origin and Homeland of Pãli and its characteristics.  2. Pãli Grammar- (I) Technical Terms of Pãli Grammar-Akkhara, Sara, Vyañjana, Niggahîta, Nãma, Sabbanãma, Ãkhyãta, Upasagga, Nipãta, Abyaya,  (II) Kãraka,  (III) Samãsa;  (IV) Sandhi;  (V) Taddhita. (Apaccabodhaka-and Ãdhikãrabodhaka- Paccaya);  (VI) Etymological derivation of the following words :- Buddho, Bhikkhu, Sãmanero, Sa...

PAPER-I  (Answers must be written in Hindi)  Section-A   1. History of Hindi Language and Nagari Lipi.  I. Grammatical and applied forms of Apbhransh, Awahatta & Arambhik Hindi.  II. Development of Braj and Awadhi as literary language during medieval period.  III. Early form of Khari-boli in Siddha-Nath Sahitya, Khusero, Sant Sahitaya, Rahim etc. and Dakhni Hindi.  IV. Development of Khari-boli and Nagari Lipi during 19th Century.  V. Standardisation of Hindi Bhasha & Nagari Lipi.  VI. Development of Hindi as national Language during freedom movement.  VII. The development of Hindi as a National Language of Union of India.  VIII. Scientific & Technical development of Hindi Language.  IX. Prominent dialects of Hindi and their inter- relationship.  X. Salient features of Nagari Lipi and the efforts for its reform & Standard form of Hindi.  XI. Grammatical structure of Standard H...

SOCIOLOGY PAPER - I  FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY  1. Sociology - The Discipline:  (a) Modernity and social changes in Europe and emergence of sociology.  (b) Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences.  (c) Sociology and common sense.  2. Sociology as Science:  (a) Science, scientific method and critique.  (b) Major theoretical strands of research methodology.  (c) Positivism and its critique.  (d) Fact value and objectivity.  (e) Non- positivist methodologies.  3. Research Methods and Analysis:  (a) Qualitative and quantitative methods.  (b) Techniques of data collection.  (c) Variables, sampling, hypothesis, reliability and validity.  4. Sociological Thinkers:  (a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.  (b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.  ...

PAPER – I  Administrative Theory  1. Introduction:  Meaning, scope and significance of Public Administration; Wilson’s vision of Public Administration; Evolution of the discipline and its present status; New Public Administration; Public Choice approach; Challenges of liberalization, Privatisation, Globalisation; Good Governance: concept and application; New Public Management. 2. Administrative Thought:  Scientific Management and Scientific Management movement; Classical Theory; Weber’s bureaucratic model – its critique and post-Weberian Developments; Dynamic Administration (Mary Parker Follett); Human Relations School (Elton Mayo and others); Functions of the Executive (C.I. Barnard); Simon’s decision-making theory; Participative Management (R. Likert, C. Argyris, D. McGregor).  3. Administrative Behaviour:  Process and techniques of decision-making; Communication; Morale; Motivation Theories – content, process and contemporary; Theories of L...

PAPER - I  Political Theory and Indian Politics:  1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.  2. Theories of the State: Liberal, Neoliberal, Marxist, Pluralist, Post-colonial and feminist.  3. Justice: Conceptions of justice with special reference to Rawl’s theory of justice and its communitarian critiques.  4. Equality: Social, political and economic; relationship between equality and freedom; Affirmative action.  5. Rights: Meaning and theories; different kinds of rights; concept of Human Rights.  6. Democracy: Classical and contemporary theories; different models of democracy – representative, participatory and deliberative.  7. Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy.  8. Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Fascism, Gandhism and Feminism.  9. Indian Political Thought : Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist traditions; Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M.K. Gandhi, B.R. Ambed...

Anthropology Paper I 1.1 Meaning, scope and development of Anthropology. 1.2 Relationships with other disciplines: Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Earth Sciences and Humanities. 1.3 Main branches of Anthropology, their scope and relevance: (a) Social- cultural Anthropology. (b) Biological Anthropology. (c) Archaeological Anthropology. (d) Linguistic Anthropology. 1.4 Human Evolution and emergence of Man: (a) Biological and Cultural factors in human evolution. (b) Theories of Organic Evolution (Pre- Darwinian, Darwinian and Post-Darwinian). (c) Synthetic theory of evolution; Brief outline of terms and concepts of evolutionary biology (Doll’s rule, Cope’s rule, Gause’s rule, parallelism, convergence, adaptive radiation, and mosaic evolution). 1.5 Characteristics of Primates; Evolutionary Trend and Primate Taxonomy; Primate Adaptations; (Arboreal and Terrestrial) Primate Taxonomy; Primate Behaviour; Tertiary and Quaternary fossil primates; Living...

Geography Paper I  Principles of Geography Physical Geography: 1. Geomorphology: Factors controlling landform development; endogenetic and exogenetic forces; Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust; Fundamentals of geomagnetism; Physical conditions of the earth’s interior; Geosynclines; Continental drift; Isostasy; Plate tectonics; Recent views on mountain building; Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis; Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development ; Denudation chronology; Channel morphology; Erosion surfaces; Slope development ; Applied Geomorphology : Geohydrology, economic geology and environment. 2. Climatology: Temperature and pressure belts of the world; Heat budget of the earth; Atmospheric circulation; atmospheric stability and instability. Planetary and local winds; Monsoons and jet streams; Air masses and fronto genesis, Temperate and tropical cyclones; Types and distribution of precipitation; Weather and Climate; Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha...