UPSC Prelims Syllabus: A Comprehensive Guide

The Number of dynamic questions that are asked in recent prelim exams is very high. Hence this category becomes the most important part of the exam.

What is expected for an aspirant to go through in this topic? 

As the topic says we need to know the current events for a certain amount of period. Generally, an aspirant reads current affairs for one year. But UPSC can always ask before that period.

For an aspirant to know about current events around the country, it’s better to follow some standard newspaper along with a trusted website. Standard newspapers like The Hindu, Indian Express etc are good options.

Why a trusted website?

Newspapers as you know are for general reading. A trusted website guides the aspirants on what articles to read and what topics it is related to. News analysis done by our website is a good option to begin with.

Is UPSC expecting the aspirants to read more than 1 year of current affairs?

No, the prelims exam is just a phase that an aspirant needs to clear so that he/she can qualify for mains. The marks of prelims are never counted for the final selection process. Going through the previous year questions from current affairs have given us a general trend on the periods which UPSC has covered.

• 70% of questions from current affairs were asked from the previous 1 year.
• 20% of questions were asked from the previous 2 years.
• 10% of questions were asked from the previous 2.5 years.

A smart aspirant understands the demand of UPSC to clear the first phase. As we have mentioned before, the marks from prelims are not carried forward. So it’s better to go through just a years current affairs.

This category of the syllabus is static. The broad outlines of what topics are covered under this category are mostly known. The following are the broad topics and subtopics:

Ancient History of India

• Prehistoric cultures in India
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Pastoral and farming society
• Vedic society
• Mahajanapadas to the Nandas
• Buddhism and Jainism
• The Mauryan Empire
• Post-Mauryan India
• The Satavahanas
• Sangam Age
• Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, Kushans, Kanishka
• Different Religions- Bhagavatism, Shaivism etc
• Gupta Age
• Literature Science, Arts, Economy, and Society

Medieval Indian History

• Early medieval India. The Arabs in Sind and the Ghaznavids.
• Cultural trends – 750-1200.
• Arab Invasions.
• Delhi Sultanate.
• Vijayanagara Empire.
• Mughal Empire.
• Monotheistic movements: Kabir; Guru Nanak and Sikhism; Bhakti.
• The decline of the Mughal Empire.
• Maratha Power.

Modern India -Indian National Movement

• Coming of the Europeans.
• British extension and British Raj.
• Social and Economic Impact of the British Raj.
• Cultural encounters and social changes.
• Confrontation to British rule.
• Indian Freedom struggle in the first stage.
• Gandhian thoughts and mass mobilisation.
• Separatist movements in Indian politics.
• The post-1945 developments.

This category of the syllabus is both static and dynamic. But mostly it can be covered through standard textbooks or websites.

Indian Geography

• The basic idea about India
• Physical features of India
• River systems
• Climate in India
• Mineral and industries
• Agriculture and Allied-characteristics and Problems
• Natural vegetation and fauna
• Economic infrastructure
• Human Geography

World Geography & Physical Geography

• Universe
• The basic idea about Earth
• Geomorphology
• Interior of the earth
• Mass Movements of landforms, erosion and deposits
• Climatology
• The hydrosphere
• Biosphere
• Economic geography
• Map work
• Places in News

Indian Polity has a lot of static and dynamic elements. The following are the broad topics and subtopics :

• Preamble
• Schedules
• Constitution of India
• Union and its Territory
• Citizenship
• Fundamental Rights (FR)
• Fundamental Duties(FD)
• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
• Union
• Judiciary
• State Government- State Executive
• Administration of Special Areas
• Emergency Provisions
• State- centre and interstate relations
• Panchayati Raj and municipalities
• Reservation
• Constitution Bodies
• Non-Constitutional Bodies
• Tribunals
• Special Provisions for SCs, STs, Backward Classes, Minorities and Anglo-Indians
• Current affairs- like Bills, Laws, Schemes etc. 

Indian Economy has been a very dynamic topic in recent years. The weightage for the Indian economy has been increasing for prelims.

How do you think we should approach this category?

Indian economy should be read with standard books and current events simultaneously for better understanding. First, go through a certain static topic and know the related current events happening under that topic.

The following are the broad outlines under Indian Economy :

• Growth and Development 
• Planning and Issues related to that 
• Inflation 
• Monetary Policy in India 
• Banking and Financial Markets 
• Indian Agriculture
• Poverty, Inequality and Unemployment 
• Government Budgeting 
• Taxation in India 
• External Sector
• International Economic Organizations
• Sectors of Economy – Food Processing, Industries, Infrastructure etc 
• Investment Models