UPSC Prelims Syllabus Next Year
Comprehensive guide: Exam pattern, syllabus, and preparation strategy for UPSC Prelims Next Year.
Exam Overview
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is India’s premier exam. Prelims acts as the first screening stage. Knowing the structure, dates, and subjects helps aspirants plan a strong preparation strategy.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Stage 1 | Prelims (Screening Test) |
| Papers | General Studies (Paper I) & CSAT (Paper II) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Type of Questions | Objective (MCQs) |
| Notification Release Date | January 14, Next Year |
| Application Period | January 14 – February 3, Next Year |
| Prelims Exam Date | May 24, Next Year (Sunday) |
| Mains Exam Start Date | August 21, Next Year |
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Nature | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (GS) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | Considered for Cut-Off | Covers Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science & Tech. |
| Paper II | CSAT (Aptitude) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours | Qualifying (33%) | Comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, numeracy, data interpretation. |
GS Paper I Syllabus
1. Current Events of National & International Importance
Politics, economy, sports, awards, summits, international relations, socio-economic issues. Focus on last 12-18 months and link with static topics.
2. History of India & Indian National Movement
Ancient: Indus Valley, Vedic, Mauryas, Guptas. Medieval: Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Bhakti-Sufi movements. Modern: British expansion, 1857 Revolt, INC, Gandhian phase, freedom struggle events & leaders.
3. Indian & World Geography – Physical, Human, Social, Environmental geography, Economic Geography of India & the World.
Physical: Landforms, climate, rivers, soils, monsoon. Human: Population, urbanization, migration. Economic: Agriculture, resources, industries, transport. World: Continents, oceans, major features, global issues.
4. Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Constitution, Fundamental Rights/Duties, DPSPs, Parliament, Judiciary, Executive, Federalism, Emergency provisions, Panchayati Raj, schemes, e-governance, policy framework.
5. Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
GDP, inflation, fiscal policy, banking. Agriculture, industry, services. Poverty alleviation, health, education, inclusion, social sector initiatives.
6. General Science : Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics ,, Everyday science applications ,, Science & technology developments in India ,, Space, nuclear, IT, biotech, AI, etc.
Class X level basics: Physics, Chemistry, Biology. Includes Newton's laws, atomic structure, human anatomy, biotechnology, everyday science concepts.
7. General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change – that do not require subject specialization.
Ecology, biodiversity, climate change, conventions, India-specific issues, integration with geography & economy. No subject specialization needed.
CSAT Paper II (Qualifying)
- Comprehension: Reading passages, inference (~30 Qs)
- Interpersonal Skills: Emotional intelligence, team dynamics
- Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability: Syllogisms, puzzles, data sufficiency (~25 Qs)
- Decision-Making & Problem-Solving: Ethical dilemmas (~8-10 Qs)
- General Mental Ability: Series, analogies, coding-decoding
- Basic Numeracy: Class X level numbers, percentages, ratios (~20-25 Qs)
- Data Interpretation: Charts, graphs, tables (5-10 Qs)
Preparation Tips & NCERT Strategy
- Integrated Approach: NCERT basics + Daily Newspaper (The Hindu / Indian Express)
- Time Allocation: 60% static (NCERT), 40% current affairs
- Practice: PYQs, mocks, test series
- Revision: Weekly + Monthly + Prelims intensive
- CSAT Focus: Qualifying paper, do not ignore
- Current Events: Track last 12-18 months and link with static syllabus
- Notes: Make concise notes with dates and significance
In-Depth Analysis of the UPSC Prelims GS Syllabus
Current Events of National & International Importance – UPSC Prelims Next Year
1. National Importance
A. Government Policies & Schemes
- PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan – Transport & logistics infrastructure, regional connectivity
- Jal Jeevan Mission – Rural drinking water targets, water quality monitoring
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission – National digital health ID & health record integration
- National Education Policy (NEP 2020) – Implementation status, multidisciplinary education
- Digital India & Start-up India Initiatives – Tech adoption, fintech, digital governance
- Environment-focused schemes – Electric Mobility, Renewable Energy programs
Important Acts & Amendments
- Farm laws & MSP updates (if any repeal or new schemes)
- Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) updates
- Environment Protection Laws – EIA notifications, biodiversity laws, plastic bans
B. Political Developments
- Elections & Governance: State Assembly elections, by-elections, voter turnout
- Appointments: Governors, Chief Justices, Election Commission updates
- Policy Decisions: National security, defense procurement, border infrastructure, cyber security
- Administrative reforms, Good Governance & e-Governance updates
C. Economic Developments
- Union Budget & Fiscal Policies: Tax updates (Income tax, GST), fiscal deficit, government borrowing
- Banking & Financial Sector: RBI policies, repo rates, fintech growth, financial inclusion schemes
- Industry & Trade: Make in India initiatives, PLI schemes, MSME support, export-import updates
D. Science & Technology
- Space Missions: Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, satellite launches
- Defense & Nuclear Technology: Missile tests, INS developments, indigenization of weapons
- Health & Biotechnology: Vaccine development, biotech research
- Digital Transformation: AI, robotics, cybersecurity initiatives
E. Environment & Ecology
- Biodiversity conservation projects (Project Tiger, Mangrove restoration)
- National Clean Air Program, waste management initiatives
- Climate change mitigation: renewable energy, carbon-neutral projects
- Natural disasters: Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, government response
F. Social Issues
- Health: Vaccination drives, epidemic responses
- Education: NEP programs, skill development
- Gender & social welfare: Women empowerment, SC/ST welfare programs
- Labor & employment: NREGA updates, labor law reforms, employment generation schemes
G. Awards & Recognitions
- Padma Awards, National Awards in education, science, arts, sports
- Indian achievements in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games
- Literary and cultural awards
2. International Importance
A. Global Organizations & Summits
- United Nations: UNGA resolutions, SDG updates, climate & human rights initiatives
- Global Summits: G20, BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, COP – key outcomes and India’s role
- Financial Institutions: World Bank & IMF policies, loans, global economic indicators
B. International Relations & Diplomacy
- Bilateral relations: India-USA, India-China, India-Russia, India-Africa
- Multilateral diplomacy: QUAD, Indo-Pacific strategy, defense cooperation
- High-level visits, MoUs, trade and defense agreements
C. Global Economic Developments
- International trade trends, global market fluctuations
- Inflation, recession threats, global fiscal & monetary policies
- Cryptocurrency regulations & fintech developments
D. Science, Technology & Environment
- Global space missions: NASA, ESA, CNSA, JAXA updates
- Climate change initiatives: Paris Agreement, COP26-28 outcomes
- International tech collaborations: AI, green energy, robotics
E. Conflicts, Treaties & Global Security
- Wars, peace treaties, ceasefires, terrorist attacks
- UN peacekeeping missions & humanitarian efforts
- Refugee crises, migration issues, global pandemic responses
F. Awards & Recognitions
- Nobel Prize winners & scientific breakthroughs
- International sports achievements & cultural awards
- Recognitions by global organizations (UN, WHO, World Bank)