We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.    
IAS Government Exam | Application Form, Syllabus & Eligibility - Easy Shiksha

IAS Exam: Eligibility, Application Form, Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Admit Card & Result

Updated On - Sep 29, 2021

no-image

Tom Helson

Civil Service Examination is considered to be one of the toughest competitive exams conducted by the Central Government of India. It is organized by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates every year. The full form of IAS is Indian Administrative Services (Union Public Service Commission Civil Service Exam).

IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam, also known as Imperial Civil Service, was founded in 1858. A total of 24 services come under this examination such as IPS, IFS (Foreign), IFoS (Forest), IP & TAFS, IAAS, IRS, IDAS, CMSE, IRTS, IRAS, IRPS, ITS, CAPF-AF, etc.

Highlights

Particulars Details
Exam Name IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam 2021
Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission(UPSC)
Exam Level National
UPSC Vacancy 712
Exam Frequency Once a year
Application Mode Online
Application Fee INR 100
Selection Process
  • Prelims Exam
  • Mains Exam
  • Personality Test
Mode of Exam
  • Prelims - Online
  • Mains - Offline
Exam Helpdesk No. 011-23098543 / 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098591
Official Website https://www.upsc.gov.in/

Notification

The UPSC has released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021 notification on March 4, 2021. Candidates who are aiming for the All India Services along with other services can apply online between March 4 and 24, 2021. The CSE notification was released for a total of 712 vacancies which include 22 vacancies for persons with the benchmark disability category.

Dates

The IAS (UPSC CSE) Online Application form was closed on March 24, 2021. To know more about the important dates of IAS Exam 2021, go through the following table:

IAS (UPSC CSE) Events IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam Dates
IAS (UPSC CSE) Official Notification 2021 March 04, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) Application Process March 04 - 24, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Application form Withdrawal starting Date March 31, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Application form Withdrawal Closing Date April 06, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims Admit Card September 16, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims Exam October 10, 2021
IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims 2021 Result October- November 2021 (Tentative)
IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains 2021 January 07, 2022
IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Result Postponed

Vacancy

The IAS (UPSC CSE) vacancy has been notified on March 04, 2021. Here is a tabular on the latest vacancy announcement of the IAS and IFoS (Indian Forest Services) Exam:

Category IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Vacancy
UPSC CSE 712
UPSC IFoS 110

There are 22 vacant posts reserved for the PWD candidates in UPSC Civil Service Exam and 6 vacant posts are reserved for PWD candidates in UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam.

Eligibility

IAS (UPSC CSE) Eligibility Criteria is released along with the official notification. The Eligibility criteria for IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Exam has been classified into 5 sections such as:

  • Age criteria and relaxation
  • Educational Qualification
  • Nationality
  • Physical Standard
  • Number of attempts allowed
Particulars Details
Age Criteria 21- 32 years
Age relaxation 3-10 years as per category
Educational Qualification Graduation (Minimum)
Nationality Indian
Physical Standards As per the Rank or post
Attempts 6 attempts (There is no restriction for SC/ST candidates)

Applications

The application form of the IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 exam and UPSC IFoS 2021 Exam was released on March 04, 2021. On the other hand, the IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 application withdrawal process was from March 31, 2021, to April 06, 2021, before 6 PM.

Step 1 – IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Registration
  • Visit the official website and click on the ‘UPSC Civil Services Examination 2021’
  • Candidates have to fill in their Personal, Educational, Parental, and Employment details.
  • You can make changes before the final submission. No changes would be possible after the final submission, hence filling the IAS 2021 Application Form very carefully.
  • These details cannot be changed, however, in case of any error, separate representation can be made to the commission.
Step 2 – IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Application Fee

IAS (UPSC CSE) Application fees can be paid offline as well as online. For online payment, candidates may use a credit card/debit card/Rupay card or Internet Banking Services.

For offline payment, download the e-challan and submit the fee in cash at SBI bank branches on the next day itself. Here is the specified payable amount for all candidates:

Category Application Fees
Category Application Fees
General and OBC INR 100/-
SC/ST/ PwD and Female Exempted
Step 3 – IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Exam Center Selection

Candidates will get an option to select the IAS (UPSC CSE) examination center. Here, the candidates can select the exam city of their choice.

Step 4 – Uploading Photograph and Signature

Candidates have to upload the following documents in IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Application Form in the prescribed specifications:

Images Size Dimension Format
Photograph 3Kb – 40Kb 3.5 cm X 4.5 cm .JPG
Signature 1Kb – 40Kb 3.5 cm X 1.5 cm .JPG
Step 5 – Agreeing to Declaration

The last step is to Click On ‘I Agree’ and after that candidates can submit their online application form.

Candidates can take a printout of the application form for future reference.

Admit Card

  • IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Prelims Exam has been scheduled for October 10, 2021. Therefore, the admit card for the prelims exam should be available three weeks before the exam date.
  • The visible details on the IAS (UPSC CSE) admit card is the candidate’s name, father’s name, DOB, photograph, signature, address of the allotted IAS Exam Centre, etc.
  • After downloading the admit card, candidates must check and verify all the details mentioned in it. In case of any discrepancy, you must report it to the authorities by email to uscsp- upsc@nic.in.
  • It is mandatory to carry the admit card along with ID proof to be allowed in the exam center.

Exam Centers

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam Centres Mains
Aurangabad Jabalpur Rajkot
Bangalore Jaipur Ranchi
Bareilly Jammu Sambalpur
Bhopal Jodhpur Shillong
Bilaspur Jorhat Shimla
Chandigarh Kochi Siliguri
Chennai Kohima Srinagar
Coimbatore Kolkata Thane
Cuttack Kozhikode Thiruvananthapuram
Dehradun Lucknow Tiruchirapalli
Delhi Ludhiana Tirupati
Dharwad Madurai Udaipur
Dispur Mumbai Varanasi
Faridabad Mysore Vellore
Gangtok Nagpur Vijayawada
Gaya Navi Mumbai Visakhapatnam
Ghaziabad Gautam Buddh Nagar Warangal

Exam Pattern and Selection Process

There are 2 written tests in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam - Prelims and Mains Exam. The Prelims exam is qualifying in nature while the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains exam and Personality test together will decide the candidates' place in the Merit List.

IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Prelims Exam Pattern

The UPSC CSE Prelims exam will be the same for both IAS and UPSC Indian Forest Service Exam (IFoS) Exam. The exam is to test the analytical skills of the candidates. Here is the UPSC CSE prelims exam pattern:

  • There are 2 compulsory papers - General Ability Test (GAT) and the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT).
  • All questions are objective in nature. There are 4 options among which any one of the 4 answer choices is given for each question.
  • Questions are set in both Compulsory English Language Paper and Hindi Language.
  • Questions from the English Language Comprehension are of the class 10th level.
  • IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims is a qualifying exam. Candidates have to get a minimum of 33% to be qualified for the Mains.
  • The number of candidates to be admitted to Mains is about twelve to thirteen times the total, an approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination.
Particulars Details
Exam Mode Offline
Exam Papers
  • Paper-I: General Ability Test (GAT)
  • Paper-II: Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT)
Number of Question Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs)
Total Marks 400 marks
Nature of Exam Qualifying
Exam Duration 2 hours for each paper (for blind candidates, additional 20 minutes)
Exam Timing
  • Forenoon Session: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
  • Afternoon Session: 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Exam Language English and Hindi
IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme for Prelims
  • In the General Studies Paper-I, each question carries 2 marks.
  • In the Civil Service Aptitude Test Paper, each question carries 2.5 marks.
  • For each wrong attempt, there will be a deduction of one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question.
  • If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers happens to be correct and the penalty will be the same as mentioned above for that question.
  • If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
  • Paper-II (CSAT) in the IAS exam is qualifying and candidates should score a minimum of 33 percent in this paper to qualify for the next stage of the IAS exam i.e. the Mains.
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021: Mains Exam Pattern
  • IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains is also an offline exam.
  • Each paper of the main exam will carry 250 marks.
  • Each paper is for 3 hours. 30 minutes are given extra to blind students.
  • IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains exam has 9 papers among which there are 2 qualifying papers, 4 general studies papers, 2 optional papers, and 1 essay paper.
  • Questions will be subjective in nature. They will be given in both Hindi and English language.
Papers Marks Allotted
Essay writing 250 Marks
General Studies–I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society) 250 Marks
General Studies –II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations) 250 Marks
General Studies –III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio‐diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) 250 Marks
General Studies –IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude) 250 Marks
Optional Subject – Paper 1 250 Marks
Optional Subject – Paper 2 250 Marks
Sub Total in the written Test 1750 Marks
Personal Interview 275 Marks
Grand Total ( for merit calculation) 2025 Marks
IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme for Mains
  • The total marks in IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains exam are 1750 marks.
  • Candidates can choose two optional papers in the application process.
  • Candidates will be given marks based on opinion, content flow, understanding the problems and situation, offering feasible solutions or strategies, presentation of the answers, and language as well.
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Exam Pattern for Interview
  • All candidates who secured the cutoff marks of the Mains examination will proceed towards the IAS Personality Test which includes psychological test, physical and medical test.
  • This is the final stage of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Selection process which consists of 275 marks.
  • At the Exam Centre’s entrance hall, verification of documents like educational certificates, Caste certificates, etc takes place.
  • The Interview is a completely different experience and tests the inner psychological state of the interviewee(candidate).

Syllabus

As the IAS Prelims exam is the primary stage of the selection process. It is an online screening stage. Here is the IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims syllabus:

IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims: General Ability Test (GAT) Paper I Syllabus
  • Current events of national and international importance.
  • History of India and Indian National Movement.
  • Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
  • Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
  • General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization
  • General Science
IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims: Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper-II
  • 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.) – Class X level)
  • Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Mains Syllabus

The Mains exam of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam comprises 9 theoretical papers among which there are 4 general studies papers, 2 language papers, and 1 essay paper, and 2 optional subject papers.

Here is the complete syllabus of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam along with the syllabus of optional papers.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Language Papers: Indian language and English Syllabus

There are two language papers in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains exam, which are qualifying in nature. Therefore, candidates must score above 25% in either of them to qualify.

  • One essay question carries 100 marks – candidates have to select one among the given topics.
  • Reading comprehension and related five-six questions which carry a total of 60 marks
  • Precis writing for 60 marks – the answer sheet will have a separate grid structure where this has to be written
  • Translation from English will be done in the chosen language. This section carries 20 marks.
  • The Translation from chosen language to English carries for 20 marks
  • A total of 40 marks are allotted to the Grammar and basic language usage such as synonyms, sentence correction, etc.
IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Mains: Essay Paper

The essay paper has a marks weightage of 250 out of the total 1250 marks of the entire Mains test. It contains 12.5 % of the total. The word limit for the essay is 1000-1200 words.

The following are a few examples of the essay topics that IAS mains often set. Having a clear conception of the essay topics will help you make a study plan accordingly:

  • How is both human intelligence and technical intelligence crucial in combatting terrorism with context to India?
  • Are science and mysticism compatible?
  • Managing home and work- is it a fair deal for Indian working women?
  • Indian cinema is the reflection of the popular culture of the country and not influencing shaping society.
  • Status, opportunities, and challenges of the credit-based higher education system.
IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper I Syllabus

For UPSC Mains 2021 Exam, the syllabus of IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper I has been discussed here for better understanding.

Indian Culture

Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Modern Indian History -
  • Significant events, issues, personalities during the middle of the eighteenth century (the 1750s) until the present.
  • Different stages and important contributors and contributions from various parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’.
  • Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
World History
  • Events, forms, and effects on society since the 18th century such as world wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redraw of national boundaries, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism, etc.
Society
  • Indian society and diversity – Salient aspects.
  • Role of women and women’s organizations, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems, and remedies.
  • Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
  • Effects of globalization on Indian society.
Geography
  • The geography syllabus basically consists of the world including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent; factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world including India.
  • Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones, etc are also important.
  • Geographical features and their location, changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and polar ice caps) and, flora and fauna, and the effects of such changes.
  • Salient features of the world's physical geography are also crucial for this exam.
IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper-II Syllabus

For IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains exam, the syllabus of General Studies Paper-II is basically covered by the Polity, Governance, and Indian Governance. In the following tabular the detailed topics are elaborated:

Subject Topics
Polity
  • Indian Constitution
  • Features of Indian Constitution
  • Amendments in Indian Constitution
  • Provisions
  • Constitutional and non-constitutional bodies
Governance
  • Government policies and interventions
  • Governance
  • Transparency
  • Accountability
  • E-governance applications
Social Justice
  • Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services
  • Issues relating to poverty and hunger
International Relations
  • Bilateral Groupings
  • Regional and global groupings
  • Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper III Syllabus

The IAS (UPSC CSE) Syllabus for General Studies III is focused on Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. Here are the details in the following table:

Subject Topics
Economics
  • Economic Development in India
  • Macroeconomics
Science & Technology
  • Dark Matter
  • Higgs Boson
  • Rare Earth Elements
  • GM Crops
  • Gene Editing
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Space Technology
  • Defense Technology
Biodiversity
  • Types of Biodiversity
  • Biodiversity and Environment
Security
  • Internal Security Challenges in India
  • Extremism
  • Terrorism
  • Money-Laundering
Disaster Management
  • Disaster Management in India
  • PM Cares Fund
  • National Disaster Management Plan
IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper IV Syllabus

The UPSC mainly included Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude in the syllabus of IAS (UPSC CSE) General Studies Paper IV to test the candidate’s approach to the issues of integrity and probity.

Here are details on the syllabus:

  • Essence, Determinants and Consequences of Ethics in - Human Actions;
  • Dimensions of Ethics;
  • Ethics - in Private and Public Relationships.
  • Human Values - Lessons from the Lives and Teachings of Great Leaders, Reformers, and Administrators
  • Role of Family Society and Educational Institutions in Inculcating Values.
  • 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 Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication to Public Service, Empathy, Tolerance and Compassion towards the weaker-sections.
  • Concepts, and their Utilities and Application in Administration and Governance.
  • Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers from India and World.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • On the above issues.
Subjects Topics
Ethics and Human Interface
Attitude
Emotional Intelligence
Public Administration
Probity in Governance
Case Studies
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Papers Syllabus

There are 2 optional papers that are required to be chosen at the time of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Application process out of the UPSC subject list.

The UPSC Optional Subject list consists of 48 subjects including 23 literature subjects. Here is the syllabus of the optional subjects for the Mains exam:

IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional History Syllabus

The IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional History Syllabus comprises Ancient Indian, Medieval Indian, Modern Indian, and World History. Here are the details:

  • Optional History Paper-I Syllabus: Here are the crucial topics: Pre-history and Proto-history, Indus Valley Civilization, Megalithic Cultures, Aryans and Vedic Period, Period of Mahajanapadas, Mauryan Empire, Post - Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas), Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India: Kharavela, Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas, the Regional States during Gupta Era, Themes in Early Indian Cultural History, Early Medieval India, 750-1200, Cultural Traditions in India, 750- 1200, The Thirteenth Century, The Fourteenth Century, Society, Culture, and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century, Akbar, Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century and The Eighteenth Century
  • Optional History Paper-II Syllabus: European Penetration into India, British Expansion in India, Early Structure of the British Raj, Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule, Social and Cultural Developments, Movements in Bengal and Other Areas, Indian Response to British Rule, Factors leading to the birth of Indian Nationalism, Rise of Gandh, Colonial India between 1858 and 1935, National Movements, Politics of Separatism, Consolidation as a Nation; Nehru’s Foreign Policy, Caste and Ethnicity after 1947, Enlightenment and Modern ideas, Origins of Modern Politics, Industrialization, Nation-State System, Imperialism and Colonialism, World Wars and after-effect, Decolonization, and Underdevelopment, etc.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Geography Syllabus

Geography is an important subject as far as the following topics cover both the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains and Prelims Geography section. The major topics are mentioned here:

  • Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography, Biogeography, Environmental Geography, Perspectives in Human Geography, Economic Geography, Population and Settlement Geography, Regional Planning, Models, Theories and Laws in Human Geography and Geography Of India including Physical Setting, Resources, Agriculture, Industry, Transport, Communication, and Trade.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Economics Syllabus
  • Optional Economics Paper-I Syllabus: Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, Money - Banking and Finance, International Economics, Growth and Development, Development of less developed countries.
  • Optional Economics Paper-II Syllabus: Indian Economy in PreIndependence Era and Indian Economy after Independence.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Sociology Syllabus
  • Sociology Optional subject is quite popular among the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains appearing candidates. To prepare for this subject, here is a glimpse of the Sociology Optional syllabus:
  • Sociology Optional Paper-I Syllabus: The Discipline, Sociology as Science, Research Methods and Analysis, Sociological Thinkers, Stratification and Mobility, Works and Economic Life, Politics and Society, Religion and Society, Systems of Kinship, Social Change in Modern Society.
  • Sociology Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Perspectives on the study of Indian society, Impact of colonial rule on Indian society, Rural and Agrarian Social Structure, Caste System, Tribal communities in India, Social Classes in India, Systems of Kinship, Religion and Society, Visions of Social Change, Rural and Agrarian transformation, Industrialization and Urbanisation, Politics and Society, Social Movements, Population Dynamics, and Challenges of Social Transformation.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Philosophy Syllabus

IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Philosophy is a popular optional subject. On average, between 800 and 1000 candidates select this subject as the optional subject.

  • Philosophy Paper-I can be divided into two sections – Indian Philosophy and Western Philosophy. Here is a glimpse of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Philosophy syllabus:
  • Philosophy Optional Paper-I Syllabus: Plato and Aristotle, Rationalism, Empiricism, Kant, Hegel, Logical Positivism, Later Wittgenstein, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Quine and Strawson, Ca-rva-ka, Buddhism, Nya-ya- Vais'esika, Sa-mkhya, Yoga: Citta, Mima-msa, Aurobindo, etc.
  • Philosophy Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Socio-Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Political Science Syllabus

IAS (UPSC CSE) Political Science and International Relations Optional syllabus majorly covers topics related to the Constitution of India, social justice, international organizations, the international economic system and trade, and India’s foreign policy.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Agriculture Syllabus
  • Agriculture Optional Paper-I Syllabus: Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation, Cropping patterns in different agro-climatic zones of the country, various types of forestry plantations, Weeds, various crops, Soils of India, Farm management, and Agricultural extension
  • Agriculture Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Cell structure, function and cell cycle, plant breeding, seed production, Plant Physiology, Enzymes, and plant pigments; photosynthesis, Major fruits, plantation crops, vegetables, spices, and flower crops, plantation crops, and food industry.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Botany Syllabus
  • Botany Optional Paper-I Syllabus: Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Cryptogams, Phanerogams: Gymnosperms, Plant Resource Development and Morphogenesis
  • Botany Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics, Physiology and Biochemistry, Ecology and Plant Geography.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Law Syllabus:

The syllabus of Law Optional Papers majorly includes Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Law, Law of Crimes, Law of Torts, and Contemporary Legal Developments.

IAS (UPSC CSE) Optional Mathematics Syllabus

This optional subject is often chosen by the candidates who have studied mathematics in their graduation or studied engineering.

  • Mathematics Optional Paper-I Syllabus: Linear Algebra, Calculus, Analytic Geometry, Ordinary Differential Equations, Dynamics & Statics, and Vector Analysis.
  • Mathematics Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Algebra, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Linear Programming, Partial differential equations, Numerical Analysis and Computer programming, Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
IAS (UPSC CSE) Hindi Literature Optional Syllabus
  • Hindi Literature Optional Paper-I Syllabus: Apbhransh, Awahatta & Arambhik Hindi, Khari-boli and Nagari Lipi, Development of Braj and Awadhi, Siddha-Nath Sahitya, Khusero, Sant Sahitya, Rahim, etc. and Dakhni Hindi, freedom movement, Scientific & Technical development, Prominent dialects, and History of Hindi Literature.
  • Hindi Literature Optional Paper-II Syllabus: Kabir, Surdas, Tulsidas, Jayasi, Bihari, Maithili Sharan Gupta, Prasad, Nirala, Dinkar, Agyeya, Muktiboth, Nagarjun, Bharatendu, Mohan Rakesh, Ramchandra Shukla, Dr. Satyendra, Premchand, Prasad, Yashpal, Phaniswar Nath Renu, Mannu Bhandari, and Rajendra Yadav
IAS (UPSC CSE) English Literature Optional Syllabus
  • English Literature Optional Paper-I Syllabus: William Shakespeare, John Donne, John Milton, Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson, Henrik Ibsen, Jonathan Swift, Jane Austen, Henry Fielding, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, and Mark Twain
  • English Literature Optional Paper-I Syllabus: William Butler Yeats, T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, John Osborne, Samuel Beckett, Philip Larkin, and A.K. Ramanujan.

Study Material

Preparation books for Prelims

To get the minimum of 33% in the General Studies Paper-II and the desired maks in the General Studies Paper-I, candidates should follow an organized list of books which is given in the following tabular:

Subject UPSC Books
History
  • Old NCERT by RS Sharma
  • Part I, II, and III of Themes in Indian History
Geography
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography by GohCheng Leong
  • India: Physical Environment of Class XI and XII NCERT
Indian Art And Culture
  • Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
  • An Introduction to Indian Art of NCERT Standard XI and XII
Indian Polity
  • Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations by M. Laxmikanth
  • Objective Indian Polity: General Studies – Paper I by M. Laxmikanth
  • NCERT Standards VI and VIII( for basic concept)
  • NCERT Standards IX and XII for (for Democracy and Federalism )
Economics
  • Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
  • Economic Survey by the Ministry of Finance
  • Macroeconomics of NCERT Class XII
International Relations
  • NCERT XII (Contemporary World Politics)
  • Current Affairs
General Issue on Environment
  • India Year Book by Publications Division
  • Science: Class XII Biology
General Science and Current Affairs
  • General Science of IX and X standard
CSAT
  • Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual
  • CSAT II – Arihant
  • Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning – R S Aggarwal
Preparation Books for Mains Exam

The books for the IAS (UPSC CSE) Preliminary are the primary elements for studying. To go in advance, candidates have to choose section-wise books. Try to read the old and new NCERT books on each subject.

Name of Papers Name of Books
General Studies Paper-I
  • India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra
  • History of Medieval India - Satish Chandra(Oxford University)
  • Mastering Modern World History - Norman Lowe
  • Indian Art and Culture - Nitin Singhania
  • An Introduction to Indian Art - Textbook in Fine Arts for Class XI
  • World Geography - Majid Husain
  • Indian Geography - D. R. Khullar
  • General Studies Paper-II
Introduction to the Constitution of India - DD Basu
  • From Government to Governance - Kuldeep Mathur
  • Panchayati Raj in India - Kuldeep Mathur
  • India and The World & international institute - Chanakya Publications Pvt Lli
  • General Studies Paper-III
Indian Economy - Uma Kapila
  • Economics Dictionary - Collins and Penguin
  • Chapters on Environment - India Year Book
  • India’s Security in a Turbulent World - Jasjit Singh
  • Science Reporter for Science & Technology - Monthly Magazine
  • General Studies Paper-IV
Ethics in Governance - ARC Report
  • Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - M. Karthikeyan

Result

The IAS Preliminary result was announced on August 2021, the IAS Main exam result was announced in March / April 2022, and the IAS final result was announced in June 2022

Salary

IAS (UPSC CSE) officers are one of the highest-paid employees under the Central Government of India.

  • As per the new pay structure, for an officer who will be joining as an IAS officer or any other civil services, the basic salary is INR 56,100/-.
  • The starting salary of an IAS officer is INR 70,000 approximately as per the 7th Pay Commission.
  • Along with the IAS (UPSC CSE) salary, the officers receive numerous allowances such as Dear Allowances, Travel Allowances, House Rent Allowances, Tiffin Allowances, Medical Allowances, Ration, Medical Insurance, etc which are variable due to the place of posting and designation.
  • The IAS (UPSC CSE) Officers face a 2 years probationary period which will start from the training period after joining. The newly recruited candidates will be called for a “100-day foundation course,” which is the first step of two years of training.
  • During the training, the candidates must maintain the records of the learning process and the training process will end with an examination.

The candidates who will qualify for the exam of the probationary period will receive the pay structure and promotions which have been categorized in the following tabular.

Grade Pay Scale Grade Pay Years of Service Required
Junior Scale 50,000 - 1,50,000 16,500 NA
Senior Time Scale 50,000 - 1,50,001 20,000 5 years
Junior Administrative Grade 50,000 - 1,50,002 23,000 9 years
Selection Grade 1,00,000 - 2,00,000 26,000 12 to 15 years
Super Time Scale 1,00,000 - 2,00,000 30,000 17 to 20 years
Above Super Time Scale 1,00,000 - 2,00,000 30,000 Varies
Apex Scale 2,25,000 (Fixed) NA Varies( around 30 years)
Cabinet Secretary Grade 2,50,000 (Fixed) NA varies

FAQs

Q. What is the full form of UPSC CSE?

A. The full form of the UPSC CSE is the Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) Civil Service Exam(CSE).

Q. What is the fullform of UPSC IAS?

A. The UPSC stands for Union Public Service Commission and the IAS stands for Indian Administrative Service Exam,

Q. What are the optional subjects in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam?

A. The optional subjects for UPSC Mains are as follows:

  • Law
  • Agriculture
  • Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
  • Botany
  • Anthropology
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Commerce and Accountancy
  • Economics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Indian History
  • Management
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Science
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science and International Relations
  • Psychology Optional
  • Public Administration
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • Zoology
Q. Is a year sufficient to prepare for the IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam?

A. One is sufficient to complete the syllabus of the IAS (UPSC CSE) Preliminary and Mains exam.

Q. Will I be able to complete the syllabus of IAS (UPSC CSE) Prelims in 6 months?

A. To prepare for the IAS (UPSC CSE) exam, the only mandatory thing is to apply an appropriate strategy that works for you. With proper strategy and hard work, the syllabus of the prelims exam can easily be covered.

Q. Which subject is the best optional subject for IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains 2021 exam?

A. Considering the latest trends and syllabus and recent IAS results, here is a list of the popular optional subjects chosen by the toppers for the past few years:

  • Sociology.
  • Agriculture.
  • Medical Science.
  • History
  • Literature.
  • Anthropology.
  • Mathematics
  • Public Administration.
  • Law.
  • Political Science
  • Philosophy
Q. How many hours should one study for the IAS (UPSC CSE) Exam?

A. As this exam is considered to be one of the toughest exams, around 14 - 15 hours of study is required to be studied for the IAS (UPSC CSE) 2021 Exam.

Q. Does height matter for IAS (UPSC CSE) Interview?

A. No, there is no certain requirements for the height, weight and chest girth for the Mains qualified candidates.

Upcoming Exams

01
IDBI Executive
Sep 4, 2021
02
NABARD Grade B
Sep 17, 2021
03
NABARD Grade A
Sep 18, 2021

Notification

no-image
IDBI Executive Admit Card 2021 Published on the Official Portal

IDBI Bank has uploaded IDBI Executive Admit Card 2021 on the official website. Candidates who have appeared for Executive posts can refer to the official website of IDBI Bank, idbibank.in to download the same.

  Aug 31,2021
no-image
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2021 for August 29 (All Shifts); Check

SBI has successfully conducted the SBI Clerk Prelims exam in the remaining 4 centers - Shillong, Agartala, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), and Nashik centers in 4 shifts. There were four sections in the question paper.

  Aug 31,2021
Future Scope
HDFC Credila: Education Loan
Fair Exhibition Organisation
Indian Education Congress
AQT
Want to explore more about EasyShiksha services & looking for any help!

We always looking to collaborate and our team can help you with all your doubts

by proceeding ahead you expressly agree to the EasyShiksha terms of use and privacy policy.

Whatsapp Email Support