UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civils exam is conducted in two stages: Prelims and Mains. While Prelims is qualifying, UPSC Mains is the main scoring exam. There are both compulsory and optional subjects in the exam for aspirants. Compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam are mandatory for every candidate to attend, while optional subjects allow choice of selection. These optional subjects are confined to the UPSC Mains exam, distributed in the last two Papers.

Knowledge of the compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam is essential because they carry scoring weightage. Some of them may overlap with optional subjects, proving advantageous for candidates. Without proper knowledge, candidates could seriously compromise their ability to score maximum in the UPSC.

Compulsory Subjects for UPSC Exam

UPSC Prelims		UPSC Mains
General Studies I	General Studies II (CSAT)	UPSC Mains
Current affairs of national and international importance	English Language Comprehension	Indian Language Paper
Environment, Ecology, and Biodiversity	Interpersonal skills including communication skills	English Language Paper (Qualifying Nature)
Ancient, Medieval and Modern History of India	Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability	Essay Paper
Indian polity and governance	Basic Numerical Problems	GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
General science and technology	Decision-making and problem-solving	GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations
Indian and world geography	Data Interpretation	GS Paper III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
Economic and social development	General Mental Ability	GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
Art and Culture		Optional Paper 1
Social Issues		Optional Paper 2

UPSC Exam: Overview

UPSC Exam Stage	Compulsory Papers
UPSC Prelims	General Studies IGeneral Studies II (CSAT)
UPSC Mains	Indian Language Paper (Qualifying Nature)English Language Paper (Qualifying Nature)Essay PaperGeneral Studies IGeneral Studies IIGeneral Studies IIIGeneral Studies IVOptional Paper IOptional Paper II

UPSC Exam is conducted mainly in two stages: Prelims and Mains. The prelims exam is an objective type examination with multiple choice questions. It is a qualifying exam for UPSC Mains containing two compulsory papers: General Studies I & II. Only those candidates who obtain cut-off in the Prelims will reach UPSC Mains. Thus, marks obtained in UPSC prelims are not counted in preparing the final merit list.

Compulsory Subjects for USPC Exam: Prelims

Paper (Type)	Subjects Covered	Exam Duration	Total Marks
General Studies I (Objective)	History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment	2 Hours	200
General Studies II (CSAT) (Objective)	Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension	2 Hours	200

General Studies Paper I

As indicated, General Studies I involves subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment and General Science. The compulsory subjects for UPSC exam prelims are:

Current events of national and international importance.
History of India and Indian National Movement.
Indian and World Geography: Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic and Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change (Do not require subject specialisation)
General Science.

General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

This paper is also known as CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). The compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam CSAT are largely about English language comprehension and logical and numerical aptitude.

Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision-making and problem-solving
General mental ability
Basic numeracy: Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc. (Class X level)
Data Interpretation: Charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. (Class X level)

UPSC Prelims is an objective type exam, containing multiple choice questions. There is no descriptive part. The minimum qualifying mark in the UPSC Prelims is 33%. Only those candidates who obtain the qualifying marks will be allowed for UPSC Mains.

Moreover, since both GS I & II contain compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam, candidates not appearing in any of the exams will be disqualified in the UPSC exam.

Compulsory Subjects for USPC exam: Mains

UPSC Mains is a descriptive exam that tests a candidate’s overall intellectual ability and depth of understanding. There will be 9 compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam, of which the last are optional* papers. While 7 papers contain questions that require no specialised study, optional papers require minimum degree level qualification in a chosen subject.

The compulsory subjects for UPSC exam mains are as follows:

Compulsory English Language UPSC: Passage Comprehension, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Essay Writing.

Compulsory Indian Language UPSC: Passage Comprehension, Precis Writing, Usage and Vocabulary, Essay Writing, Translation from Indian language to English and vice versa.

Paper I (Essay): Essay

General Studies I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society): Indian culture, modern Indian history, the freedom struggle, post-independence reorganisation, and key global events from the 18th century. It also examines Indian society, diversity, globalisation, social issues, physical geography, natural resource distribution, and major geophysical phenomena like earthquakes, tsunamis, and cyclones, and much more.

General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations): Indian Constitution, its evolution, features, amendments, and federal structure. It covers the separation of powers, Parliament, state legislatures, executive, judiciary, and constitutional bodies. Topics include government policies, welfare schemes, social sector issues (health, education), governance, e-governance, transparency, and the role of civil services. International relations with India’s neighbours, global groupings, and the impact of foreign policies on India are also addressed.

General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management): Covers economic issues like resource mobilization, inclusive growth, budgeting, agriculture, and food security. It also includes industrial policy, infrastructure, and investment models. Science, technology, environmental conservation, disaster management, and internal security challenges such as extremism, cyber security, and border security are also key topics.

General Studies- IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude): It tests candidates on their ethical mindset and problem-solving skills using case studies. Key topics include ethics in public and private life, attitude, emotional intelligence, contributions of moral thinkers, values for civil service, and probity in governance. It also covers ethical issues in administration, public service, transparency, and corruption challenges.

Optional Paper I: Descriptive Examination on Chosen Subject.

Optional Paper II: Descriptive Examination on Chosen Subject.

*Optional papers allow a candidate to the subject of their choice in the exam, from 48 subjects. However, optional papers are MANDATORY to clear UPSC.

Compulsory Subjects for IAS: Preparation Tips

The syllabus of compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam is generally not taken from books. UPSC says that most of the exams can be attended well by highly educated people, except for optional papers. Optional papers require a minimum bachelor’s degree in the chosen subject. That is why, UPSC Civils is thought of as a difficult exam by most. To perform well, the following tips should help you.

Understand Syllabus: The first step is to understand the syllabus well. If you can understand the syllabus well, obtaining relevant books, and focusing on relevant subject areas would be easy.

Choose Standard Books: There is no prescribed book to prepare for UPSC. That is why selecting the right book to study compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam is very important. Go for expert-recommended and comprehensive books.

Practice Answer Writing: UPSC Mains is a descriptive exam. Getting hold of the compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam is not sufficient. You have to practice writing answers to questions from the previous year’s papers. You should learn to express your ideas clearly in writing.

Time Management: Managing time effectively in the UPSC Mains is essential due to the limited time per paper. Focus on practising previous Mains question papers within the given timeframe and regularly attempt mock tests to boost your speed and efficiency in answering questions within the allotted time.

Prepare Notes: Continuous revision is the backbone of effective UPSC preparation. However, going through reference books every time is a poor strategy. Prepare sufficient notes of the compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam to make your preparation efficient and effective. Alternatively, you can also get notes from toppers or outside resources.

Current Affairs: Most questions in the UPSC mains might combine subject knowledge and related current affairs. Staying updated on current affairs is thus imperative if you want to gain maximum marks when attempting compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam.

Conclusion

One often overlooked aspect of UPSC preparation is maintaining a balanced mindset throughout the journey. Mental well-being is as crucial as academic preparation. UPSC aspirants should schedule breaks, engage in physical activity, and practice mindfulness to manage stress effectively. This approach fosters resilience, enabling candidates to stay focused, overcome setbacks, and enhance productivity during the rigorous exam preparation phase.

FAQs

Is Maths compulsory for UPSC?

No, Maths is not a compulsory subject in UPSC. It is one of the 48 subjects that candidates can choose for their optional Papars in UPSC Mains. You can skip Mathematics if you wish and choose any other subject.

What are the compulsory subjects for UPSC?

UPSC exam happens in two stages with compulsory and optional subjects. Prospects have no choice in selecting the compulsory subjects for the UPSC exam. However, they can choose from 48 optional subjects in UPSC Mains’s last two papers (Paper VI & VII). The last two papers are thus known as optional papers.

What is the maximum mark in UPSC?

UPSC Civils is conducted for a total of 1750 marks.

Can I directly write UPSC Mains?

No. You can not directly enter UPSC mains without getting qualifying marks in the UPSC Prelims. Currently, it is set at 33% marks in the UPSC Prelims.

Can I skip one of the papers in UPSC Prelims?

No. UPSC Prelims consists of General Studies Paper I & II. Both papers are mandatory for all candidates. Skipping any of these leads to disqualification from the exam.