UPSC Public Administration Syllabus 2024 - Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern Here

UPSC Public Administration Syllabus 2024 - Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern Here

Updated on Feb 14, 2024 05:56 PM IST | #UPSC CSE
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UPSC published the syllabus of IAS Public Administration 2024 for prelims and mains exams in online mode on their official website. Candidates can find the public administration optional syllabus in the Official Notification, downloadable in the form of a PDF on upsc.gov.in.

Candidates can go through the official UPSC Optional Public Administration papers to get a better idea of the exam pattern of the Public Administration 2024 exam and the types of questions asked. The UPSC Optional 2024 Public Administration syllabus must also be referred to so that candidates can familiarize themselves with the topics covered by the Public Administration Optional. IAS exam for mains will be conducted on September 20, 2024.

This Story also Contains
  1. IAS Public Administration Syllabus 2024 For Prelims Exam
  2. IAS Optional Public Administration Syllabus 2024 For Mains Exam
  3. IAS CSE Exam Pattern 2024 - For Prelims & Mains Exam
UPSC Public Administration Syllabus 2024 - Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern Here
UPSC Public Administration Syllabus 2024 - Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern Here

The official syllabus for the UPSC Public Administration 2024 exam prescribed by the UPSC is provided with the aim of helping candidates better prepare for the exam. The UPSC Public Administration Syllabus achieves this by giving candidates an idea of the type of questions to be expected, and the difficulty level of questions asked in the IAS exam. It also gives candidates an idea of the IAS 2024 exam pattern. Candidates can learn more about the public administration syllabus for UPSC by going through the material given below.

IAS Public Administration Syllabus 2024 For Prelims Exam

The UPSC IAS 2024 preliminary exam has two papers. In UPSC Paper 1, General Studies 1, questions are asked from every spectrum of life including topics such as general science, current affairs/ events, Indian and world geography, Indian polity, economy, Indian National Movement and more. In Paper 2, General Studies 2, questions are asked from topics like reasoning, English and Hindi language, and mental ability.

IAS Optional Public Administration Syllabus 2024 For Mains Exam

The IAS mains exam has nine subjects. These include general English, a language paper, an essay, four general studies papers & two optional papers. As per the UPSC IAS 2024 notification, the Mains exam is descriptive in nature. The UPSC Public Administration syllabus is released beforehand along with the syllabi of other subjects to enable candidates to prepare for the Public Administration Optional. Applicants can check the detailed UPSC IAS public administration syllabus 2024 for the IAS mains paper 1 and 2 exams below.

IAS Public Administration Paper 1 Syllabus

Chapters

Topics

Introduction

Meaning, scope & significance of Public Administration (PA), Evolution of PA & its present status, Public Choice approach, Wilson’s vision of PA, New Public Administration, New Public Management, Challenges of liberalization, Privatisation and globalisation, Good Governance;

Administrative Thought

Scientific Management & Scientific Management movement; Classical Theory, Dynamic Administration, Human Relations School, etc.

Administrative Behaviour

Communication, Motivation Theories, Process & techniques of decision-making, Morale and more

Organisations

Regulatory Authorities; Headquarters & Field relationships; Theories systems, contingency; Structure & forms; Public Private Partnerships

Accountability & Control

Concepts of accountability & control; Legislative, Executive & Judicial control over administration; Citizen & Administration; Role of media, and more

Administrative Law

Administrative Tribunals, Scope, Meaning, & significance; Delegated legislation; Dicey on Administrative law

Comparative Public Administration

Ecology & administration; Comparative Public Administration; Historical & sociological factors affecting administrative systems; Riggsian models, Administration & politics in different countries; etc.

Development Dynamics

Anti-development thesis; Bureaucracy & development; Concept of development; Changing profile of development administration; Strong state versus the market debate, etc.

Personnel Administration

Administrative ethics, Importance of human resource development; Recruitment, training, career advancement, discipline, performance appraisal, promotion and more

Public Policy

Processes of conceptualisation, Models of policy-making; planning, implementation, evaluation, review, limitations & more

Techniques of Administrative Improvement

Organisation & methods, Work study & management; e-governance & IT; Management aid tools like network analysis, etc.

Financial Administration

Monetary & fiscal policies, Budgets types & forms; Budgetary process; Financial accountability; Accounts & audit

IAS Public Administration syllabus for paper 2

Chapters

Topics

Evolution of Indian Administration

Legacy of British rule in administration, Kautilya Arthashastra, Mughal administration, etc.

Philosophical & Constitutional framework of Government

Constitutionalism, Political culture, Salient features & value premises, Bureaucracy, democracy & development, etc.

Public Sector Undertakings

Public Sector Undertakings, Problems of autonomy, accountability & control, Public sector in modern India, Impact of liberalization & privatization, etc.

Union Government & Administration

Intra-governmental relations, Cabinet Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Executive, Parliament, Judiciary - structure, functions & work processes, Ministries and departments, Commissions, Attached offices, etc.

Plans & Priorities

Indicative planning, Constitutional Amendments (1992), National Development Council, Machinery of planning, Process of plan formulation at Union and state levels, etc.

State Government & Administration

Chief Minister (CM), Council of Ministers, Chief Secretary, State Secretariat, Directorates, Union State administrative, legislative & financial relations, Role of the Finance Commission, Governor, etc.

District Administration since Independence

Imperatives of development management, Union State local relations, District administration, the Changing role of the Collector, Democratic decentralization, etc.

Civil Services

Good governance initiatives, Code of conduct & discipline, Constitutional position, Political rights, Grievance redressal mechanism, Staff associations, Structure, recruitment, training & capacity building, Civil service neutrality & activism, etc.

Administrative Reforms since Independence

Reforms in financial management, Human resource development, Major concerns, Problems of implementation, Important Committees and commissions, etc.

Significant Issues in Indian Administration

National Human Rights Commission, Citizen administration interface, Values in public service, Corruption & administration, Regulatory Commissions, Problems of administration in coalition regimes, Disaster management, etc.

Rural Development

Rural development programmes, Institutions & agencies since Independence, 73rd Constitutional amendment, Decentralization & Panchayati Raj, etc.

Urban Local Government

74th Constitutional Amendment, New localism, Development dynamics, Global-local debate, Municipal governance: structures, main features, finance & problem areas, Politics & administration with special reference to city management

Law & Order Administration

Role of Central and State Agencies, Investigative agencies, British legacy, Police-public relations, National Police Commission, Criminalisation of politics & administration, Reforms in Police and more

IAS CSE Exam Pattern 2024 - For Prelims & Mains Exam

The UPSC IAS exam pattern 2024 is also prescribed by the Union Public Service Commission. As per the official UPSC IAS 2024 notification, the IAS prelims exam is objective type in nature whereas the IAS mains exam is descriptive in nature. The IAS prelims exam holds 400 marks in total having two papers whereas the mains holds 2350. For more details on the IAS exam pattern 2024 check the tables below.

IAS prelims exam pattern

Papers

Subjects

Marks

Duration

Paper 1

General Studies 1

200

2 hrs

Paper 2

General Studies 2

200

2 hrs

IAS mains exam pattern

Papers

Subjects

Marks

Duration

Paper 1

General English

300

3 hrs

Paper 2

Language (regional language)

300

3 hrs

Paper 3

Essay

250

3 hrs

Paper 4

General Studies 1

250

3 hrs

Paper 5

General Studies 2

250

3 hrs

Paper 6

Optional subject 1

250

3 hrs

Paper 7

Optional subject 1

250

3 hrs

Paper 8

Optional subject 2

250

3 hrs

Paper 9

Optional subject 2

250

3 hrs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the UPSC IAS exam conducted online or offline?

Both IAS prelims and mains exams are conducted in offline mode.

2. When is the UPSC IAS 2024 application form released?

IAS application form 2024 was released on 14th February 2024. 

3. How many papers does the IAS mains exam have?

IAS mains exam has nine papers and all are descriptive in nature.

4. What is the minimum education qualification required to appear for the UPSC IAS exam?

The minimum education qualification required to be eligible for the IAS exam is graduation.

5. How can I cover public administration optional in UPSC?

You can prepare for the IAS Public Administration Optional by going through the UPSC Public Administration Syllabus and framing a proper study plan to consult so you can revise the topics regularly.

6. How many exams are in UPSC?

 The UPSC exam has 3 stages, the UPSC Prelims, the Mains and the interview round. 

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Questions related to UPSC CSE

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

Hello!
IRAS (Indian Railway Accounts Service) officers can be posted in both cities and rural areas since Indian Railways has offices and operations nationwide. They typically work in divisional offices, zonal offices, workshops, and production units. Transfers do happen but are usually not very frequent and depend on government policies and organizational needs.

Hope this helps!

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.

After 10th for IAS

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!!

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