UPSC Mains Examination
The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination (Mains) is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination (CSE), conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Unlike the Preliminary Exam (Prelims), which is an objective-type screening test, the Mains is a descriptive written exam. It is designed to assess a candidate’s depth of knowledge, analytical abilities, and writing skills across a wide range of topics.
The Mains Examination is crucial, as the marks obtained in this stage directly contribute to the final merit list, along with the interview stage. Let’s explore the structure, syllabus, and preparation strategies for the UPSC Mains.
1. Structure of UPSC Mains Examination
The UPSC Mains consists of nine papers, out of which seven are considered for ranking, and two are qualifying papers. All papers are descriptive in nature and require detailed, essay-style answers.
a. Qualifying Papers
These papers are compulsory, but the marks obtained are not counted towards the final ranking. Candidates need to score the minimum required marks to qualify.
- Paper A: Indian Language (300 Marks)
- The candidate must choose one Indian language from the list of languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (e.g., Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati, etc.).
- Exemptions: Candidates from north-eastern states and those who belong to Sikkim are exempted from this paper.
- Syllabus: Essay, letter writing, comprehension, translation, and grammar-based questions.
- Paper B: English (300 Marks)
- This is a compulsory paper for all candidates.
- Syllabus: Essay, comprehension, précis writing, and grammar (such as tenses, sentence structure, etc.).
b. Papers Counted for Merit
The remaining seven papers are used to calculate the candidate’s total score in the Mains Examination.
- Paper I: Essay (250 Marks)
- Candidates must write two essays, choosing from a variety of topics.
- Topics are usually related to social, political, economic, philosophical, and current issues.
- Marks are awarded for clarity, coherence, and the ability to build a structured argument.
- Papers II to V: General Studies (GS) – 4 Papers (250 Marks Each)
- These papers cover a wide range of subjects, testing the candidate’s knowledge across diverse areas.
Paper II: General Studies I (250 Marks)
- Indian heritage and culture, history, and geography of the world and society.
- Key Areas:
- Indian History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern (Freedom Struggle)
- Art & Culture: Paintings, Literature, Architecture
- World History: Events like the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, World Wars, etc.
- Geography: Physical geography, Indian and world geography, urbanization, distribution of resources.
Paper III: General Studies II (250 Marks)
- Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.
- Key Areas:
- Indian Constitution and its salient features, amendments, fundamental rights, duties, and directive principles.
- Government policies, initiatives for social justice, welfare schemes for vulnerable sections.
- International relations: India’s bilateral and multilateral relations, role in international organizations like the UN, WTO, etc.
Paper IV: General Studies III (250 Marks)
- Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.
- Key Areas:
- Indian Economy: Planning, resource mobilization, growth, employment, budgeting, and related sectors.
- Science & Technology: Developments, innovations, and their applications.
- Environment and Ecology: Issues like climate change, biodiversity conservation.
- Internal Security: Issues like terrorism, cyber security, and border management.
Paper V: General Studies IV (250 Marks)
- Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.
- Key Areas:
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, and consequences of ethics in human actions.
- Attitude: Structure, functions, and influence of attitude in decision-making.
- Emotional Intelligence: Concepts and their utilities.
- Integrity, impartiality, and non-partisanship in governance.
- Papers VI & VII: Optional Subject Papers I & II (250 Marks Each)
- Candidates choose one optional subject, and there are two papers (each 250 marks) based on that subject.
- The UPSC offers a list of 48 optional subjects, including popular choices such as:
- Public Administration
- Geography
- History
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Literature (Indian languages and English)
- Each optional subject has its own well-defined syllabus, and candidates need to show in-depth knowledge of the chosen subject.
2. Syllabus in Detail
a. Essay Paper (Paper I)
- Candidates are required to write two essays from the provided set of topics.
- Essays are typically on topics related to politics, economics, social issues, science and technology, philosophy, and ethics.
- Key Tips:
- Practice writing on diverse topics.
- Structure the essay with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Support arguments with data, examples, and logical reasoning.
b. General Studies Papers (Papers II to V)
- These papers cover a broad spectrum of topics, and the syllabus is extensive.GS Paper I: History, Geography, Art & Culture
- Emphasis on Indian heritage and its contribution to culture.
- World History topics include the industrial revolution, decolonization, and significant wars.
- Geography focuses on physical features, human geography, and environmental issues.
GS Paper II: Polity, Governance, International Relations
- Polity: Fundamental rights, roles of various constitutional bodies, functioning of Parliament and state legislatures.
- Governance: Topics such as e-governance, citizen charters, and policies aimed at improving public services.
- International Relations: India’s role in world politics, treaties, and diplomatic ties.
GS Paper III: Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Security
- Economy: Topics include infrastructure, investment models, development policies, and challenges in agriculture.
- Technology: Recent developments in technology, space, and IT.
- Security: Internal security issues like terrorism, organized crime, and India’s security challenges.
GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
- Ethics: Covers the role of ethics in governance, ethical dilemmas, and public service values.
- Case Studies: Situational judgment tests and decision-making scenarios to assess ethical decision-making.
c. Optional Subject Papers
- Candidates choose one subject from the list of optional subjects provided by UPSC.
- The optional papers require deep knowledge and conceptual clarity of the subject chosen.
3. Marking Scheme and Scoring
- Each of the seven merit-based papers is worth 250 marks, making a total of 1750 marks for the Mains.
- The two qualifying papers (Indian Language and English) are marked out of 300 marks each. However, candidates need to score just the qualifying marks (typically around 25-30%).
- Answers are evaluated for content, clarity, structure, coherence, and the ability to form balanced arguments.
- Candidates are advised to be concise, coherent, and focused in their answers to score well.
4. Preparation Strategy for UPSC Mains
a. In-depth Understanding of the Syllabus
- Each section of the General Studies papers has a defined syllabus. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the topics.
b. Current Affairs
- Stay updated with daily current affairs by reading newspapers such as The Hindu or Indian Express.
- Follow government reports, the Economic Survey, and the Budget for a deeper understanding of government policies and economic issues.
c. Answer Writing Practice
- Start practicing answer writing well in advance.
- Focus on writing clear, concise, and structured answers within the time limit.
d. Mock Tests
- Regularly attempt mock tests for all papers, including essay and optional subjects.
- Evaluate your answers based on feedback and make improvements.
e. Time Management
- Allocate time for revision and ensure that you are comfortable with the time constraints of the exam.
5. Result Declaration
- After the written Mains examination, the results are typically declared within 2-3 months.
- Candidates who qualify in the Mains proceed to the final stage: the Personality Test (Interview).
- The final merit list is based on the cumulative marks of the Mains and Interview stages.