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Candidates preparing for the Civil Services exam must know the UPSC IAS syllabus 2025 and exam pattern. Aspirants can get the UPSC CSE 2025 syllabus in pdf files. The Commission prescribes the syllabus separately for prelims and mains for the UPSC IAS exam. The syllabus is provided separately for GS-I, II, III, and IV papers. The UPSC IAS syllabus will be available for each topic. Along with the UPSC syllabus, candidates are advised to through the exam pattern.
According to the UPSC CSE Syllabus 2025 pdf, there are two papers for the prelims exam. Whereas, for the mains exam, there are seven papers that include the optional subject. To know more about the UPSC Civil Services exam syllabus 2025, read the full UPSC detailed syllabus below.
Aspirants can check the UPSC IAS exam highlights from the below table.
Particulars | Details |
Name of exam | Civil Services Exam (UPSC CSE) |
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
Mode of Exam | Offline (UPSC Paper Pattern for Prelims- MCQ-based) (UPSC Paper Pattern for Mains - Descriptive) (Personality Test - Interview in front of board members) |
Number of Stages |
|
Number of papers in UPSC Exam | Prelims: 2 Mains: 7 |
Time Duration of UPSC CSE exam | Prelims: 2 hours (Each paper) total 4 hours |
Mains: 3 hours (Each paper) total 27 hours conducted across various days | |
Type of questions | Prelims: Objective type |
Mains: Subjective type |
The commission provides the UPSC syllabus for prelims in the official notification. It is important to go through the UPSC prelims syllabus 2025 before starting the preparation. The Civil Services exam syllabus for prelims will be provided in detail in the notification.
This will help you know your weaker and stronger sections of the subjects. According to the UPSC IAS prelims syllabus 2025, there will be two papers that carry 200 marks each. The important topics for the prelims exam, as per the previous year's UPSC IAS syllabus are mentioned in the table given below.
Paper | Civil Services exam syllabus - Important topics |
Paper 1 (GS 1) |
|
Paper 2 (GS 2) - CSAT |
|
The IAS main exam syllabus 2025 will be provided in the official notification. Candidates who qualify the prelims exam can go through the IAS main exam syllabus. The IAS exam syllabus for mains will be available for each topic.
According to the UPSC main syllabus 2025, there will be seven papers that includes two optional papers. The details regarding the optional subject chosen by the candidate will be mentioned on the IAS admit card 2025. Check the detailed information regarding the previous year's UPSC IAS mains syllabus below.
Candidates can check the IAS syllabus topic wise below
Paper | UPSC Civil Services syllabus - Important topics |
UPSC IAS Mains Paper 1 syllabus | Essay writing |
UPSC IAS Mains Paper 2 syllabus (GS 1) | Based on Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
|
UPSC IAS Mains Paper 3 syllabus (GS 2) | Based on Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
|
UPSC IAS Mains Paper 4 syllabus (GS 3) | Based on Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
|
UPSC IAS Mains Paper 5 syllabus (GS 4) | Based on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
|
UPSC IAS Paper 6 - Optional | UPSC IAS Paper 7 - Optional |
For the UPSC IAS mains exam, candidates need to choose their optional UPSC subjects. Candidates can check the IAS preparation syllabus for option subjects here. Check the list of UPSC IAS optional subjects mentioned below.
Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English. |
The Commission prescribes the UPSC IAS 2025 exam pattern in the official notification. Along with the IAS syllabus 2025, candidates must go through the exam pattern. The UPSC CSE exam pattern 2025 is different for the prelims and main stage. As per the exam pattern, the full marks of the prelims stage are 500 whereas the total marks for the mains stage are 600. Candidates can check the details about the UPSC IAS exam pattern in the table below.
Number of papers | GS 1 AND GS 2 |
Language of paper | English |
Hindi | |
Duration of exam | 4 hours (2 hours each) |
Number of questions | General Studies Paper 1: 100 General Studies Paper 2: 80 |
Maximum marks | 400 (200 each) |
Qualifying marks | 33% for Paper 2 |
UPSC IAS Previous Years Question Paper: Solved
Year | UPSC IAS Question Paper Download Link |
2017 | |
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 |
Number of papers | 9 |
Language of paper | English |
Hindi | |
Descriptive paper | |
Duration of exam | 3 hours each |
Subjects | Compulsory Indian language English Essay
|
Number of questions | Part A and B: 300 each General Studies and Optional Paper: 250 each |
Maximum marks | 1750 |
While preparing for the UPSC exams which is one of the toughest exams, aspirants need to make sure that their preparation needs to be in the right direction. To provide aid to students, UPSC provides the question paper of UPSC IAS 2025. It is important to solve the question paper to understand every bit of the UPSC IAS exam syllabus and exam pattern. Analysing the preparation level can be done with the help of a question paper of UPSC IAS 2025.
Subject | UPSC IAS question paper download link |
Ecology & Environment | |
Current Affairs | |
Polity | |
History | |
Economics | |
Geography | |
General Science |
Choose the best books that need to be based on the new UPSC IAS syllabus and exam pattern before beginning UPSC IAS 2025 preparation.
It is very vital to prepare for the UPSC IAS in a topical way. Check your subject and prepare as per your time management
To improve your understanding and accuracy in answering a question. Solve UPSC IAS question papers as much as possible.
Keep yourself hydrated from time to time and regular exercise. It is very crucial during tests to keep a healthy lifestyle.
Appear in the UPSC mock tests.
Manage time as per your weaker and stronger areas in the UPSC IAS syllabus.
One of the most important considerations when selecting books for UPSC IAS is that they must be based on the most recent syllabus and exam pattern for UPSC IAS 2025.
UPSC releases the latest UPSC IAS syllabus in the official notification on the official website only.
Yes, the UPSC IAS syllabus 2025 helps candidates to understand the important topics and sections.
As per the UPSC syllabus, there are two papers in the prelims round.
The UPSC IAS 2025 syllabus will be released by the UPSC along with the official notification. They can get the IAS English syllabus and other IAS syllabus in it.
No, the syllabus of UPSC IAS is different for prelims and mains stage and mentioned above in the article.
No, there is no specific UPSC IAS syllabus for the interview round of IAS exam 2025.
Others:28 January,2025 - 30 April,2025
Others:31 January,2025 - 30 April,2025
Application Date:28 March,2025 - 29 April,2025
Others:31 March,2025 - 30 April,2025
Application Date:07 April,2025 - 03 May,2025
To become an IAS officer, you must clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and then undergo training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA). While any bachelor's degree is acceptable, choosing a degree that aligns with the UPSC syllabus, particularly in humanities and social sciences, can be advantageous.
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE):
This is the primary exam for becoming an IAS officer, involving three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test (Interview).
Any Bachelor's Degree:
A graduate degree from a recognized university is the basic requirement to be eligible for the CSE.
Beneficial Degrees:
Degrees in humanities and social sciences, such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), can be helpful due to the syllabus overlap with subjects like History, Political Science, Sociology, and Economics.
Optional Subject:
You can choose an optional subject in the Mains exam, and a BA degree can provide a wide range of options.
Hope it helps!!
Hello!!
That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:
1. Understand the Exam Structure
The UPSC CSE has three stages:
Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)
Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)
Interview: Personality Test
2. Check Eligibility
Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)
Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)
3. Choose Your Optional Subject
Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).
Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.
4. Build a Study Plan
Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.
Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.
Focus on:
NCERTs (6th–12th)
Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)
Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)
5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)
For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.
6. Practice Answer Writing
Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.
7. Appear for the Exam
Notification comes out around February.
Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.
How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:
Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.
Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.
If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:
BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.
KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.
Hello aspirant,
For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.
To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
All the best!!
Hello Rishika,
You can take any stream for becoming IAS. As per the eligibility criteria of UPSC IAS , student have to graduate from any stream from any recognised university or college. So it's doesn't matter from which stream you choose. But if you really want to become IAS, then humanities , arts related subject helps you alot.
To know more, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
Good luck!
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