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UPPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus

UPPSC PCS Exam Pattern and Syllabus

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UPPSC PCS Exam Pattern

The UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Examination (PCS) is conducted in three stages:

  1. Preliminary Examination
  2. Main Examination
  3. Interview

1. Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers, both of which are objective-type multiple-choice questions. This stage is designed to screen candidates for the Main Examination.

Paper Subject Marks Duration Type
Paper I General Studies I 200 2 hours Objective
Paper II General Studies II (CSAT) 200 2 hours Objective

Key Points:


Paper Marks Duration Type
General Hindi 150 3 hours Descriptive
Essay 150 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies I 200 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies II 200 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies III 200 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies IV 200 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies V 200 3 hours Descriptive
General Studies VI 200 3 hours Descriptive

3. Interview
Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination are called for a Personality Test (Interview), which is crucial for final selection.

Stage Assessment Type Marks Purpose
Interview Personality Test 100 To assess the candidate's suitability for civil service

Additional Information:

Uttar Pradesh PCS Preliminary & Mains Syllabus

This detailed syllabus should provide comprehensive coverage of each topic and help candidates prepare thoroughly for the UPPSC exams.

Preliminary Examination
Paper-I: General Studies-I

Subject Topics Detailed Content
Current Events of National and International Importance Candidates are expected to have knowledge about recent significant events globally and nationally.
  • National Events: Government policies, economic developments, science and technology initiatives, environmental issues, and cultural events in India.
  • International Events: Global summits, international treaties, geopolitical developments, major global health issues, and international collaborations.
History of India and Indian National Movement
  • Broad understanding of social, economic, and political aspects of Indian History.
  • Synoptic view of the freedom movement, nationalism, and attainment of independence.
  • Ancient India: Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Age, Mauryan and Gupta Empires, cultural developments, religious movements.
  • Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, regional states, Bhakti and Sufi movements.
  • Modern India: British expansion in India, social reform movements, revolt of 1857, rise of Indian nationalism, partition of Bengal, role of INC, Gandhi's role, freedom struggle phases, and partition.
India and World Geography
  • General understanding of World Geography.
  • Physical, Social & Economic Geography of India.
  • Physical Geography: Landforms, climate patterns, water resources, natural vegetation, and wildlife.
  • Social Geography: Population distribution, migration patterns, urbanization trends, cultural and linguistic diversity.
  • Economic Geography: Agriculture patterns, industrial regions, resource distribution, transport networks, economic zones.
Indian Polity and Governance
  • Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
  • Focus on India's political system, economic policies, and culture.
  • Constitutional Framework: Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Fundamental Duties, constitutional amendments
  • Political System: Structure and functions of Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, federalism, state government structure, local governance, Panchayati Raj institutions.
  • Public Policies: Key government schemes, social justice issues, minority rights, and affirmative action policies.
Economic and Social Development
  • Sustainable Development, Poverty Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • Relationship between Population, Environment, and Urbanisation.
  • Economic Development: Planning in India, five-year plans, NITI Aayog, economic reforms, liberalization, privatization, globalization impacts.
  • Social Development: Education and health policies, demographic trends, employment generation, poverty alleviation programs, social empowerment initiatives.
  • Environmental Concerns: Sustainable development goals, conservation of resources, climate change policies, and urban planning challenges.
Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change General awareness on these subjects without requiring subject specialization.
  • Ecology and Environment: Ecosystem dynamics, environmental pollution, conservation of natural resources, biodiversity hotspots.
  • Biodiversity: Threats to biodiversity, conservation efforts, protected areas, wildlife protection laws.
  • Climate Change: Global warming, international climate agreements (like the Paris Agreement), national climate change policies.
General Science
  • Appreciation and understanding of science, including everyday observations and experiences.
  • No specialization in any scientific discipline is required.
  • Basic Science Concepts: Physics (laws of motion, electricity, optics), Chemistry (basic chemical reactions, periodic table), Biology (cell biology, human anatomy, plant physiology).
  • Applied Science: Innovations in technology, health and medicine advancements, space exploration, environmental science applications.

Paper-II: General Studies-II

Subject Topics Detailed Content
Comprehension Ability to understand and interpret written texts. Reading passages, analyzing and interpreting information, answering questions based on comprehension.
Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills Developing effective communication and interpersonal skills. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills, active listening, empathy, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques.
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability Testing candidates' ability to analyze situations and logical reasoning. Critical thinking, pattern recognition, logical sequences, deductive and inductive reasoning.
Decision Making and Problem Solving Evaluating candidates' decision-making skills and problem-solving capabilities. Scenario-based questions, evaluating different solutions, prioritizing options, making informed decisions.
General Mental Ability Assessing basic cognitive abilities and intelligence. Numerical ability, data interpretation, visual-spatial reasoning, logical puzzles.
Elementary Mathematics (Up to Class X Level)
  • Arithmetic: Number systems, averages, ratios, percentages, profit and loss, interest, work and time, speed, distance.
  • Algebra: Factors of polynomials, equations, set theory.
  • Geometry: Theorems and constructions related to various shapes.
  • Statistics: Data collection, frequency distribution, central tendency measures.
  • Arithmetic: Calculation techniques, application-based problems.
  • Algebra: Solving equations, understanding algebraic expressions, set operations.
  • Geometry: Properties of triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, mensuration problems.
  • Statistics: Data analysis, measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode), probability basics.
General English (Up to Class X Level) Comprehension, Active and Passive Voice, Parts of Speech, Sentence Transformation, Direct and Indirect Speech, Punctuation and Spellings, Word meanings, Vocabulary & Usage, Idioms and Phrases, Fill in the Blanks. Grammar rules, sentence structure, vocabulary building, language usage, and comprehension skills.
General Hindi (हाईस्कूलस्तरतक) हिंदीवर्णमाला, विरामचिन्ह, शब्दरचना, वाक्यरचना, अर्थ, शब्द-रूप, संधि, समास, क्रियायें, अनेकार्थीशब्द, विलोमशब्द, पर्यायवाचीशब्द, मुहावरेएवंलोकोक्तियाँ, तत्समएवंतद्भव, देशज, विदेशी (शब्दभंडार), वर्तनी, अर्थबोध, अशुद्धियाँ, उ.प्र. कीमुख्यबोलियाँ.
  • Basic grammar, vocabulary, idioms, phrases, and comprehension in Hindi.
  • Usage of Hindi in official and informal contexts.

Mains Examination
General Hindi

Topics Detailed Content
गद्यखण्डकाअवबोधएवंप्रश्नोत्तर Understanding passages and answering questions to test comprehension skills.
संक्षेपण Writing summaries of given passages to demonstrate conciseness and clarity.
सरकारीएवंअर्धसरकारीपत्रलेखन, तारलेखन, कार्यालयआदेश, अधिसूचना, परिपत्र Writing skills for official and semi-official letters, drafting office orders, notifications, and circulars.
शब्दज्ञानएवंप्रयोग
  • उपसर्गएवंप्रत्ययप्रयोग: Use and understanding of prefixes and suffixes in Hindi.
  • विलोमशब्द: Antonyms for enhancing vocabulary.
  • वाक्यांशकेलिएएकशब्द: One-word substitutions for brevity.
  • वर्तनीएवंवाक्यशुद्धि: Correct usage of spelling and sentence construction in Hindi.
लोकोक्तिएवंमुहावरे Understanding and application of proverbs and idioms in Hindi.

Essay

Sections Topics Detailed Content
Section A
  1. Literature and Culture
  2. Social Sphere
  3. Political Sphere
Writing analytical and argumentative essays on topics related to cultural heritage, social issues, and political scenarios.
Section B
  1. Science, Environment, and Technology
  2. Economic Sphere
  3. Agriculture, Industry, and Trade
Discussing the impact of science and technology on society, environmental challenges, economic policies, agricultural developments, and industrial growth.
Section C
  1. National and International Events
  2. Natural Calamities
  3. National Development Programs and Projects
Evaluating national policies, international relations, natural disaster management, and government development initiatives.

General Studies-I

Topics Detailed Content
Indian History and Culture
  • Art forms, literature, architecture from ancient to modern times.
  • Contributions of prominent dynasties and cultural movements.
Modern Indian History Key events from A.D. 1757 to A.D. 1947, including British colonial policies, Indian resistance, socio-economic changes.
The Freedom Struggle Phases of the freedom movement, major events, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, and their contributions.
Post-Independence Consolidation Political and social integration, reorganization of states, major policies till 1965.
World History Major events from the 18th to mid-20th century, including the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, World Wars, rise of ideologies like socialism, Nazism, and Fascism.
Indian Society and Culture Social structure, role of women, caste dynamics, population issues, poverty, and urbanization challenges.
Economic Reforms Impact of liberalization, privatization, globalization on Indian economy and society.
Physical Geography Earth's structure, tectonic movements, natural disasters, climatic zones, and ecosystem diversity.
Oceanic Resources Marine resources, exploration technologies, India's potential and policies.
Human Migration Causes and effects of migration, refugee crises with a focus on India.
Population and Settlements Demographic trends, urban-rural settlement patterns, development of smart cities.

General Studies-II

Topics Detailed Content
Indian Constitution Historical underpinnings, evolution, salient features, amendments, role of Supreme Court in constitutional interpretation.
Union and State Functions Federal structure, division of powers, center-state relations, challenges in governance.
Finance Commission Role in fiscal federalism, devolution of funds, recommendations for economic balance.
Separation of Powers Judiciary independence, legislative and executive balance, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Comparison of Constitutional Schemes Indian Constitution compared with major democracies like the USA, UK, and Canada.
Legislative Structure Functions, powers, and privileges of Parliament and State Legislatures, legislative procedures.
Executive and Judiciary Roles and responsibilities of Executive, Ministries, Departments, Judiciary, PILs, pressure groups.
Representation of People's Act Election processes, eligibility, and rules governing elections in India.
Constitutional Posts Roles, powers, functions, and responsibilities of President, Governor, Election Commission, CAG, etc.
Statutory and Regulatory Bodies Functions and structure of NITI Aayog, Election Commission, UPSC, Finance Commission, and other regulatory bodies.
Government Policies Key government initiatives in sectors like health, education, infrastructure, and ICT developments.
Development Processes Role of NGOs, SHGs, and community organizations in development.
Welfare Schemes Schemes for women, children, SC/STs, and other vulnerable sections, impact assessment.
Social Sector Issues Education reforms, healthcare challenges, HRD policies, skill development.
Poverty and Hunger Causes, government interventions, global indices, implications on social stability.
Governance Aspects E-governance models, transparency measures, accountability frameworks.
Civil Services Role Functions in policy formulation, public administration, and emerging trends in governance.
International Relations India’s foreign policy, relations with neighboring countries, global groupings (SAARC, BRICS, G20), and strategic partnerships.
Policies of Developed and Developing Countries Impact of global policies on India, Indian diaspora, trade policies.
International Institutions Structure, mandate, and role of the UN, WTO, IMF, World Bank, and other international agencies.

General Studies-III

Topics Detailed Content
Economic Planning in India Historical overview, objectives, achievements of five-year plans, role of NITI Aayog in economic policy.
Issues of Poverty and Unemployment Causes, types, regional disparities, government measures for social justice and inclusive growth.
Government Budgets Budgeting process, types of budgets, fiscal policy, taxation, and financial management.
Agriculture Major crops, cropping patterns, types of irrigation systems, agricultural marketing and e-technology aids.
Farm Subsidies Direct and indirect subsidies, MSP policies, PDS objectives, food security issues.
Food Processing Industry significance, infrastructure requirements, supply chain challenges, government initiatives.
Land Reforms Post-independence reforms, impact on rural development, contemporary issues.
Liberalization and Globalization Economic reforms, changes in industrial policy, impact on growth and trade.
Infrastructure Energy, transport, communication, urban infrastructure development, challenges and policies.
Science and Technology Advances in S&T, applications in daily life, role in national security, space technology policies.
Technological Achievements Contributions of Indians in S&T, indigenization efforts, transfer and dual-use technologies.
ICT and Space Technology Developments in ICT, space missions, satellite technology, digital transformation initiatives.
Environmental Security Ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection, biodiversity policies, pollution control measures.
Disaster Management Types of disasters, mitigation strategies, national policies, and institutional frameworks.
International Security Challenges Issues of nuclear proliferation, extremism, cyber security, global peace efforts.
Internal Security Challenges Terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, law enforcement agencies roles.
Security Forces Role Mandate and organization of armed forces, paramilitary, intelligence agencies.
Agricultural and Forestry Issues Challenges in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, and their solutions.

General Studies-IV

Ethics and Human Interface Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions, dimensions of ethics.
Human Values Lessons from leaders, role of family, society, and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Attitude Content, structure, function of attitudes, moral and political attitudes, influence on behavior.
Aptitude for Civil Services Foundational values: integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy.
Emotional Intelligence Concepts, dimensions, applications in administration and governance.
Moral Thinkers and Philosophers Contributions from Indian and world thinkers, application of their teachings in contemporary issues.
Public Service Values Ethical concerns in governance, laws and regulations, accountability, ethical governance challenges.
Governance Probity Right to Information, transparency, codes of conduct, citizens' charter, corruption challenges.
Case Studies Application of ethical principles and governance issues through real-life examples.

General Studies-V

Topics Detailed Content
History and Culture of UP Historical contributions, ancient cities, architectural heritage, museums, and archaeology.
UP's Role in Freedom Struggles Contributions of UP in pre and post-1857 struggles, eminent freedom fighters.
Social Issues in UP Rural, urban, tribal issues, cultural festivals, music, folk dances, languages, and social customs.
Political System of UP Governance structure, role of Governor, Chief Minister, State Assembly, State Council, Center-State relations.
Public Service in UP Functions of the Public Service Commission, auditing, Advocate General, High Court jurisdiction.
Local Self-Government in UP Urban and Panchayati Raj systems, public policy issues, rights-related challenges.
Good Governance in UP Corruption eradication, Lokayukta, citizen charters, e-governance, RTI implementations.
Land Reforms in UP Historical and current impacts on development and social structure.
Security Issues in UP Linkage between development and extremism, internal security challenges, communication networks.
Medical and Health Issues in UP Healthcare challenges, state policies, infrastructure development.
Education System of UP Contributions to national development, current issues and reforms.
Welfare Schemes in UP Implementation and impact of central and state welfare schemes.
Tourism in UP Issues and prospects, cultural heritage, tourism policies, economic impact.

General Studies-VI

Topics Detailed Content
Economy of UP Main features of the economy, state budgets, infrastructure development, physical resource management.
Trade and Commerce in UP Industrial policies, trade dynamics, economic zones, investment opportunities.
UP Government Schemes Welfare projects, human resource and skill development initiatives.
Investment in UP Issues, impacts, public finance, fiscal policy, economic reforms.
Agriculture in UP Commercialization, crop production challenges, agro-based industries, forestry policies.
Geography of UP Geographical features, climate, irrigation, mineral resources, drainage systems, vegetation.
Pollution and Environmental Issues in UP Environmental policies, Pollution Control Board functions, challenges and mitigation strategies.
Natural Resources of UP Soil, water, air, forest resources, grasslands, wetlands, conservation efforts.
Science and Technology in UP Advancements, issues, government efforts in promoting technology and innovation.
Public-Private Partnerships in UP Development initiatives, impact on economic growth and infrastructure development.

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