UPSC Mains Syllabus
Structured preparation resources for India's competitive examinations.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2027
The Civil Services (Main) Examination assesses a candidate’s depth of understanding, analytical ability, judgement and written communication. The written examination comprises qualifying language papers and merit-counting papers, followed by the Personality Test for candidates who qualify.
Official source: UPSC — Revised Syllabus and Scheme. Please verify paper details and syllabus against the notification for your examination year.
Written Examination: Paper Structure
| Paper | Subject | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| A | One Indian Language | Qualifying, as prescribed by UPSC |
| B | English | Qualifying |
| I | Essay | Merit-counting |
| II | General Studies I | Merit-counting |
| III | General Studies II | Merit-counting |
| IV | General Studies III | Merit-counting |
| V | General Studies IV | Merit-counting |
| VI & VII | Optional Subject — two papers | Merit-counting |
General Studies I
Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society.
General Studies II
Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations.
General Studies III
Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management.
General Studies IV
Ethics, integrity and aptitude, including case studies.
Essay and Optional Subject
The Essay paper assesses clear, coherent and relevant expression. Optional papers test the chosen subject in greater depth. Use the official UPSC syllabus for the complete topic-wise list and subject-specific details.
Preparation Approach
- Practise answer writing under time limits.
- Use the syllabus to build topic-wise notes and link current affairs with GS themes.
- Write regular essays and practise ethical case studies.
- Choose an optional subject after evaluating interest, syllabus and available preparation resources.
- Check official rules for qualifying language papers and marks before planning your attempt.
Acadvik educational note: This is a student-oriented overview, not an official UPSC publication. The latest official notification takes precedence.
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