Programme syllabus
1-Year IAS Foundation Course — Complete Syllabus
The Foundation course covers every paper of the UPSC Civil Services Examination in twelve months — Prelims General Studies and CSAT, all Mains General Studies papers, Essay, Ethics case studies and interview preparation — with current affairs mapped to each topic.
How the programme covers the syllabus
Months 1–4 — Foundation and Polity–History–Geography
NCERT base followed by standard sources, with daily current affairs.
- Indian Polity
- Ancient, Medieval and Modern History
- Physical and Indian Geography
- Weekly answer writing begins
Months 5–8 — Economy, Environment, S&T, IR, Society, Ethics
Mains-oriented coverage of the remaining GS papers.
- Indian Economy
- Environment and Ecology
- Science and Technology
- International Relations
- Indian Society
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Months 9–12 — Prelims revision and test series
Full-length Prelims and CSAT tests, Mains mock papers and essay practice.
- All India Prelims test series
- CSAT practice
- Essay writing
- Mains mocks with evaluation
Prelims
Prelims Paper I — General Studies
200 marks · 100 questions · 2 hours · counts for the cut-off
Official scope: Current events of national and international importance; History of India and Indian National Movement; Indian and World Geography; Indian Polity and Governance; Economic and Social Development; general issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change; General Science.
History of India and the Indian National Movement
Ancient India · 10 subtopics
- Prehistoric cultures — Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic
- Indus Valley Civilisation — sites, town planning, trade, script, decline
- Vedic age — Early and Later Vedic polity, society, economy, literature
- Mahajanapadas and the rise of Magadha
- Jainism, Buddhism and other heterodox sects — doctrines, councils, texts
- Mauryan empire — administration, Ashoka's dhamma, edicts, art
- Post-Mauryan dynasties — Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Kushanas
- Sangam age — literature, polity, economy
- Gupta age — administration, science, literature, temple architecture
- Harsha, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas
Medieval India · 8 subtopics
- Cholas — local self-government, navy, bronzes
- Rajputs and early medieval polity
- Delhi Sultanate — dynasties, administration, iqta, market reforms
- Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms; Qutb Shahis of Golconda
- Mughal empire — mansabdari, zabt, land revenue, art and architecture
- Bhakti and Sufi movements — saints, teachings, impact
- Marathas — Shivaji's administration, Peshwas
- Regional kingdoms of the 18th century
Modern India (1757–1947) · 9 subtopics
- Advent of Europeans; Carnatic wars; Plassey and Buxar
- Expansion of British power — subsidiary alliance, doctrine of lapse
- Land revenue systems — Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari
- Economic impact — drain of wealth, de-industrialisation, commercialisation of agriculture
- Socio-religious reform movements — Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Aligarh, Satyashodhak, Self-Respect
- Revolt of 1857 — causes, leaders, consequences
- Tribal, peasant and civil rebellions
- Constitutional development — Regulating Act to the Indian Independence Act 1947
- Education, press and judicial reforms under British rule
Indian National Movement · 9 subtopics
- Rise of nationalism; Indian National Congress; Moderates and Extremists
- Partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi movement
- Revolutionary movements — Ghadar, HSRA, Bhagat Singh
- Home Rule movement; Lucknow Pact
- Gandhian era — Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
- Round Table Conferences; Poona Pact
- Left-wing, women's and depressed classes' participation
- INA and Subhas Chandra Bose
- Cripps Mission, Cabinet Mission, Mountbatten Plan, Partition
Art and Culture · 10 subtopics
- Temple architecture — Nagara, Dravida, Vesara
- Buddhist and Jain architecture — stupas, chaityas, viharas
- Indo-Islamic architecture
- Sculpture schools — Gandhara, Mathura, Amaravati
- Painting — murals, miniatures, folk paintings
- Classical dances and music — Hindustani, Carnatic
- Puppetry, theatre, martial arts
- Languages, literature and scripts
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites and intangible heritage of India
- GI-tagged crafts, festivals in news
Indian and World Geography
Physical geography · 8 subtopics
- Universe, solar system, earth's motions, latitudes and longitudes
- Interior of the earth; plate tectonics; continental drift
- Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis
- Rocks and landforms — fluvial, glacial, aeolian, karst, coastal
- Atmosphere — composition, structure, insolation, heat budget
- Pressure belts, winds, jet streams, cyclones
- Clouds, precipitation, climatic classification (Köppen)
- Oceanography — relief, currents, tides, salinity, coral reefs
Indian geography · 8 subtopics
- Physiography — Himalayas, Northern plains, Peninsular plateau, coasts, islands
- Drainage systems — Himalayan and Peninsular rivers, interlinking
- Indian monsoon — mechanism, El Niño, La Niña, IOD
- Soils, natural vegetation, forest types
- Agriculture — cropping patterns, irrigation, green revolution
- Mineral and energy resources
- Industries — location factors
- Transport, population, urbanisation
World geography · 4 subtopics
- Continents — physiography, climate, resources
- Major straits, isthmuses, lakes, deserts, grasslands
- Distribution of key natural resources
- Places in news — mapping
Indian Polity and Governance
Constitutional framework · 6 subtopics
- Historical background; Constituent Assembly
- Salient features; Preamble; sources
- Union and its territory; citizenship
- Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Fundamental Duties
- Amendment procedure; basic structure doctrine
- Emergency provisions
Union and State government · 5 subtopics
- President, Vice-President, PM, Council of Ministers
- Parliament — composition, sessions, bills, committees, privileges
- Governor, CM, State Legislature
- Supreme Court, High Courts, subordinate courts, judicial review, PIL
- Centre–State relations; inter-state councils; zonal councils
Local government and bodies · 5 subtopics
- 73rd and 74th Amendments — Panchayats and Municipalities
- Scheduled and Tribal areas; Fifth and Sixth Schedules
- Constitutional bodies — ECI, UPSC, CAG, Finance Commission, NCSC, NCST
- Statutory and regulatory bodies — NHRC, CVC, CBI, Lokpal, NITI Aayog
- Elections — Representation of People Acts, anti-defection law, electoral reforms
Governance · 3 subtopics
- Rights issues; RTI; citizen charters
- Schemes for vulnerable sections
- e-governance initiatives
Economic and Social Development
Basics of the economy · 5 subtopics
- National income — GDP, GNP, NNP, base year, deflator
- Inflation — CPI, WPI, causes, control
- Money and banking — RBI, monetary policy tools, NPAs, financial inclusion
- Fiscal policy — budget, deficits, FRBM, taxation, GST
- External sector — BoP, exchange rate, FDI/FPI, WTO, IMF, World Bank
Sectors · 4 subtopics
- Agriculture — MSP, PDS, food security, agri-marketing
- Industry — MSMEs, industrial policy, PLI
- Services and infrastructure
- Capital markets — SEBI, instruments
Social development · 5 subtopics
- Poverty, unemployment, inequality — measurement and schemes
- Demographics — census, dividend
- Human development indices and reports (HDI, MPI, GHI)
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Inclusive growth and social sector initiatives
Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
Ecology · 3 subtopics
- Ecosystem — structure, functions, food chains, ecological pyramids
- Biogeochemical cycles
- Biomes and ecological succession
Biodiversity · 5 subtopics
- Levels, hotspots, megadiverse countries
- IUCN Red List categories; endangered species of India
- Protected areas — national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, tiger and elephant reserves
- Ramsar sites; wetlands; mangroves
- Wildlife Protection Act, Biological Diversity Act, Forest Rights Act
Climate change and pollution · 6 subtopics
- Greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acid rain
- UNFCCC, Kyoto, Paris Agreement, COPs, NDCs
- CBD, CITES, Montreal Protocol, Basel/Rotterdam/Stockholm
- Air, water, soil, noise, plastic and e-waste pollution
- Renewable energy and carbon markets
- Institutions — NGT, CPCB, MoEFCC; national action plans
General Science and Technology
Physics, chemistry, biology basics · 4 subtopics
- Everyday physics — motion, light, sound, electricity, magnetism
- Everyday chemistry — acids, bases, polymers, fertilisers
- Human body — systems, nutrition, vitamins, diseases (communicable and non-communicable)
- Cells, genetics, DNA
Science and technology in news · 6 subtopics
- Space — ISRO missions, launch vehicles, orbits
- Defence technology — missiles, indigenous platforms
- Biotechnology — GM crops, gene editing, vaccines
- IT and emerging technologies — AI, quantum, blockchain, 5G/6G, semiconductors
- Nuclear energy and nanotechnology
- Intellectual property rights
Current events of national and international importance
Current affairs · 6 subtopics
- Government schemes and flagship programmes
- Reports and indices
- International organisations and groupings — UN, G20, BRICS, SCO, QUAD, ASEAN
- Bilateral relations and summits
- Awards, persons and places in news
- Committees and commissions
Prelims
Prelims Paper II — CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
200 marks · 80 questions · 2 hours · qualifying at 33%
Official scope: Comprehension; interpersonal skills including communication skills; logical reasoning and analytical ability; decision making and problem solving; general mental ability; basic numeracy (Class X level); data interpretation (Class X level).
CSAT
Reading comprehension · 2 subtopics
- Inference, assumption and main-idea questions
- Passage-based critical reasoning
Logical reasoning and analytical ability · 4 subtopics
- Syllogisms, statements and conclusions
- Blood relations, direction sense, seating arrangement
- Coding–decoding, series, puzzles
- Clocks and calendars
Basic numeracy · 6 subtopics
- Number system, HCF/LCM, divisibility
- Percentages, ratio and proportion, averages
- Profit and loss, simple and compound interest
- Time, speed, distance; time and work
- Permutations, combinations and probability
- Geometry and mensuration
Data interpretation and sufficiency · 2 subtopics
- Tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs
- Data sufficiency
Decision making and interpersonal skills · 2 subtopics
- Situational judgement
- Communication skills
Mains
Mains Papers A & B — Indian Language and English (qualifying)
300 marks each · qualifying at 25% · not counted in merit
Official scope: Comprehension of given passages, précis writing, usage and vocabulary, short essays, and translation (Indian language paper).
Qualifying papers
Paper A — Indian language (Telugu, Hindi, etc.) · 5 subtopics
- Essay
- Comprehension
- Précis
- Translation English ↔ language
- Grammar and usage
Paper B — English · 4 subtopics
- Essay
- Reading comprehension
- Précis writing
- Usage and vocabulary
Mains
Mains Paper I — Essay
250 marks · two essays of 1,000–1,200 words · 3 hours
Official scope: Candidates write essays on multiple topics, keeping close to the subject, arranging ideas in orderly fashion and writing concisely.
Essay
Essay themes · 6 subtopics
- Philosophical and abstract quotes
- Society, gender and education
- Polity, governance and ethics
- Economy, development and technology
- Environment and sustainability
- International relations and security
Essay craft · 4 subtopics
- Brainstorming and outlining
- Introduction and conclusion techniques
- Multidimensional body — social, political, economic, ethical
- Use of examples, data and quotes
Mains
Mains Paper II — General Studies I
250 marks · 20 questions · 3 hours
Official scope: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
Indian heritage and culture
Art forms, literature and architecture · 3 subtopics
- Salient aspects of art forms from ancient to modern times
- Literature in classical and regional languages
- Architecture — temple, Indo-Islamic, colonial
Modern Indian history
Mid-18th century to present · 3 subtopics
- Significant events, personalities and issues
- The Freedom Struggle — stages and contributors from different parts of the country
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation — integration of princely states, linguistic reorganisation, Telangana movement
World history
Events from the 18th century · 5 subtopics
- Industrial revolution
- World Wars and redrawal of national boundaries
- Colonisation and decolonisation
- Political philosophies — communism, capitalism, socialism
- American, French and Russian revolutions
Indian society
Society · 7 subtopics
- Salient features of Indian society; diversity
- Role of women and women's organisations
- Population and associated issues
- Poverty and developmental issues
- Urbanisation — problems and remedies
- Effects of globalisation on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
Geography
Physical and economic geography · 5 subtopics
- Salient features of world physical geography
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia
- Factors for location of primary, secondary and tertiary industries
- Geophysical phenomena — earthquakes, tsunami, volcanoes, cyclones
- Geographical features and their location; changes in critical features including water bodies and ice caps, flora and fauna
Mains
Mains Paper III — General Studies II
250 marks · 20 questions · 3 hours
Official scope: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
Constitution and polity
Constitution · 8 subtopics
- Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and States; federal structure; devolution to local levels
- Separation of powers; dispute redressal mechanisms
- Comparison with other countries' constitutional schemes
- Parliament and State Legislatures — structure, functioning, powers and privileges
- Executive and Judiciary — structure, organisation, functioning; ministries; pressure groups
- Salient features of the Representation of People's Act
- Appointment to constitutional posts; constitutional, statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies
Governance
Governance · 7 subtopics
- Government policies and interventions for development
- Development processes — NGOs, SHGs, associations, donors, charities
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections and their performance
- Issues relating to health, education and human resources
- Poverty and hunger
- Transparency, accountability, e-governance, citizens' charters
- Role of civil services in a democracy
International relations
IR · 4 subtopics
- India and its neighbourhood
- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
- Effect of policies of developed and developing countries on India's interests; Indian diaspora
- Important international institutions, agencies and fora — structure and mandate
Mains
Mains Paper IV — General Studies III
250 marks · 20 questions · 3 hours
Official scope: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
Economy
Economic development · 10 subtopics
- Planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment
- Inclusive growth
- Government budgeting
- Major crops and cropping patterns; irrigation; agri-produce storage, transport and marketing; e-technology for farmers
- Farm subsidies and MSP; PDS; buffer stocks and food security; animal rearing economics
- Food processing industries
- Land reforms
- Effects of liberalisation; industrial policy
- Infrastructure — energy, ports, roads, airports, railways
- Investment models
Science and technology
S&T · 4 subtopics
- Developments and applications in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians; indigenisation of technology
- Awareness in IT, space, computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology
- Intellectual property rights
Environment and disaster management
Environment · 2 subtopics
- Conservation, pollution and degradation
- Environmental impact assessment
Disaster management · 2 subtopics
- Disaster types, NDMA framework, Sendai framework
- Case studies of floods, cyclones, heatwaves
Internal security
Security · 5 subtopics
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism
- Role of external state and non-state actors
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, media and social networking; cyber security; money laundering
- Security challenges in border areas; organised crime and terrorism
- Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Mains
Mains Paper V — General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)
250 marks · theory + case studies · 3 hours
Official scope: Attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life, and problem-solving in dealing with society, assessed partly through case studies.
Ethics
Ethics and human interface · 4 subtopics
- Essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human actions
- Dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
- Human values — lessons from great leaders, reformers and administrators
- Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
Attitude · 3 subtopics
- Content, structure, function
- Influence on thought and behaviour
- Moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
Aptitude and foundational values for civil service · 2 subtopics
- Integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity
- Dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion toward weaker sections
Emotional intelligence · 1 subtopics
- Concepts, utilities and application in administration and governance
Moral thinkers and philosophers · 1 subtopics
- Contributions from India and the world — Gandhi, Kautilya, Buddha, Aristotle, Kant, Mill, Rawls
Public service values and ethics in public administration · 4 subtopics
- Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas
- Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance
- Accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values
- Ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
Probity in governance · 4 subtopics
- Concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity
- Information sharing and transparency; RTI
- Codes of ethics and conduct; citizen's charters; work culture; quality of service delivery
- Utilisation of public funds; challenges of corruption
Case studies · 2 subtopics
- Stakeholder mapping and options analysis
- Applying values to administrative dilemmas
Mains
Mains Papers VI & VII — Optional Subject
250 marks each · 500 marks total
Official scope: One optional subject chosen from the UPSC list of 48 subjects, including literature of 23 languages.
Optional
Choosing and preparing the optional · 4 subtopics
- Overlap with GS and graduation background
- Availability of guidance and material
- Previous-year question analysis
- Answer-writing practice with evaluation
Mains
Personality Test (Interview)
275 marks · final merit = Mains 1,750 + Interview 275
Official scope: Assessment of personal suitability for a career in public service — mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, leadership and intellectual and moral integrity.
Interview
Preparation areas · 4 subtopics
- Detailed Application Form (DAF) — education, hometown, hobbies, work
- Current issues and opinion questions
- Home state — Telangana / Andhra Pradesh — issues
- Mock interviews with board feedback