UPSC Prelims PYQs (2013-2024)

UPSC Prelims 2025- Detailed Syllabus

Check out the detailed UPSC Prelims syllabus for 2025 here. This post will help you understand how the syllabus works and prepare for subjects like history, geography, and science.

Every year, the Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services Exam. The first round is called UPSC Prelims or IAS Prelims. The final part is the UPSC Interview, where there’s no fixed syllabus, and questions cover a wide range of topics. It’s important for candidates to thoroughly review the IAS Prelims Syllabus. Note that there are no changes in the UPSC Syllabus for 2025 compared to the previous years.

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 is outlined in the latest notification from the Union Public Service Commission. T

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 – Overview

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus is split into two parts:

GS Paper 1:

• Tests knowledge in current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, environment, and science and technology.
• Weightage: 200 marks, with 100 multiple-choice questions.

GS Paper 2 (CSAT):

• Evaluates aptitude and comprehension skills.
• Covers comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, and problem-solving.
• Easier compared to Paper 1.

UPSC Prelims 2024 Syllabus - Paper 1

 UPSC Prelims Paper 1 Syllabus includes:

• Current events of national & international importance.
• Indian History & Indian National Movement.
• Indian as well as World Geography – Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of    India & the World.
• Indian Polity.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• Common issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change – not requiring subject specialization.
• General Science.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 Subject-Wise for GS1

As mentioned before, the GS 1 Paper covers topics from different subjects. You can check the distribution of UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 by subject in the sections below.

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus 2025 for History

If you check the official UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1, you’ll find questions about “Indian History & Indian National Movement.” Here are the detailed topics you need to study for the history section.

Ancient History Section

1. Pre-Historic Era
2. Indus Valley Civilization
3. Rig Vedic Period
4. Later Vedic Period
5. Jainism
6. Buddhism
7. Mahajanpadas
8. Mauryan Era
9. Post-Mauryan Era
10. Gupta Period
11. Harshwardhana Era
12. Sangam Period (Dynasties in South India)

Medieval History Section

1. Pratiharas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas
2. Cholas and Kingdoms in South India
3. Early Muslim Invasions
4. The Delhi Sultanate
5. Afghans, Rajputs & Mughals
6. Formation of the North-Indian Empire
7. The Mughal Empire
8. Marathas and Other Indian States
9. Decline of the Mughal Empire
10. Vijaynagar Empire

Modern History Section

• Arrival of Europeans
• Expansion of the British
• Administrative Era pre-1857
• British Economic Policies
• Influence of British Administration
• 1857 Rebellion
• Administrative Transformations post-1857
• Evolution of Civil Services
• Advancements in Education
• Growth of the Press
• Socio-Religious Reforms
• Peasant Uprisings
• Emergence of Revolutionary Nationalism
• Indian National Movement Phases:
  • Phase I (1905-1918)
  • Phase II (1918-1929)
  • Phase III (1930-1947)
• Governors-General and Viceroys in India
• Constitutional Development in India

UPSC IAS Prelims 2025 Syllabus for Geography

According to the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, the Geography section encompasses the Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India & the World. To excel in this subject for the prelims exam, candidates should explore the detailed topics within each section of geography provided below.

General Geography Section

• Universe
• Earth Evolution

Bio Geography Section

• Soil Characteristics
• Vegetation Resources

Geomorphology Section

• Interior of the Earth
• Geology and Rocks
• Geomorphic Processes
• Earthquakes and Volcanic Activity
• Continental and Oceanic Distribution
• Evolution of Landforms
• Global Diversity of Landforms

Oceanography Section

• Hydrosphere
• Underwater Relief Features
• Temperature and Salinity
• Waves, Ocean Currents, Tides
• Resources of the Sea
• Oceanic Deposits and Coral Reefs

Climatology Section

• Atmosphere
• Temperature Inversion
• Insolation and Heat Balance
• Air Masses, Fronts, Cyclones, and Jet Streams
• Wind Patterns and Pressure Belts
• Precipitation Patterns
• Global Climate Zones

Human and Economic Geography Section

• Population and Census
• Human Progress
• Economic Ventures
• Transportation and Communication
• Global Trade
• Human Habitation

Indian Geography Section

• Geography of India
• Water System
• Weather Patterns
• Indian Soils
• Native Flora
• Demographics
• Urban and Rural Living
• Land Assets
• Mineral Reserves
• Energy Supplies
• Farming and Key Concepts
• Advancements in Agriculture
• Crop Yields
• Industrial Sector
• Transportation
• Contemporary Developments in Industry and Transportation

World Regional Geography Section

• Continents, Countries, and Cities
• Location in News

Ecology & Environment Section

• Emergence of Life Forms
• Fundamental Principles of Ecology
• Operations within Ecosystems
• Ecology of Populations
• Species Adaptation and Interactions
• Land-based Ecosystems
• Water-based Ecosystems
• Cycling of Nutrients

Biodiversity Section

• Foundations of Biodiversity
• Variety in Animal and Plant Life
• Challenges to Biodiversity
• Preservation of Biodiversity
• Estuarine Ecosystems
• Coastal Mangroves
• Coral Formations
• Marshy Wetlands
• Depletion and Oversight of Resources
• Pollution of the Environment
• Shifts in Climate
• Management of Environmental Policies

UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus 2025 for Polity

Explore the distribution of the polity syllabus for the prelims exam across different topics in the table provided below.

• Constitutional Evolution
• Key Aspects of the Indian Constitution
• Union and Its Geographical Extent
• Citizenship
• Fundamental Rights
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Fundamental Duties
• Structure of Governance
• Central Executive
• Central Legislature
• State Executive
• State Legislature
• Local Governance
• Union Territories and Special Regions
• Judiciary
• Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Entities
• Political Landscape (Political Parties, Elections, Pressure Groups)
• Administration
• Global Relations

UPSC Civil Services Prelims Syllabus 2025 For Economy

The preliminary syllabus for UPSC IAS highlights the overarching theme of Economic & Social Development, encompassing Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, and more. Explore the comprehensive list of specific-topics within the Economic section essential for the prelims examination.

Basic Concepts

• Macroeconomic Concepts
• Microeconomic Concepts

 Economic Measurements

• National Income & Its Calculation
• Economic Growth and Development
• Inflation

 Money & Banking

• Money Function & Classification
• Financial Markets & Its Instruments
• Banking Structure in India

 Public Finance in India

• Budgeting
• Fiscal Policy
• Centre-state Distribution
• Tax Structure in India

 Planning

• Meaning, Objective & History
• Planning Institutions
• Five-Year Plans in India
• NITI Aayog

 Open Economy

•  Foreign Trade Concepts
•  International Organizations
•  Trade Agreements
•  Recent Development

Economic Sectors

• Poverty
• Employment and Unemployment
• Government Schemes and Programmes

UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus 2025 For General Science

For the UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus, it’s advisable not to dedicate extensive time to studying General Science from theoretical books, as many questions are drawn from current affairs. Here are some key focus areas for a general overview:

• Science & Technology in India
• Space
• IT and Communication
• Materials, Nano Technology, and Robotics
• Defence
• Nuclear Technology
• Intellectual Property Rights and Other Miscellaneous Issues
• Biotechnology

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 For Art & Culture

Key art and culture subjects for the UPSC exam include Folk and Classical Dances of India, Mural Painting, Miniature Painting, etc. To excel in UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1, it’s crucial to delve into the art and culture topics outlined in the table below:

• Architecture
• Sculpture
• Paintings
• Pottery Tradition
• Numismatics
• Performing Arts
• Religion and Literature
• National and Regional Festivals

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 For Paper 2 (CSAT)

The Prelims exam’s GS Paper 2 is commonly referred to as CSAT. While this paper is only qualifying, candidates should not underestimate its importance, as many aspirants face challenges with it. The UPSC CSAT syllabus comprises various aptitude questions, and the detailed preliminary syllabus for the CSAT paper is outlined below:

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numerical skills (Class X level) (orders of magnitude, numbers & their relations, etc.)
• Data Interpretation (Class X level) (graphs, charts, tables, data sufficiency, etc.)

UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025

The Prelims exam comprises two objective-type papers. There is a negative marking of 1/3rd of the assigned marks for each incorrect answer. The details of each paper are as follows:

Important Points to Note 

• The Prelims exams have two language papers (A and B), but these are just for qualifying, meaning they don’t affect your rank.
• To make sure your essays, general studies, and optional subjects are considered, you need to get at least 25% in both “The Indian Language” and “English.”
• Your rank is determined only by the marks you get in Papers I to VI. 
• You can answer all papers in any language listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, except for the Qualifying Language Papers (Paper-A and Paper-B), which have specific languages.
• Question papers (excluding language literature papers) are available in Hindi and English.
• Blind candidates and those with locomotor disabilities or cerebral palsy get twenty minutes of extra time per hour in both the Prelims and Mains Examination.