UPSC Syllabus 2027 — Complete Subject-Wise Breakdown
Every section, every subject, every chapter — a definitive guide to what UPSC tests in UPSC CSE and how to cover it all.
Table of Contents
- UPSC Syllabus Overview
- Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society): Languages
- Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)I: General Studiess (Complete List)
- Prelims Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
- Mains Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
- Interview Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
- Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)II: GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (GAT)
- High-Weightage Topics Per Subject
- Frequently Asked Questions
UPSC Syllabus Overview
The UPSC CSE syllabus spans 37 papers across three sections. However, no student takes all 37 — you select papers based on your stream and target civil service. The entire syllabus is derived from Standard Reference Books textbooks for Classes 11 and 12, with the GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude being the only section that goes slightly beyond Standard Reference Books.
Here is the structural overview:
| Section | Content | Papers Available | Can Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)A | Languages (from 8th Schedule) | 13 | Max 1 |
| Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)B | Other Languages | 20 | Max 1 |
| Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)I | Domain-Specific Subjects | 23 | Max 5 |
| Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)II | GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | 1 | 1 |
Key Rule: A candidate can take a maximum of 5 papers across all sections combined. This forces you to be strategic. Do not spread yourself across too many subjects — depth beats breadth in UPSC.
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society): Languages
The language section tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and literary appreciation. Each language paper has 50 questions (attempt 40) to be completed in 45 minutes.
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)A Languages (13)
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, English, Hindi, Urdu
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)B Languages (20)
French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Sanskrit
English Language Syllabus (Most Common Choice)
The English paper is the most widely chosen language paper. Here is what it covers:
- Reading Comprehension — Unseen passages (factual, literary, narrative) with questions on main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, and author's tone
- Verbal Ability — Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions, idioms and phrases, sentence correction
- Rearrangement & Cloze — Sentence rearrangement, paragraph sequencing, fill-in-the-blanks in a passage
- Literary Comprehension — Passages from prose and poetry with questions on literary devices, themes, and interpretation
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)I: General Studiess — Complete List
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)I offers 9 papers-specific subjects. Each paper has 50 questions (attempt 40) in 45 minutes. The syllabus for every subject is mapped directly to Standard Reference Books Classes 11 and 12.
| # | Subject | Standard Reference Books Source | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accountancy | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Mains |
| 2 | Biology / Biotechnology / Biochemistry | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Interview |
| 3 | Business Studies | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Mains |
| 4 | Chemistry | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Interview |
| 5 | Computer Interview / Informatics Practices | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Any |
| 6 | Economics / Business Economics | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Mains / Prelims |
| 7 | Engineering Graphics | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Interview |
| 8 | Entrepreneurship | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Mains |
| 9 | Environmental Studies | UGC Syllabus | Any |
| 10 | Fine Arts / Visual Arts | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Arts |
| 11 | Geography / Geology | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Prelims |
| 12 | History | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Prelims |
| 13 | Home Interview | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Any |
| 14 | Knowledge Tradition of India | UGC Syllabus | Any |
| 15 | Legal Studies | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Prelims |
| 16 | Mass Media / Mass Communication | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Any |
| 17 | Mathematics | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Interview / Mains |
| 18 | Performing Arts (Dance / Music / Theatre) | Practical + Theory | Arts |
| 19 | Physical Education / NCC / Yoga | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Any |
| 20 | Physics | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Interview |
| 21 | Political Interview | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Prelims |
| 22 | Psychology | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Any |
| 23 | Sociology | Class 11 & 12 Standard Reference Books | Prelims |
Prelims Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
History
The History syllabus covers both Class 11 (Themes in World History) and Class 12 (Themes in Indian History). UPSC draws questions from specific Standard Reference Books chapters:
- Class 11: Early societies, empires, changing traditions, paths to modernization, displacing indigenous peoples, industrial revolution
- Class 12: Bricks, beads, and bones (Harappan Civilization); Kings, farmers, and towns; Kinship, caste and class; Thinkers, beliefs, and buildings; Through the eyes of travellers; Bhakti-Sufi traditions; An imperial capital (Vijayanagara); Peasants, zamindars, and the state; Colonialism and the countryside; Rebels and the Raj; Mahatma Gandhi; Framing the Constitution
- High-Weightage: Harappan Civilization, Mughal Empire, Colonial India, Indian National Movement, and Constitution framing consistently carry the most questions
Political Interview
Covers Indian Constitution at Work (Class 11) and Politics in India Since Independence (Class 12):
- Class 11: Constitution — why and how; Rights in the Indian Constitution; Election and representation; Legislature, Executive, Judiciary; Federalism; Local governments; Constitution as a living document
- Class 12: Era of one-party dominance; Politics of planned development; India's external relations; Challenges to and restoration of the Congress system; Crisis of democratic order; Rise of popular movements; Regional aspirations; Recent developments in Indian politics
- High-Weightage: Fundamental Rights, Federalism, Indian National Movement chapters from Class 12
Economics
- Class 11 (Indian Economic Development): Indian economy on the eve of independence; Liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation; Poverty; Human capital formation; Rural development; Employment; Infrastructure; Environment and sustainable development; Comparative development of India and neighbours
- Class 12 (Macro/Micro Economics): National income accounting; Money and banking; Aggregate demand and supply; Government budget; Balance of payments; Consumer equilibrium; Theory of the firm under competition; Production and costs
- High-Weightage: National Income, Money and Banking, LPG reforms, Poverty chapters
Geography
- Class 11: Fundamentals of Physical Geography — geomorphology, climatology, oceanography, biogeography; India — Physical Environment
- Class 12: Fundamentals of Human Geography — population, migration, settlements, transport; India — People and Economy
- High-Weightage: Climatology, Indian monsoons, population distribution, and transport networks
Sociology
- Class 11: Society and sociology; Terms, concepts, and usage; Social institutions; Culture and socialisation; Doing sociology (research methods)
- Class 12: Indian society — demographic structure, social institutions (caste, tribe, family, market); Change and development — structural change, cultural change, globalisation and social change; Social movements; Mass media
- High-Weightage: Caste system, globalisation, social movements, demographic transition
Mains Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
Accountancy
- Class 11: Theoretical framework; Recording of transactions; Preparation of ledger, trial balance, and financial statements; Bank reconciliation statement; Depreciation, provisions, and reserves
- Class 12: Accounting for partnership firms (admission, retirement, dissolution); Accounting for share capital and debentures; Analysis of financial statements; Cash flow statement
- High-Weightage: Partnership accounts, company accounts (share capital), financial statement analysis
Business Studies
- Class 11: Nature and purpose of business; Forms of business organisations; Private, public, and global enterprises; Business services; Emerging modes of business; Social responsibility and ethics
- Class 12: Nature and significance of management; Principles of management; Business environment; Planning; Organising; Staffing; Directing; Controlling; Financial management; Financial markets; Marketing management; Consumer protection
- High-Weightage: Principles of management, marketing management, financial management, and consumer protection
Interview Subjects — Detailed Syllabus
Physics
- Class 11: Physical world; Units and measurement; Motion in a straight line / plane; Laws of motion; Work, energy, and power; Rotational motion; Gravitation; Properties of solids and fluids; Thermodynamics; Kinetic theory; Oscillations; Waves
- Class 12: Electrostatics; Current electricity; Magnetic effects; Electromagnetic induction; Alternating current; Electromagnetic waves; Optics; Dual nature of matter; Atoms and nuclei; Semiconductor devices; Communication systems
- High-Weightage: Optics, current electricity, electromagnetic induction, and modern physics
Chemistry
- Class 11: Some basic concepts; Atomic structure; Classification of elements; Chemical bonding; States of matter; Thermodynamics; Equilibrium; Redox reactions; Hydrogen; s-Block and p-Block elements; Organic chemistry basics; Hydrocarbons; Environmental chemistry
- Class 12: Solid state; Solutions; Electrochemistry; Chemical kinetics; Surface chemistry; Isolation of elements; p-Block elements; d and f-Block elements; Coordination compounds; Haloalkanes; Alcohols, phenols, ethers; Aldehydes, ketones; Amines; Biomolecules; Polymers; Chemistry in everyday life
- High-Weightage: Chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, organic chemistry (reactions), p-Block elements
Biology
- Class 11: Diversity of living organisms; Structural organisation; Cell structure and function; Plant and human physiology
- Class 12: Reproduction; Genetics and evolution; Biology and human welfare; Biotechnology; Ecology and environment
- High-Weightage: Genetics (Mendelian and molecular), ecology, human reproduction, and biotechnology
Mathematics
- Class 11: Sets; Relations and functions; Trigonometry; Complex numbers; Linear inequalities; Permutations and combinations; Binomial theorem; Sequences and series; Straight lines; Conic sections; 3D geometry introduction; Statistics; Probability
- Class 12: Relations and functions; Inverse trigonometric functions; Matrices; Determinants; Continuity and differentiability; Applications of derivatives; Integrals; Applications of integrals; Differential equations; Vector algebra; 3D geometry; Probability
- High-Weightage: Calculus (integration, differentiation), probability, matrices, and 3D geometry
Paper I — GS1 (History, Geography, Society)II: GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (GAT)
The GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude is a standalone paper with 60 questions (attempt 50) in 60 minutes. Unlike general studiess, the GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude syllabus extends beyond Standard Reference Books and requires dedicated preparation.
GAT Syllabus Breakdown
| Component | Topics | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | Static GK (polity, history, geography, science), current affairs (national + international) | 15-18 |
| Current Affairs | Events from the past 12 months: government schemes, awards, sports, summits, appointments | 10-12 |
| Numerical Ability | Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, averages, profit/loss), data interpretation, number series | 10-12 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Word problems, simple equations, time-speed-distance, work problems | 8-10 |
| Logical & Analytical Reasoning | Sequences, analogies, blood relations, direction sense, coding-decoding, syllogisms, Venn diagrams | 12-15 |
Preparation Tip: The GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude is the only UPSC paper where Standard Reference Books alone is insufficient. You need a dedicated GK/current affairs source, a logical reasoning practice book, and regular numerical ability drills. At Civils Gyani, our daily MCQ practice includes GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude questions to keep you sharp.
High-Weightage Topics — Standard Reference Books Chapters to Prioritize
Not all chapters carry equal weight. Based on analysis of UPSC papers from 2022, 2023, and 2024, here are the chapters that appear most frequently:
| Subject | Must-Cover Standard Reference Books Chapters |
|---|---|
| History | Harappan Civilization, Mughal Courts, Colonial Rule, Mahatma Gandhi & National Movement, Framing the Constitution |
| Political Interview | Fundamental Rights, Federalism, Judiciary, Era of One-Party Dominance, Recent Developments |
| Economics | National Income, Money & Banking, LPG, Poverty, Employment, Government Budget |
| Accountancy | Partnership (admission, retirement, dissolution), Share Capital, Financial Statement Analysis |
| Business Studies | Principles of Management, Marketing, Financial Management, Consumer Protection |
| Physics | Current Electricity, Optics, Electromagnetic Induction, Semiconductor Devices, Atoms & Nuclei |
| Chemistry | Chemical Kinetics, Electrochemistry, p-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Organic Reactions |
| Biology | Genetics, Human Reproduction, Ecology, Biotechnology Principles & Applications |
| Mathematics | Integrals, Differential Equations, Probability, Matrices, 3D Geometry, Application of Derivatives |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is the UPSC syllabus the same as the CBSE Class 12 syllabus?
Largely yes. UPSC general studiess follow Standard Reference Books textbooks for Classes 11 and 12, which is the same as CBSE. However, UPSC includes Class 11 content too, which CBSE board exams typically do not. State board students should ensure they cover Standard Reference Books specifically.
Q2. Does UPSC test Class 11 topics?
Yes. Approximately 30-40% of general studies questions come from Class 11 Standard Reference Books. This is a major difference from board exams. Do not skip Class 11 revision.
Q3. Is there any syllabus change expected for UPSC 2027?
UPSC typically announces any syllabus changes in the official notification (usually released in February-March). The Standard Reference Books-based framework has been consistent since 2022, and no major changes are expected for 2027.
Q4. Do I need to study the entire Standard Reference Books or just selected chapters?
Ideally, cover the entire Standard Reference Books for your chosen subjects. However, if time is limited, prioritize the high-weightage chapters listed in this guide. Questions can come from any chapter, so complete coverage is the safest strategy.
Q5. Is the GS4 — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude syllabus from Standard Reference Books?
Partially. The GK component overlaps with Standard Reference Books (especially Political Interview and Economics), but current affairs, logical reasoning, and numerical ability require sources beyond Standard Reference Books. Dedicate separate preparation time for GAT.
Q6. Can I take general studiess from different streams?
Yes. UPSC allows cross-stream subject selection. A science student can take Economics or Political Interview. However, check if your target civil service accepts the combination. DU, for instance, has specific subject requirements for each programme.
Q7. Which subject has the easiest UPSC paper?
Difficulty is relative to your preparation. That said, subjects like Physical Education, Environmental Studies, and Home Interview are generally considered less demanding because the syllabus is shorter. Among mainstream subjects, Political Interview and Business Studies tend to be more straightforward for well-prepared students.
Q8. Are UPSC questions direct from Standard Reference Books or application-based?
A mix of both. Approximately 50-60% are directly from Standard Reference Books (factual recall), while 40-50% require application and analysis. The application-based questions still stay within the Standard Reference Books framework but test deeper understanding.