The UPSC Prelims Syllabus encompasses a broad range of topics designed to judge the extensive and vast knowledge that each civil servant aspirant would carry along with their analyzing skills. It consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I, covering History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs, and General Studies Paper II, which will test an individual's aptitude by posing questions to challenge comprehension, logical reasoning, and quantitative analysis. Understanding the depth and breadth of the UPSC Prelims syllabus will be important to create a study plan for aspirants and help them feel confident while appearing for the examination.

Overview of UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025 

The UPSC Prelims syllabus 2025 broadly focuses on evaluating the knowledge of a candidate in all academic fields and general knowledge about recent affairs. There are two papers: 

• General Studies Paper I and 
• General Studies Paper II (CSAT). 

General Studies Paper I Indian History Indian Geography Polity Economy Environmental studies Current events General Studies Paper II (CSAT) Reasoning based on Comprehension Reasoning based on Numerical Data States, its Share in GDP, and Index of Infrastructure Development Yes/No type questions providing data related to rural and urban development, Govt. schemes for urban and rural development, etc. General Studies Paper-II is commonly called the Civil Services Aptitude Test, or CSAT. This paper tests the candidate's logical reasoning, analytical skills, decision-making ability, and basic numerical ability. Clearing the preliminary is the first step towards qualifying for the mains exam; therefore, it is important to have an idea about the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025.

The Prelims examination will include two papers which will be objective-type papers. For every incorrect answer marked, there will be a negative marking of 1/3rd of the assigned marks. 

The Prelims Syllabus of UPSC is divided into two parts:

• UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for GS Paper 1
• UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for GS Paper 2 (also known as CSAT Syllabus)

Paper 1 is a general studies paper and tests aspirants' knowledge of current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, environment, and science and technology. Paper 2, also known as CSAT paper tests aspirants' aptitude and comprehension skills.

Also, check out UPSC Interview Questions with Answers on the linked article.

UPSC Civil Services Prelims Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Preliminary Examination Syllabus PDF is available here for free. It is recommended to download and print a copy of the UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus PDF and keep it handy while preparing for the exam. Candidates can download the IAS Prelims Syllabus PDF with the link given in the table below.

Download UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF in English!

Let's start understanding the UPSC Civil Services Syllabus for Prelims. We will have a look at the various subjects & necessary topics to be covered while preparing for the IAS Prelims Exam 2025. Check out the complete UPSC Preliminary Examination Syllabus for GS 1 & GS 2 Papers in the below sections.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 1

The UPSC Preliminary Syllabus for Paper 1 contains topics from history, geography, economy, polity & governance, general science, & most important current affairs.

• Current events of national & international importance.
• Indian History & Indian National Movement.
• Indian as well as World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India & the World.
• Indian Polity 
• Economic and Social Development such as Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
• Common issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization
• General Science.

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for History

By looking at the official UPSC Civil Services Syllabus for Prelims, we can say that the paper will have questions on the topic related to “Indian History & Indian National Movement”. Have a look at the detailed topics that need to be covered for the history section.

Ancient History 

• Prehistoric Times
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Rig Vedic Period
• Later Vedic Period
• Jainism
• Buddhism
• Mahajanapadas
• Mauryan Period
• Post-Mauryan Period
• Gupta Period
• Harshavardhana Period
• Sangam Period (South-Indian Dynasties)

Check out the Ancient History Syllabus for UPSC Prelims here.

Medieval History 

• Major Dynasties of Early Medieval India (Pratiharas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas)
• Cholas and South-Indian Kingdoms
• Early Muslim Invasions
• The Delhi Sultanate
• Afghans, Rajputs & Mughals
• Establishment of the North-Indian Empire
• The Mughal Empire
• Marathas and the Other Indian States
• The decline of the Mughal Empire
• Vijaynagar Empire

Modern History 

• Advent of Europeans
• British Expansion
• Administration before 1857
• Economic Policies of the British
• Impact of British Administration
• Revolt of 1857
• Administrative Changes after 1857
• Development of Civil Services
• Development of Education
• Development of Press
• Socio-Religious Reforms
• Peasant Movements
• Revolutionary Nationalism
• Indian National Movement-I (1905-1918)
• Indian National Movement-II (1918-1929)
• Indian National Movement-III (1930-1947)
• Governors-General and Viceroys of India
• Constitutional Development of Indian

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for Geography

As per the UPSC Pre Exam Syllabus, the Geography portion comprises the Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India & the World. To prepare well for this subject in the prelims exam, candidates must check out the detailed topics of various sections of geography given below.

General Geography 

• Universe
• Earth Evolution

Biogeography 

• Soil Characteristics
• Vegetation Resources

Geomorphology 

• Earth’s Interior
• Geology and Rock System
• Geomorphic Process
• Earthquakes and Volcanism
• Distribution of Continents and Oceans
• Landforms and their evolution
• Landforms across the world

Oceanography 

• Hydrosphere
• Submarine Relief Features
• Temperature and Salinity
• Waves, Oceans, Currents, Tides
• Marine Resources
• Ocean, Deposits and Corals

Climatology 

• Atmosphere
• Inversion of Temperature
• Insolation and Heat Budget
• Air Mass, Fronts, Cyclones and Jet Streams
• Wind and Pressure Belts
• Precipitation
• Climate Zones of the World

Human and Economic Geography

• Demography and Census
• Human Development
• Economic Activities
• Transport and Communication
• International Trade
• Settlement

Indian Geography 

• Physiography of India
• Drainage System
• Climate
• Soils in India
• Natural Vegetation
• Population
• Settlements and Urbanization
• Land Resource
• Mineral Resource
• Energy Resource
• Agriculture and Basic Terminology
• Recent development in agriculture
• Productivity of Crops
• Industry
• Transport
• Recent developments in Industry and Transport

World Regional Geography

• Continents, Countries, and Cities
• Location in News

Ecology & Environment

• Origin of Life Forms
• Basic Concepts of Ecology
• Ecosystem Functions
• Population Ecology
• Adaptation of Species and Interactions
• Terrestrial Ecosystem
• Aquatic Ecosystem
• Nutrient Cycling

Biodiversity

• Basics of Biodiversity
• Animal and Plant Diversity
• Threats to Biodiversity
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Estuaries
• Mangroves
• Coral Reliefs
• Wetlands
• Resource Degradation and Management
• Environmental Pollution
• Climate Change
• Environmental Governance

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for Polity

Have a look at the topic-wise distribution of the UPSC Civil Services Prelims Syllabus for Polity section:

• Evolution of the Constitution
• Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
• Union & Its Territory
• Citizenship
• Fundamental Rights
• Directive Principles of State Policy
• Fundamental Duties
• System of Governance
• Union Executive
• Union Legislature
• State Executive
• State Legislature
• Local Government
• UT and Special Areas
• Judiciary
• Constitutional & Non-Constitutional Bodies
• Political Dynamics (Political Parties, Elections, Pressure Groups)
• Governance
• International Relations

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for Economy

The UPSC Pre Exam Syllabus mentions the broad topic of Economic & Social Development which includes Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc. Have a look at the detailed topics that need to be covered under the Economy section for the prelims exam.

Basic Concepts

• Macroeconomic Concepts
• Microeconomic Concepts

Economic Measurements

• National Income & Its Calculation
• Economic Growth and Development
• Inflation

Money & Banking

• Money Function & Classification
• Financial Markets & Its Instruments
• Banking Structure in India

Public Finance in India

• Budgeting
• Fiscal Policy
• Center-State Distribution
• Tax Structure in India

Planning

• Meaning, Objective & History
• Planning Institutions
• Five-Year Plans in India
• NITI Aayog

Open Economy

• Foreign Trade Concepts
• International Organizations
• Trade Agreements
• Recent Development

Economic Sectors

• Poverty
• Employment and Unemployment
• Government Schemes and Programmes

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for General Science

In the UPSC Pre Exam Syllabus, applicants should not spend much time preparing General Science from theory books as most questions come from topics/issues in the news. Some focus areas as a broad reference are given below.

• Science & Technology in India
• Space
• IT and Communication
• Materials, Nanotechnology and Robotics
• Defence
• Nuclear Technology
• Intellectual Property Rights and Other Miscellaneous Issues
• Biotechnology

Check the Latest UPSC IAS Exam Date Notice!

UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus for Art & Culture

Some of the important art & culture topics for the UPSC exam are Folk & Classical Dances of India, Mural Painting, Miniature Painting, etc. For UPSC Prelims GS Paper 1, it is important to study the art & culture topics mentioned in the table below.

• Architecture
• Sculpture
• Paintings
• Pottery Tradition
• Numismatics
• Performing Arts
• Religion and Literature
• National and Regional Festivals

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 2 (CSAT)

The GS Paper 2 in the prelims exam is also known as CSAT. This paper is just qualifying in nature, however, candidates should not take it lightly as often aspirants fail in this paper. The UPSC CSAT syllabus consists of various aptitude questions. The UPSC Preliminary Syllabus for Paper 2 is mentioned below.

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numerical skills (Class X level) (orders of magnitude, numbers & their relations, etc.)
• Data Interpretation (Class X level) (graphs, charts, tables, data sufficiency etc.)

Conclusion

The UPSC Prelims Syllabus serves as a roadmap for aspiring civil servants, outlining the subjects they need to cover for the Preliminary Examination. IAS Syllabus of Prelims UPSC covers a wide range of topics, including history, geography, economics, science, and current affairs. Mastering this syllabus is essential for cracking the Civil Services Examination and pursuing a fulfilling career in public service. With dedication and focus, candidates can navigate through the CSE Prelims syllabus and be well-prepared to take on the challenges of the prelims exam.

We hope this article on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus helps clear all your doubts related to the curriculum of the Prelims exam stage. You can also download our Testbook App and get expert guidance, study materials, access to mock tests, and much more.