Programme syllabus
UPSC Mains Mentorship — Mains Syllabus
The Mains Mentorship covers the entire Mains syllabus through daily answer writing, topic-wise tests and one-to-one evaluation, with a separate track for the Personality Test.
How the programme covers the syllabus
Phase 1 — Syllabus gap audit
Topic-wise diagnostic against the official Mains syllabus.
- Previous-year question mapping
- Personal coverage plan
Phase 2 — Daily answer writing
Three to five answers a day with evaluation.
- GS I–III answers
- Ethics case studies
- Weekly essay
Phase 3 — Full-length mocks and interview
Timed mocks under exam conditions, then DAF-based mock interviews.
- Full Mains mocks
- Mock interviews
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