UPSC-Mains-syllabus-2019 EDITED
UPSC-Mains-syllabus-2019 EDITED
The aim of the paper is to test the candidates’ ability to read and understand serious
discursive prose, and to express his ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language
concerned.
The pattern of questions would be broadly as follows :
(i) Comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Précis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
Indian Languages:—
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Précis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent
standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be
counted for ranking.
Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English
and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
PAPER-I
Essay: 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.
PAPER-II
General Studies-I : Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and
Society.
® Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from
ancient to modern times.
® Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present-
significant events, personalities, issues.
® The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from
different parts of the country.
® Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
® History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution,
world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political
philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the
society.
® Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
® Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and
developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their 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 (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, cyclone
etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features
(including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
PAPER-III
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International
relations.
® Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant
provisions and basic structure.
® Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to
the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges
therein.
® Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
® Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
® Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these.
® Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and
Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their
role in the Polity.
® Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
® Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
® Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
® Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising
out of their design and implementation.
® Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various
groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
® Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the
protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
® Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
® Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
® Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency &
accountability and institutional and other measures.
® Role of civil services in a democracy.
® India and its neighborhood- relations.
® Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting
India’s interests.
® Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
Indian diaspora.
® Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment,
Security and Disaster Management
® Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth,
development and employment.
® Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
® Government Budgeting.
® Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation
and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues
and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
® Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public
Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks
and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
® Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream
and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
® Land reforms in India.
® Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on
industrial growth.
® Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
® Investment models.
® Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
® Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and
developing new technology.
® Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and
issues relating to intellectual property rights.
® Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
® Disaster and disaster management.
® Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
® Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
® Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social
networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering
and its prevention.
® Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with
terrorism.
® Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
PAPER-V
General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues
relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and
conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to
determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered :
® Ethics and Human Interface: 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.
® Attitude: 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.
® Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and
governance.
® Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and 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 above issues.
PAPER-VI & PAPER VII
Optional Subject Papers I & II
Candidate may choose any optional subject from amongst the List of Optional Subjects given
in Para 2.
ODIA
PAPER-I
(Answers must be written in Odia)
Section A
History of Odia Language
(i) Origin and development of Odia Language—Influence of Austric, Dravidian, Perso—
Arabic and English on Odia Language.
(ii) Phonetics and Phonemics : Vowels, Consonants Principles of changes in Odia sounds.
(iii) Morphology : Morphemes (free, bound compound and complex), derivational and
inflectional affixes, case inflection, conjugation of verb.
(iv) Syntax : Kinds of sentences and their trans-formation, structure of sentences.
(v) Semantics—Different types of change in meaning. Euphemism.
(vi) Common errors in spellings, grammatical uses and construction of sentences.
(vii) Regional variations in Odia Language (Western, Southern and Northern Odia) and
Dialects (Bhatri and Desia).
Section B
History of Odia Literature
(i) Historical backgrounds (social, cultural and political) of Odia Literature of different
periods.
(ii) Ancient epics, ornate kavyas and padavalis.
(iii) Typical structural forms of Odia Literature (Koili, Chautisa, Poi, Chaupadi, Champu).
(iv) Modern trends in poetry, drama short story, novel essay and literary criticism.
PAPER-II
(Answers must be written in Odia)
Critical Study of texts—
The paper will require first hand reading of the text and test the critical ability of the candidate.
Section A
Poetry
(Ancient)
1. Sãralã Dãs—Shanti Parva from Mahãbhãrata.
2. Jaganãth Dãs—Bhãgabata, XI Skadhã—Jadu Avadhuta Sambãda.
(Medieval)
3. Dinakrushna Dãs—Raskallola—(Chhãndas—16 & 34)
4. Upendra Bhanja—Lãvanyabati (Chhãndas—1 & 2).
(Modern)
5. Rãdhãnath Rãy—Chandrabhãgã.
6. Mãyãdhar Mänasinha—Jeevan—Chitã.
7. Sãtchidananda Routray—Kabitã—1962.
8 .Ramãkãnta Ratha—Saptama Ritu
Section B
Drama :
1. Manoranjan Dãs—Kätha-Ghoda.
2. Bijay Mishra—Tata Niranjanä.
Novel :
3. Fakir Mohan Senãpati—Chhamãna Ãthaguntha.
4. Gopinãth Mohãnty—Dãnãpani.
Short Story :
5. Surendra Mohãnty—Marãlara Mrityu.
6. Manoj Dãs—Laxmira Abhisãra.
Essay :
7. Chittaranjan Dãs—Tranga O Tadit (First Five essays).
8. Chandra Sekhar Rath—Mun Satyadharmã
Kahuchhi (First five essays).
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
PAPER- I
Political Theory and Indian Politics :
1. Political Theory: meaning and approaches.
2. Theories of state : Liberal, Neo-liberal, Marxist, Pluiralist, 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.
1. Indian Political Thought: Dharamshastra, Arthashastra and Buddhist Traditions; Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan, Sri Aurobindo, M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, M. N. Roy.
2. Western Political Thought : Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, John S. Mill, Marx,
Gramsci, Hannah Arendt.
SOCIOLOGY PAPER– I
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIOLOGY
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.
4. Sociological Thinkers:
(a) Karl Marx - Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle.
(b) Emile Durkhteim - Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society.
(c) Max Weber - Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of
capitalism.
(d) Talcolt Parsons - Social system, pattern variables.
(e) Robert K. Merton - Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups.
(f) Mead - Self and identity.
9. Systems of Kinship:
(a) Family, household, marriage.
(b) Types and forms of family.
(c) Lineage and descent.
(d) Patriarchy and sexual division of labour.
(e) Contemporary trends.
PAPER–II
INDIAN SOCIETY : STRUCTURE AND CHANGE
A. Introducing Indian Society :
(i) Perspectives on the Study of Indian Society :
(a) Indology (G.S. Ghure).
(b) Structural functionalism (M. N. Srinivas).
(c) Marxist sociology (A. R. Desai).
B. Social Structure:
(i) Rural and Agrarian Social Structure:
(a) The idea of Indian village and village studies.
(b) Agrarian social structure—