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UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus For IAS Mains 2025: Download PDF

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Last Updated on October 19, 2024

The UPSC GS 1 Syllabus is the part of UPSC Mains Syllabus and is one of the four GS papers in the UPSC Mains exam stage. As a result, having a full understanding of the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus is critical for all the eligible candidates. The UPSC General Studies (GS) Paper 1 syllabus covers a vast array of subjects, each contributing to a holistic understanding of our world. From Ancient and Modern History to Geography, Art and Culture, and Current Affairs, this GS 1 Syllabus offers a well-rounded exploration of diverse topics. With a focus on India's heritage, society, and global perspectives, GS Paper 1 Syllabus ensures candidates are well-equipped to tackle a wide spectrum of questions in the UPSC Civil Services Exam. Candidates can also download the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus PDF for free from this article below.

Along with GS 1 Syllabus, candidates can also check out other GS Paper syllabi by clicking on the links given below.

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Subjects Covered In UPSC GS 1 Syllabus 2025

Have a look at the table below to understand the list of subjects covered in the UPSC GS 1 Syllabus.

Subjects Topics Covered In GS 1 Mains Syllabus Of UPSC
History Art & Culture
Modern History
World History
Geography Physical Geography of India & World
Human Geography
Indian Society Demography, Social Issues, and Developments in Indian Society

Check out UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus in Hindi here.

UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus

The UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 syllabus is designed to assess aspirants' knowledge of India's heritage, society, and the global world. Mastering this syllabus lays the foundation for a comprehensive approach to cracking the UPSC examination.

Art & Culture

  • Classical dances
  • Temple architecture
  • Themes of ancient
  • Indian history
  • Literature
  • Music and musical instruments

Modern History

  • Four important agitations/movements:
    • Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
    • Khilafat and Non-cooperation movement,
    • Civil Disobedience Movement, and,
    • Quit India movement.
  • Social/Religious reform movements: Personalities and their contributions
  • Contributions of important personalities (Indian and foreign)

India After Independence & Political Philosophies

  • Admission of princely states
  • Role of important personalities
  • Communism
  • Important movements after 1947
  • Socialism
  • Capitalism

World History

  • American, French, Russian and Industrial Revolution
  • World War I and II
  • Current affairs
  • International pages of The Hindu and The Indian Express

Society of India

  • Diversity in India
  • Women Empowerment
  • Issues in Indian Society

Geography

  • Natural Resources
  • Cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes
  • Location of industries in India
  • Water bodies
  • Climate change

UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus PDF - Download Now

Candidates can download the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus PDF and refer to it later while preparation. This UPSC GS 1 Syllabus PDF consists of detailed topics and sub-topics that are included as per the official UPSC notification. Click on the link given in the table below to download the GS Paper 1 Syllabus PDF for free.

Download GS 1 Syllabus PDF For Free
UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus PDF Download PDF

UPSC GS Paper 1 Exam Pattern 

Candidates who will be appearing for the exam should know the detailed UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus beforehand. The prelim paper has a general studies paper and an aptitude test which is of a total of 400 marks. The UPSC mains exam will consist of several papers, each having a different syllabus. The UPSC General Studies Paper 1 syllabus and paper pattern are discussed in the following sections:

UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 Exam Pattern
Paper Name Nature Of Paper Time Allotted Marks Negative Marking
UPSC GS Paper 1 (ie. UPSC Mains Paper 2) Subjective Type (Final Merit ie. Marks will be counted in the final merit list) 3 hours 250 Marks No

Detailed Structure Of UPSC Mains GS Paper 1

The structure of IAS GS Paper-1 is given as per the notification.

  • There are 20 mandatory questions that must be answered in the language chosen on the application form (Hindi or English). Questions answered in a language other than English are not evaluated.
  • The General Studies Paper 1 is for a total of 250 marks.
  • The word limit for 10-mark questions is 150 words, while for 15-mark questions, it is 250 words.
  • The UPSC History Syllabus places a strong emphasis on modern history subjects, with questions ranging from the American Revolution to the Indian Renaissance and related sub-topics.
  • The emphasis of the UPSC Geography Syllabus is on current affairs issues as well as static sub-topics.
  • The questions are drawn from the Indian Society syllabus and cover subjects such as women's empowerment, secularism, Indian society culture, and so on.

Check the detailed UPSC Exam Pattern here.

How To Prepare For The UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus?

The GS Paper 1 Syllabus covers Indian Heritage and Culture, World History and Geography, and Society. Given below are the topic-wise preparation tips to cover the GS 1 UPSC Syllabus for the Civil Services Mains Exam.

Indian Arts and Culture

  • Key aspects of the GS 1 Mains Syllabus for the Civil Services Mains include Indian Architecture and Sculptures, Indian Paintings,  Indian Music and Dance Forms, Theatre & Religion in India, Religion, and Indian Philosophy, Fairs, Festivals, and Traditions, Textiles & Handicrafts, Cultural Institutions and Heritage Conservation, Indian Martial Arts & Sports, etc.  
  • Begin your study with the NCERT books.
  • You should look for art and culture-related topics and take notes on each one.
  • Along with the NCERT books, you should start reading the books and articles on art and culture, as it has all of the knowledge about art and culture in one spot.
  • Prepare concise notes for revision. This will help you in last minute revision of important topics.
  • Prepare mind maps or flowcharts to organize information related to topics such as art forms, dance styles, architecture periods, etc., to enhance retention.

Indian History and World History

  • The UPSC Mains Paper 1 syllabus includes diverse topics from the Indian and World History.
  • The questions asked are generally straightforward and direct, emphasizing on facts and dates.
  • Candidates should practise the previous year's question papers after completing each section.
  • Revision is seen as an important aspect of historical preparation.
  • Short notes should be prepared and the most significant points should be jotted down. This will come in handy during your last-minute revision.
  • Make flow charts or tables to memorise the sequence of important events.
  • IAS Mains is a type that is used to describe something. As a result, when composing answers, it is important to include exact dates for events and battles.

Economy and Social Development

  • To cover the UPSC Mains Paper 1 Syllabus for Economic & Social Development, the NCERT books are a good place to start your preparation. These books will help you understand the fundamental concepts, even if they appear to be quite elementary.
  • TMH's Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh or Sanjeev Verma's book is good book to read for individuals who have studied some degree of economics.
  • The economics component of the UPSC Prelims is also very essential. As a result, you can time your preparation for this section to coincide with the UPSC IAS prelims.
  • Aside from literature, study economic surveys and newspapers that focus on economic growth and decline.
  • This section will have a lot of conceptual questions, so you'll need to know a lot of stuff.
  • Economics is a science that requires precision. Make sure you're using the right technical terms. Don't say income when you mean revenue, for example.
  • Make use of the graph.
  • It will be highly advantageous to acquire more scores in IAS Mains if you include recent updates and economic terms in your responses.

Geography and Environment

  • The IAS GS Paper 1 Syllabus for Geography and Environment emphasizes on topics related to Indian and World Geography, Environmental phenomena, conventions for environment conservation, and sustainable development, latest developments in these domains, etc.
  • Candidates can always start their preparation using NCERT books, but with the help of other books, they can compile their own notes.
  • Make an effort to recall and practise the definitions and terms used in this section. Both the IAS Mains and Prelims will be lucrative for them.
  • Keep up with current events and the newest news about cyclones and the countries affected, as well as the disasters they produce.
  • While writing replies, use graphical maps and draw them if necessary.
  • Also, practise maps in both India and the rest of the world to gain a better understanding of the geographical situation.
  • Although geography is a non-technical subject, it is founded on facts. Be thorough with definitions and examples.
  • Make notes about important geographical features, their characteristics, locations, etc. 
  • For environmental conventions, make notes to learn about its significance, key components of the convention, participants, and date & place of the convention. ALso, make sure to go through any amendments or latest developments in the same.

Current Affairs

  • To effectively prepare for the Current Affairs section of the syllabus of GS Paper 1, begin studying at least 7 to 6 months before the exam.
  • Refer to only a few but authentic sources for news and current affairs updates. You may subscribe to reputed online/offline newspapers, magazines and newsletters to access authentic news and current affairs.
  • Look for sources that provide as much expertise and information about India as possible.
  • Set aside a specific amount of time to prepare. Depending on your intellectual capacity and educational background, 30 to 45 minutes every day is sufficient.
  • Make a list of crucial details. This will aid you in your revisions leading up to the exam.
  • Online reading is also an excellent source of information, and making notes from online sources is simple.
  • Focus on facts and issues, as well as new legislation revisions, disasters, or other events that are related to facts, rather than political news or minor local issues caused by political parties.
  • Last but not least, find a source that is comfortable for you; don't focus on the language but rather on the facts.

Get more expert tips to prepare for UPSC General Studies here.

Best Books For UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus

To plan UPSC Paper 1 Syllabus and Preparation Tips, candidates ought to get ready with a few reference books. Candidates must choose the right UPSC Books for them after researching the subject topics and the books available.

Here is a list of books to which the candidates can refer for their preparation for the UPSC General Studies Paper I Syllabus:

Subject  Books  Author/ Publication
Indian Arts and Culture Indian Art and Culture  Nitin Singhania
Indian Culture and Heritage of NIOS
National Culture of India  Abid Hussain
Indian History and World History History Of Modern India  Bipan Chandra
A New Look at Modern Indian History From 1707 to the Modern Times Alka Mehta and B L Grover S
History of the World from the Late Nineteenth to the Early Twenty-First Century by  Arjun Dev
Economy and Social Development Indian Economy Sanjeev Verma
Public Finance H.L. Bhatia
International Economics H.G. Mannur
Geography and Environment  Certificate Physical and Human Geography G C Leong
Geography of India  Majid Husain
World Geography  Majid Hussain
Current Affairs Newspapers( online / offline): The Hindu The Indian Express The Times of India The Hindustan Times The Business Standards The Economic Times
Weekly or Monthly Issues: UPSC Monthly Magazines Economic and Political Weekly Yojana Kurukshetra
Miscellaneous Sections  Indian Society  Ram Ahuja
Social Problems in India  Ram Ahuja

Check more UPSC General Studies Books List here.

UPSC IAS Exam is among the most prestigious exams which many applicants appear for. Every year the number of applications keeps on increasing and so does the competition. As a result, we provide ambitious candidates with a variety of exam series, live workshops, practice tests, notes, and other resources to help them cope with the strain. To learn more about the interesting offers and prices available on the courses provided, go to the Testbook App.

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Latest UPSC Civil Services Updates

Last updated: October 19, 2024

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