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
LiveUPSC Prelims Results 2025 LIVE: CSE will soon release the UPSC Prelims results at upsc.gov.in, latest updatesJun 6, 2025 | 10:16 PM IST

The authorities will be soon releasing the UPSC prelims results 2025 on the official website, i.e. upsc.gov.in.

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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 ,

If you want to give IAS exam then you should complete your graduation first or also if you are in your last year of graduation then you can fill the application form.

To know more, refer this:

https://competition.careers360.com/articles/upsc-ias-application-form

I hope this helps you!

If you want to become an IAS or IPS officer after completing your 12th in PCMC ,  focus on graduation because the UPSC Civil Services exam requires you to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. You can choose any graduation stream, but many students prefer degrees like Political Science, Public Administration, History, or Sociology because these subjects help build a strong foundation for the UPSC syllabus. it’s not mandatory to pick these; you can also pursue Science, Commerce, or Arts as long as you complete your graduation. Along with your degree,  start preparing for the UPSC exam early by reading newspapers, improving your general knowledge, and practicing answer writing. So, after 12th, pick a degree you are comfortable with, and plan your UPSC preparation alongside

Hii,

Yes, even if you have an ECE diploma, you can still become an IAS officer. However, you must graduate from an accredited college in any field in order to apply for the IAS exam (UPSC). A diploma is insufficient on its own.

First, enroll in a degree program such as a B.A., B.Sc., or B.Tech (lateral entry is acceptable). You can then get ready for the IAS exam. Many IAS officers have backgrounds in the arts, sciences, or diploma programs. So don't worry, just finish your graduation first and move on.

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!!

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