The UPSC mains syllabus combines Essay, four General Studies papers, two papers in one optional subject and qualifying language papers. For candidates looking for the official syllabus PDF, the Civil Services Examination 2026 notice contains both the paper scheme and detailed subject lists. The four General Studies papers carry 250 marks each, making 1,000 marks in total. Their subjects range from history and society to governance, economic development, security and ethics.
This guide follows the official UPSC 2026 examination notice, checked on 13 November 2026. It maps the General Studies syllabus and explains how to find the full document. Candidates preparing for a later examination should check that year's notice before treating this syllabus as their final checklist.
| Paper | Main subject areas | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| GS I, Paper II | Culture, history, geography and society | 250 |
| GS II, Paper III | Constitution, governance, social justice and international relations | 250 |
| GS III, Paper IV | Economy, agriculture, science, environment and security | 250 |
| GS IV, Paper V | Ethics, integrity and aptitude | 250 |
UPSC mains syllabus PDF: where to find the official document
Open the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 page on the Commission's website. Under Download Notification, select Notice. Although this page is labelled Preliminary, its examination notice also includes the mains scheme and syllabus in Appendix I.
Within the PDF, Section II sets out the scheme and subjects. Section III contains the detailed syllabus. Part B covers the Main Examination, including the language papers, Essay, General Studies and optional subjects. Search inside the document for General Studies-I to reach the first GS syllabus. Searching only for Paper I can bring up other papers elsewhere in the long notice.
What is in UPSC mains GS I?
GS I brings together Indian heritage, history, society and geography. Culture covers art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times. Modern Indian history starts around the middle of the eighteenth century. The freedom struggle, contributions from different parts of India, and consolidation and reorganisation after independence are separate syllabus areas.
World history includes major developments from the eighteenth century, such as industrialisation, the world wars, colonialism and decolonisation. Society includes diversity, women's roles and organisations, population, poverty, urbanisation, globalisation and social empowerment. Geography extends to physical features, resource distribution, industrial location and phenomena such as earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis. It therefore requires more than remembering locations on a map.
What does GS II cover?
GS II covers the Constitution, political institutions, governance, social justice and international relations. Its constitutional topics include historical development, amendments, important provisions, the basic structure, federal relations and the division of powers and finances down to local government. Parliament, state legislatures, the executive and judiciary also feature.
The social justice and governance portions cover welfare schemes for vulnerable groups, health, education, human resources, poverty and hunger. The notice also includes transparency, accountability, citizens' charters and the role of civil services in democracy. International relations covers India's neighbourhood, agreements and groupings affecting Indian interests, the diaspora and international institutions. These are distinct headings within one paper, so studying constitutional provisions alone leaves substantial areas uncovered.
UPSC GS III syllabus: economy, agriculture and security
GS III includes economic planning, resources, growth, employment, inclusive growth and government budgeting. Agriculture covers crops, irrigation, storage, transport and marketing, alongside subsidies, minimum support prices, food distribution and food security. Food processing, land reforms, infrastructure and investment models also appear in the official list.
Other sections address scientific developments and their applications, intellectual property, conservation, pollution, environmental assessment and disaster management. Internal security includes extremism, external actors, communication networks, border management, organised crime, terrorism and the mandates of security forces. These subjects explain why a GS III checklist needs separate agriculture, environment and security sections alongside economics.
GS IV ethics syllabus and case studies
GS IV examines ethics, integrity and aptitude through concepts and practical dilemmas. The syllabus covers human values, attitude, emotional intelligence, moral thinkers and the values expected in public service. Those values include impartiality, objectivity, empathy, tolerance and compassion for weaker sections.
Probity in governance brings in transparency, the Right to Information, ethical codes, conduct rules, public funds, service delivery and corruption. The notice explicitly includes case studies. An answer may therefore need to explain a choice between competing responsibilities, rather than simply reproduce a definition of integrity or accountability.
How to use the syllabus without confusing the papers
UPSC describes mains as an assessment of understanding and intellectual qualities. Its instructions ask for answers that address the issue, analyse competing demands and express a clear view. For revision, turn each official syllabus heading into a checklist and attach your notes to the relevant heading. This is a practical reading method, not a Commission prescribed timetable or booklist.
The GS papers are only part of mains. Read our separate guides to UPSC stages and marks, the optional subject papers and qualifying language papers to place this syllabus within the complete examination. Keep the official PDF as the reference when a shortened syllabus list leaves out a topic.
