UPSC Mains previous papers

Indian Heritage and Culture

• Art Forms10
• Literature5
• Architecture8
• Indian Culture - Ancient Times8
• Indian Culture - Medieval Times5

Modern Indian History

• The Coming of Europeans3
• Colonialism4
• Socio-Religious Reform Movements4
• Popular Movements1

The Freedom Struggle

• Revolt of 18572
• The Struggle Begins (early phase)2
• National Movement (1919–1928)2
• National Movement: Towards Freedom and Partition (1939–1947)2
• Communalism/Partition of India1
• British Policies1
• Development of British India2
• Role of Masses and Personalities13

Post-independence History

• Political Consolidation (the "Integration" Phase)2
• Reorganization of States (the "Linguistic" Phase)3
• Administrative and Socio-Economic Reorganization4
• Consolidation of Foreign Policy and External Security2

World History

• Industrial Revolution3
• Events from the 18th Century: Revolutions4
• World Wars4
• Colonization2
• Decolonization3
• Political Philosophies: Forms and their Impact on Society1

Indian Society

• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India23
• Role of women and women's organization13
• Population and associated issues5
• Poverty and developmental issues9
• Urbanization, their problems and their remedies5
• Effects of globalization on Indian society7
• Social empowerment7
• Communalism3
• Secularism4
• Regionalism4

Physical Geography (World)

• The Earth7
• Landforms5
• Climate8
• Water (Oceans)4

Physical Geography (India)

• Introduction1
• Physiography1
• Climate, Vegetation and Soils2

Geophysical Phenomena (World)

• The Earth2
• Climate12
• Water (Oceans)4

Geophysical Phenomena (India)

• Climate, Vegetation and Soils3
• Natural Hazards and Disasters6

Natural Resources (World)

• World Population and Human Development3
• International Trade / Transport and Activities12

Natural Resources (India)

• Resources and planning38
• Indian Trade / Transport4
• Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems2

Indian Constitution

• Historical Underpinnings, Evolution & Features2
• Significant Provisions — Preamble & Citizenship1
• Significant Provisions — Fundamental Rights9
• Significant Provisions — DPSPs & Fundamental Duties1
• Significant Provisions, DPSPs & Fundamental Duties1
• Significant Provisions — Emergency Provisions2
• Significant Provisions — Special Provisions, Co-operative Societies & Official Language3
• Amendments & Basic Structure4

Parliament & State Legislatures

• Parliament — Structure3
• State Legislatures — Structure2
• Parliament — Conduct of Business5
• State Legislatures — Conduct of Business1
• Parliament — Powers & Functioning4
• Parliament — Privileges1

Federal Structure

• Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States7
• Issues & Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure5
• Devolution — Panchayati Raj6
• Devolution, Panchayati Raj1
• Devolution — Municipalities2
• Devolution, Municipalities1

Executive & Judiciary

• Union Executive — President, VP, PM, Ministries & Departments3
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the States Executive2
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Union Judiciary7
• Structure, Organization and Functioning of the States Judiciary4

Separation of Powers

• Separation of Powers between Various Organs4
• Dispute Redressal Mechanisms & Institutions1

Constitutional Comparison

• Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with That of Other Countries8

Constitutional, Statutory, Regulatory & QJ Bodies

• Constitutional Bodies14
• Statutory Bodies6
• Regulatory & Quasi-Judicial Bodies5

Representation of People's Act

• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act6

Pressure Groups & Associations

• Pressure Groups & Formal/Informal Associations and Their Role in the Polity8

Government Policies & Interventions

• Government Policies — Design & Implementation Issues3
• Government Policies, Design & Implementation Issues3
• Government Interventions — Schemes & Legislation5

Important Aspects of Governance

• Important Aspects of Governance1
• Transparency & Accountability, Institutional and Other Measures4
• e-Governance — Applications, Models, Successes, Limitations and Potential6
• Citizens Charters3

Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

• Role of Civil Services in a Democracy6

Development Industry

• NGOs5
• Donors3
• SHGs6
• Charities1

Vulnerable Sections

• Women6
• Children2
• Persons with Disabilities2
• Tribals1
• Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies1
• Welfare Schemes9

Poverty and Hunger

• Poverty4
• Poverty and Hunger4
• Hunger2

Social Sector and Services

• Health6
• Human Resources4
• Education9
• Health; Education1

India and its Neighbourhood

• Neighbourhood Relations13

Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings

• Bilateral7
• Regional12
• Global6

Policies, Politics and Indian Diaspora

• Indian Diaspora4
• Policies of Developed Countries1
• Politics of Developed Countries3

International Institutions, Agencies and Fora

• Institutions12
• Fora1

Indian Economy

• Planning1
• Mobilization of Resources1
• Growth8
• Development1
• Employment3

Inclusive Growth

• Inclusive Growth11
• Indicators & Measurement2

Government Budgeting

• Budget Structure & Concepts2
• Fiscal Deficit & Management1
• Fiscal Federalism4
• Public Expenditure & Subsidies1
• Taxation & Revenue2

Liberalization and Industrial Growth

• Liberalization9
• Industrial Policy3
• Industrial Growth4

Infrastructure and Investment Models

• Energy2
• Airports2
• Infrastructure (etc.)4
• Investment Models4

Major Crops

• Major Crops and Cropping Patterns10
• Irrigation5
• Storage, Transport and Marketing of Agricultural Produce5
• E-technology in the Aid of Farmers2

Farm Subsidies, PDS and Food Security

• Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices8
• Public Distribution System2
• Buffer Stocks and Food Security4

Technology Missions and Animal-Rearing

• Technology Missions3
• Economics of Animal-rearing2

Food Processing Industries

• Food Processing and Related Industries7

Land Reforms

• Land Reforms in India7

Developments, Applications and Effects in Everyday Life

• Developments, Applications and Effects in Everyday Life23

Achievements and Indigenization of Technology

• Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology2
• Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology1

Awareness in the Fields of S&T

• IT5
• Space8
• Computers1
• Robotics1
• Nano-technology3
• Bio-technology7
• Intellectual Property Rights5

Environmental Conservation, Pollution and EIA

• Conservation19
• Environmental Pollution and Degradation13
• Environmental Impact Assessment4

Disaster Management

• Disaster Management Framework & Institutions1
• Disaster Risk Reduction & Mitigation6
• Urban Floods2
• Cloudburst2
• Dams Related1
• Earthquakes & Tsunamis3
• Landslides & Avalanches2
• Droughts & Heatwaves1

Development and Extremism

• Development2
• Extremism17

External and Non-State Actors; Communication Networks

• External State Actors2
• Non-state Actors1
• Social Networking Sites4
• Cyber Security9
• Money-laundering3

Border Management and Organized Crime

• Border Areas12
• Organized Crime and Terrorism6

Security Forces, Agencies and Their Mandate

• Security Forces and Agencies1
• Agencies1

Case Studies

• Civil Service Ethics: The Discussion Tradition5
• Police and Law Enforcement Dilemmas6
• District and Local Administration Dilemmas7
• Integrity Under Pressure7
• Policy Design and Reform3
• Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Dilemmas4
• Public Sector and PSU Dilemmas4
• Social Sector Dilemmas7
• Disaster and Emergency Response6
• Development versus Rights Dilemmas5
• Corporate Conduct8
• Harassment and Dignity at Work4
• Workplace Integrity Under Pressure5
• International and Diplomatic Dilemmas3
• Personal, Family and Social-Norm Dilemmas6
• Emerging Domain Dilemmas4

Ethics and Human Interface

• Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions12
• Dimensions of ethics13
• Ethics in private and public relationships3
• Human Values — lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators3
• Role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values3

Attitude

• Attitude — Content, structure, function4
• Its influence and relation with thought and behaviour2
• Moral and political attitudes2
• Social influence and persuasion2

Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service

• Integrity5
• Impartiality and non-partisanship3
• Objectivity1
• Dedication to public service10
• Empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections3

Emotional Intelligence

• Emotional intelligence — Concepts7
• Utilities and application of Emotional intelligence in administration and governance2

Contributions of Moral Thinkers and Philosophers

• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India23
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from the world14

Public/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration

• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public Administration — Status and problems5
• Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions13
• Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance16
• Accountability and ethical governance7
• Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance7
• Ethical issues in international relations and funding9
• Corporate governance3

Probity in Governance

• Probity in Governance — Concept of public service8
• Information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information4
• Codes of Ethics3
• Citizen's Charters1
• Work culture2
• Utilization of public funds2
• Challenges of corruption6