UPSC Public Administration Syllabus 2026 - Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern Here

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

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

Papers

Subjects

Marks

Duration

Paper 1

General Studies 1

200

2 hrs

Paper 2

General Studies 2

200

2 hrs

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