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IPS Syllabus 2020 - Check Latest IPS Syllabus Subject Wise for Prelims & Mains Exam
Updated on Aug 27, 2020 10:58 AM IST | #UPSC CSE
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UPSC CSE Exam Date : 22 Aug' 2025 - 24 Aug' 2025
IPS Syllabus 2020 - The Indian Police Services (IPS) is conducted by UPSC. IPS is not a different exam but it is a post that comes under the UPSC IAS exam recruitment. Candidates who top UPSC IAS, are recruited to various posts like IAS, IPS, IFS etc, one such is IPS. The posts in IPS are of Additional Director General of Police or Special Commissioner of Police/ Inspector-General of Police/Joint Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police etc. The IPS syllabus 2020 is prescribed by UPSC. In this article, candidates can check all the details related to the IPS 2020 syllabus along with the best books and preparation tips. To know more about the IPS exam 2020 and the syllabus, please refer to the detailed article here. UPSC IAS is conducted in three stages - Preliminary, Mains and Personality Test/Interview. Apart from the syllabus, this article also consists of best books and syllabus and as well as preparation tips etc.
LiveUPSC Admit Card 2025 (OUT) LIVE: CSE Mains admit card out at upsc.gov.in; direct link, exam dates, updatesAug 14, 2025 | 11:01 PM ISTRead More
Candidates can download their UPSC IAS mains admit card 2025 by entering their credentials like Registration Number and Roll Number.
IPS Syllabus 2020 for Preliminary Exam
Syllabus of Paper 1 (General Studies – 1)
Latest events and current affairs related to national and international relevance.
History of India, especially the British-era, Freedom struggle and the Indian National Movement.
Indian and the World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Political System, Civil Rights.
Economic and Social Development – Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, Inclusion, Sustainable Development and Poverty etc.
General issues related to Environmental Ecology, Climate Change and Biodiversity
Syllabus for Paper 2 (CSAT/General Studies – 2)
Comprehension
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem-solving skills
Interpersonal skills that include communication skills
General mental ability
Basic questions related to numbers and their relations, which will be of class 10 level as well as data interpretation questions
Paper A – Modern Indian Languages (300 Marks)
Comprehension of given passages
Precise Writing
Vocabulary
Short Essay
Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa (22 Indian Languages)
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBook(Assamese, Gujarati, Dogra, Telugu, Sindhi, Marathi, Bengali, Urdu, Telugu, Sindhi, Marathi, Bengali, Urdu, Malayalam, Konkani, Maithili, Nepali, Telugu, Sindhi, Marathi, Bengali, Urdu, Oriya, Santali, Manipuri, Tamil, Punjabi, Sanskrit)
Paper B – English (300 Marks)
It will test the candidate’s ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and how clearly and correctly they express their ideas, it will be conducted in English.
Comprehension of given passages
Precise Writing
Usage and Vocabulary
Short Essay
The marks in the subjects and papers that will be counted for final merit list and final ranking of the candidate are as follows:
Paper 1, Paper 2 GS, Paper 3 GS 2, Paper 4 GS 3, Paper 4 GS 3, Paper 5 GS 4, Paper 4 Optional Paper 1, Paper 7 Optional Paper 2, these papers will consist of a total of 1750 marks.
IPS Syllabus 2020 for Mains Exam
The mains papers will be of the following subjects:
Paper 1 - Essay
Paper 2 General Studies 1 - History and Geography of the World and Society, Indian Heritage and Culture
Paper 3 General Studies 2 - Constitution,Governance, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
Paper 4 General Studies 3 - BioDiversity, Economic Development, Environment, Security and Disaster Management, Technology
Paper 5 General Studies 4 - Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Also read Syllabus of Optional subjects
UPSC Public Administration Syllabus | |||
IPS Syllabus for Mains Exam 2020 - Optional Subjects
For the mains exam stage candidates will also have to choose one optional subject from the given list of optional subjects, the list of optional subjects are mentioned below:
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Chemistry
- Botany
- Mathematics
- Management
- Medical Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Public Administration
- Geography
- Law, History
- Zoology,
- Statistics
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Economics
- Geology
Literature Optional Subjects
Candidates can also choose literature as an optional subject. The list of literature subjects are as follows:
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Bodo
- Dogri
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Maithili
- Marathi
- Sanskrit
- Santhali
- Sindhi
- Nepali
- Odia
- Punjabi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu and English.
The last and final stage is the IPS Interview, in this stage stage candidates face board members who analyse and judge the mental calibre, intellectual knowledge, social traits and interest in current affairs of the candidate. In order to qualify the exam candidates need to score and qualify the interview as well. All the questions asked during the interview will be on the basis of the DAF (Detailed Application Form) filled by the candidateThe IPS interview consists of 275 marks.
The board members judge the candidate on the basis of the following things:
Candidate's Mental Alertness
Critical Powers of Assimilation
Clear and Logical exposition on real life cases as put up the Board members
Balance of Judgement
Variety and Depth of interest on various elements related to social, economic and international matters
Ability for social cohesion
Leadership qualities
Intellectual and Moral integrity
Social traits and interest in current affairs
IPS Preparation Tips 2020
Always refer to the official UPSC CSE syllabus. Stick to the exam pattern and the marking scheme.
Prepare your IAS study plan around the official syllabus and don't run helter-skelter in search for notes and study materials. Not everything is related to the UPSC exam so study wisely.
Solve UPSC CSE previous year question papers for better preparation and to understand the question pattern and for practising.
Refer the best and selected books of UPSC IAS. Keep the list of your books precise and don't add anything referred to by everyone.
More UPSC IAS Articles:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is there a separate IPS syllabus?
No, there is no separate IPS syllabus released. The syllabus for IPS is same as of UPSC CSE. It is mentioned in the official notification PDF. Candidate's who qualify the UPSC CSE exam are recruited to the post of IPS on the basis of their rank.
2. How many papers are there in the IPS exam?
There are two papers in the Preliminary stage. 5 GS papers in the Mains stage and 2 papers in mains for optional subject. The preliminary stage is of objective type while the mains papers is of conventional, essay type.
3. Is there negative marking in the IPS exam?
Yes there is negative marking in the preliminary stage but not in the mains stage.
4. From where can I check the details syllabus of IPS?
You can check the details syllabus from the official website as well as from this article.
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Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
Hello, it’s wonderful to see such clarity at such a young age. Becoming an IAS officer requires consistent preparation, strong general knowledge, and excellent analytical skills. Right now, your main focus should be building a strong base in academics, especially in subjects like History, Geography, and Economics. Start reading NCERT textbooks from class 6 to 12 for these subjects. Make it a habit to read a good newspaper like The Hindu or Indian Express daily to improve your current affairs knowledge. Practice writing short essays on important topics it will help you in the Mains stage later. Participate in debates, quizzes, and discussions to improve your speaking and thinking skills. After 12th, choose a graduation subject that you enjoy but also overlaps with UPSC syllabus. Most importantly, stay consistent and avoid distractions. You have plenty of time to prepare, so start slowly and build steadily.
Wishing you success in your IAS dream, and thank you for sharing.
Nikita shahi 11 August,2025
The choice of your graduation path – integrated BSc BEd (Zoology), BTech CS, or integrated BS-MS at IISER Thiruvananthapuram – to pursue the dream of becoming an IAS officer requires careful consideration.
A Bachelor of Arts degree, particularly in subjects like Political Science, History, or Economics, is often considered the most aligned with the CSE syllabus, covering crucial topics relevant to General Studies papers.
However, a science background, especially with a BTech CS degree, develops analytical and logical reasoning skills beneficial for the CSAT paper and could be advantageous for certain optional subjects like Mathematics or potentially Engineering disciplines.
Even if you choose a science or engineering stream, you can still select humanities-based optional subjects that overlap with the General Studies papers like Anthropology, Sociology, or Public Administration, which many engineers have successfully opted for.The integrated BSc BEd (Zoology) offers a strong foundation in science and a backup career in teaching, but the primary focus of the BEd component may not be directly relevant to the UPSC syllabus. The integrated BS-MS at IISER offers a strong research focus and academic excellence, potentially leading to diverse career paths in science, academia, industry, or even government agencies But still it is not connected with your ias dream.
Among all b.tech is best as many successful candidates from engineering backgrounds, have utilized their analytical skills and knowledge to crack the exam.
sadafreen356 31 July,2025
Hello
This is the typical schedule of the IAS Exam (UPSC CSE):
Notification Release:
February
Online Application Window:
February to early March
Prelims Exam:
May or June
Mains Exam:
September/October
As for 2025, the registration date is already gone, so you have to see for 2026 now. The registration will open most probably in February 2026 so stay tuned.
To know more about the IAS Exam: UPSC CSE
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Yash Teotia 13 July,2025
A candidate who has undergone heart surgery can be eligible for the IAS post if they are medically fit and can perform the required duties without any serious health problems The UPSC allows candidates to appear for the exam if they meet the general physical and mental fitness criteria After clearing the main examination and interview all selected candidates must undergo a detailed medical examination by a government medical board If the candidate has recovered well from heart surgery and there are no complications they can be declared fit for service However if the surgery has caused any permanent disability and if it is certified under the benchmark disability rules then the candidate may be eligible for reservation under the persons with disabilities category Final eligibility depends on the report given by the medical board during the selection process
Previa Gayu 21 June,2025
If a person has undergone heart surgery for ASD which means Atrial Septal Defect and is now medically fit then they can apply for the IAS exam There is no restriction for such candidates if their physical and mental condition is stable and they can perform the duties required in civil services However selection to IAS also depends on passing the medical test conducted after clearing the main exam and interview If the person has any lasting disability due to the heart condition and it is certified by a government medical board then they may be considered under the benchmark disability category as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act In such cases the candidate may come under reservation for persons with disabilities in the specific category mentioned by the medical authority It is always advised to check the official UPSC notification and consult with a government hospital for proper disability certification before applying
Previa Gayu 21 June,2025
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