UPSC GS Paper-I

 Current events of National & International importance.

 History of India & Indian National Movement.
 Indian & World Geography –Physical, Social, Economic Geography of
India & the World.
 Indian Polity & Governance –Constitution, Political System, Panchayati
Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
 Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty,
Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
 General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change.
 General Science.
UPSC GS Paper-II
 Comprehension.
 Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
 Logical reasoning & analytical ability.
 Decision making & problem solving.
 General mental ability.
 Basic numeracy (numbers & their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.)
(Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency,
etc. – Class X level)
Qualifying Papers
English Language:
 Comprehension of given passages.
 Precise Writing.
 Usage and Vocabulary.
 Short Essays.
Indian Languages:
 Comprehension of given passages.
 Precise Writing.
 Usage and Vocabulary.
 Short Essays.
 Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
UPSC Essay

UPSC GS-1
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and
Society.
 Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and
Architecture from ancient to modern times.
 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the 18th century until
the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
 The Freedom Struggle, its various stages and important
contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
  Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
 History of the world will include events from 18th century such as
industrial revolution,
World wars,
Redrawal of national boundaries,
Colonization, decolonization,
political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc. their
forms and effect on the society.
 Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India
 Role of women and women’s organization,
Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues,
urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
 Effects of globalization on Indian society.
 Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Geography
 Salient features of world’s physical geography.
 Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South
Asia and the Indian sub-continent);
factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary
sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
 Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami,
Volcanic activity, Cyclone etc.,
Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical
features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and
the effects of such changes.
UPSC GS-2
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
 Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features,
amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
 Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States,
Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure,
Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges
therein.
 Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms
and institutions.
 Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other
countries.
 Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of
business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
 Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and Judiciary
Ministries
Departments of the Government;
 Pressure groups
Formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
 Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
 Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and
responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
 Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Governance
 Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
 Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-
governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential;
citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other
measures.
 Role of civil services in a democracy.
 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre
and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,
institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of
these vulnerable sections.
Social Justice
 Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs,
SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and
other stakeholders.
 Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
 Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
International relations
 India and its neighborhood- relations.
 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting India’s interests.
 Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on
India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
 Important International institutions, agencies and fora - their structure,
mandate.
UPSC GS 3
Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security
and Disaster Management
 Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of
resources, growth, development and employment.
 Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
 Government Budgeting.
 Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country,
Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage,
 Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related
constraints;
e-technology in the aid of farmers.
 Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support
prices; Public Distribution System-objectives, functioning, limitations,
revamping;
Issues of buffer stocks and food security;
Technology missions;
Economics of animal-rearing.
 Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance,
location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain
management.
 Land reforms in India.
 Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and
their effects on industrial growth.
 Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
 Investment models.
Environment
 Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects
in everyday life.
 Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology
and developing new technology.
 Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-
technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Bio diversity
 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental
impact assessment.
Security and Disaster Management
 Disaster and disaster management.
 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
 Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to
internal security.
 Challenges to internal security through communication networks,
Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges,
Basics of cyber security;
Money-laundering and its prevention.
 Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of
organized crime with terrorism.
 Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
UPSC GS 4
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
 Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences
of Ethics in-human actions;
 Dimensions of ethics;
Ethics - in private and public relationships.
Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders,
reformers and administrators;
Role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
 Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with
thought and behaviour;
Moral and political attitudes;
Social influence and persuasion.
 Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity,
impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service,
empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
 Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance.
 Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and
world.
 Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status
and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private
institutions;
Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
Accountability and ethical governance;
Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance;
Ethical issues in international relations and funding;
Corporate governance.
 Probity in Governance: Concept of public service;
Philosophical basis of governance and probity;
Information sharing and transparency in government,
Right to Information,
Codes of Ethics,
Codes of Conduct,
Citizen’s Charters,
Work culture,
Quality of service delivery,
Utilization of public funds,
challenges of corruption.
 Case Studies on above issues.
BOTANY Paper I
1. Microbiology and Plant Pathology
Structure and reproduction/multiplication of viruses, viroids, bacteria, fungi and
mycoplasma; Applications of microbiology in agriculture, industry, medicine and
in control of soil and water pollution;
Prion and Prion hypothesis.
Important crop diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, fungi and
nematodes; Modes of infection and dissemination; Molecular basis of infection
and disease resistance/defence; Physiology of parasitism and control measures.
Fungal toxins. Modelling and disease forecasting; Plant quarantine.
2. Cryptogams
Algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, pteridophytes-structure and reproduction
from evolutionary viewpoint;
Distribution of Cryptogams in India and their ecological and economic
importance.
3. Phanerogams
Gymnosperms: Concept of Progymnosperms. Classification and distribution
of gymnosperms.
Salient features of Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Coniferales and Gnetales, their
structure and reproduction.
General account of Cycadofilicales, Bennettitales and Cordiaitailes; Geological
time scale; Type of fossils and their study techniques.
Angiosperms: Systematics, anatomy, embryology, palynology and phylogency.
Taxonomic hierarchy; International Code of Botanical Nomenclature; Numerical
taxomomy and chemotaxomomy;
Evidence from anatomy, embryology and palynology.
Origin and evolution of angiosperms; Comparative account of various systems of
classification of angiosperms; Study of angiospermic families— Mangnoliaceae,
Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae,
Dipterocarpaceae, Apiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae,
Rubiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Liliaceae, Musaceae
and Orchidaceae.
Stomata and their types; Glandular and non-glandular trichomes; Unusual
secondary growth; Anatomy of C3 and C4 plants; Xylem and phloem
differentiation; Wood anatomy.
Development of male and female gametophytes, pollination, fertilization;
Endosperm—its development and function. Patterns of embryo development;
Polyembroyony, apomixis; Applications of palynology; Experimental
embryology including pollen storage and test-tube fertilization.
4. Plant Resource Development
Domestication and introduction of plants; Origin of cultivated plants, Vavilov’s
centres of origin. Plants as sources for food, fodder, fibres, spices, beverages,
edible oils, drugs, narcotics, insecticides, timber, gums, resins and dyes; latex,
cellulose, starch and its products; Perfumery; Importance of Ethnobotany in the
Indian context;
Energy plantations;
Botanical Gardens and Herbaria.
5. Morphogenesis
Totipotency, polarity, symmetry and differentiation; Cell, tissue, organ and
protoplast culture. Somatic hybrids and Cybrids; Micropropagation; Somaclonal
variation and its applications; Pollen haploids, embryo rescue methods and their
applications.
BOTANY Paper II
1. Cell Biology
Techniques of cell biology.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells—structural and ultrastructural details; Structure
and function of extracellular matrix (cell wall) and membranes-cell adhesion,
membrane transport and vesicular transport; Structure and function of cell
organelles (chloroplasts, mitochondria, ER, dictyosomes ribosomes,
endosomes,lysosomes, peroxisomes; Cytoskelaton and microtubules; Nucleus,
nucleolus, nuclear pore complex; Chromatin and nucleosome;
Cell signalling and cell receptors; Signal transduction
Mitosis and meiosis; molecular basis of cell cycle.
Numerical and structural variations in chromosomes and their significance;
Chromatin organization and packaging of genome; Polytene chromosomes; B-
chromosomes—structure, behaviour and significance.
2. Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolution
Development of genetics, and gene versus allele concepts (Pseudoalleles);
Quantitative genetics and multiple factors; Incomplete dominance, polygenic
inheritance, multiple alleles; Linkage and crossing over of gene mapping
including molecular maps (idea of mapping, function);
Sex chromosomes and sex-linked inheritance; sex determination and molecular
basis of sex differentiation; Mutations (biochemical and molecular basis);
Cytoplasmic inheritance and cytoplasmic genes (including genetics of male
sterility)
Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins; Genetic code and regulation
of gene expression; Gene silencing; Multigene families;
Organic evolution-evidences, mechanism and theories.
Role of RNA in origin and evolution.
3. Plant Breeding, Biotechnology and Biostatistics
Methods of plant breeding—introduction, selection and hybridization (pedigree,
backcross, mass selection, bulk method);
Mutation, polyploidy, male sterility and heterosis breeding. Use of apomixes in
plant breeding; DNA sequencing; Genetic engineering—methods of transfer of
genes; Transgenic crops and biosafety aspects; Development and use of
molecular markers in plant breeding; Tools and techniques— probe, southern
blotting, DNA fingerprinting, PCR and FISH.
Standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV). Tests of significance (Z-test,
t-test and chi-square tests). Probability and distributions (normal, binomial and
Poisson). Correlation and regression.
4. Physiology and Biochemistry
Water relations, mineral nutrition and ion transport, mineral deficiencies.
Photosynthesis— photochemical reactions, photophosphorylation and carbon
fixation pathways; C3, C4 and CAM pathways;
Mechanism of phloem transport,
Respiration (anaerobic and aerobic, including fermentation)—electron transport
chain and oxidative phosphorylation;
Photorespiration; Chemiosmotic theory and ATP synthesis;
Lipid metabolism; Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism.
Enzymes, coenzymes;
Energy transfer and energy conservation.
Importance of secondary metabolites.
Pigments as photoreceptors (plastidial pigments and phytochrome).
Plant movements; Photoperiodism and flowering, vernalization, senescence;
Growth substances, their chemical nature, role and applications in agri-
horticulture; growth indices, growth movements.
Stress physiology (heat, water, salinity, metal);
Fruit and seed physiology. Dormancy, storage and germination of seed. Fruit
ripening, its molecular basis and manipulation.
5. Ecology and Plant Geography
Concept of ecosystem; Ecological factors. Concepts and dynamics of community;
Plant succession. Concepts of biosphere; Ecosystems; Conservation;
Pollution and its control (including phytoremediation);
Plant indicators;
Environment (Protection) Act.
Forest types of India ‘Ecological and economic importance of forests,
afforestation, deforestation and social forestry;
Endangered plants, endemism IUCN categories, Red Data Books; Biodiversity
and its conservation; Protected Area Network; Convention of Biological
Diversity,
Farmers’ Rights; and Intellectual Property Rights; Concept of Sustainable
Development;
Biogeochemical cycles.
Global warming and climatic change;
Invasive species;
Environmental Impact Assessment;
Phytogeographical regions of India.