What is UPSC CSE - GS?

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of India's most competitive tests. The UPSC CSE - GS is the General Studies paper for this examination, conducted every year to test the candidates' intellectual acumen and academic expertise to appoint officers in All India Administrative Civil Services.

There are two stages of the UPSC examination - Prelims and Mains. While the Prelims comprises two GS papers, the Mains consist of four papers. Hence, there are a total of six GS papers that together comprise the largest share of the CSE examination marks.

UPSC CSE - GS Prelims

The UPSC CSE Prelims consist of General Studies (GS) papers I and II. It is merely a screening test, meaning the marks obtained by the candidates are not counted towards the final score. But candidates have to score the cut-off marks in the exam to qualify for the next stage i.e., UPSC CSE Mains exam.

Paper I - This covers current events (international and national significance), Indian History and National Movement, World and Indian Geography, Indian Polity, Economic Development, etc.

Paper II - Also known as the GS (CSAT) exam, Paper II covers topics such as problem-solving, decision-making, comprehension, general mental ability, basic numeracy, interpersonal skills, etc. And is only qualifying in nature. However, candidates need to obtain at least 33% to qualify for the UPSC CSE Mains exam.

Moreover, UPSC CSE – GS Prelims are conducted offline at designated exam centres. The exam follows a 'pen n paper' mode and comprises objective type questions. Candidates need to mark the answers in an OMR sheet.

UPSC CSE – GS Mains

The UPSC Mains comprises Paper A and B. Paper B consists of the four General Studies or GS papers, which are descriptive exams. Marks obtained in these GS papers are counted for the final ranking.

Paper I – Indian Heritage, History, Culture, Society, and Geography of the World

Paper II – Constitution, Governance, Polity, International Relations, and Social Justice

Paper III – Technology, Biodiversity, Economic Development, Environment, Disaster Management, and Security

Paper IV - Integrity, Aptitude, and Ethics

Candidates can choose the medium of writing for the UPSC CSE GS Mains exam. They can either opt for Hindi, English, or pick any other language from the list of languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Candidates meeting the specified cut-off marks in the Mains exam are summoned by the UPSC for the final Personality Test/Interview Round.

UPSC CSE - GS 2022 Eligibility Criteria

Learners must fulfil specific eligibility criteria to appear for the UPSC CSE - GS examinations. The eligibility criteria are given below.

UPSC CSE – GS Eligibility Criteria

UPSC CSE - GS 2022 Important Dates:

UPSC CSE - GS 2022 Syllabus

Learners who wish to appear for the UPSC CSE - GS papers can refer to the detailed exam syllabus available on the official UPSC website. Moreover, online learning platforms like Unacademy also provide the complete, in-depth UPSC CSE - GS syllabus to help Learners prepare comprehensively for the exams. They can download the complete syllabus to begin their preparation.

The UPSC CSE - GS syllabus consists of two parts - the Prelims' and the Mains' syllabus. The Preliminary examinations consist of Indian History, National Movement, World Geography, Social and Economic Development, General Science, etc. The Mains Consist of Ethics, Aptitude, Technology, Biodiversity, Disaster Management, Polity, Governance, Social Justice, Indian Heritage, Culture, and various other subjects.

Along with the required syllabus books, Learners can also use the reference books recommended in the UPSC CSE - GS study material. A subject-wise list of all the chapters is available in the syllabus to help Learners establish an effective examination preparation strategy. The complete UPSC CSE - GS syllabus for all the papers is listed below:

Complete UPSC CSE - GS Prelims Syllabus

Click here to download the complete UPSC CSE - GS Prelims Syllabus.

Complete UPSC CSE - GS Mains Syllabus

Click here to download the full UPSC CSE - GS Mains Syllabus.

UPSC CSE - GS 2022 Exam Pattern

UPSC CSE - GS Prelims Exam Pattern

The UPSC CSE - GS Prelims consist of two papers - Paper I and II

• Paper 1 consists of 100 questions with multiple choice answers.
• This is an objective-type paper with a total of 200 marks.
• Each wrong answer carries a negative marking of 1/3 of the allotted marks for that question. Any question with multiple answers is treated as a wrong answer too.
• There is no negative marking for questions not attempted by the candidate.
• It is mandatory for the candidate to appear for this paper.

• Paper 2 consists of 80 questions with multiple choice answers.
• This objective-type paper is of 200 marks.
• There is negative marking for wrong answers. Each such answer will have a negative marking of 1/3 of the allotted marks for that question.
• Providing multiple answers for a question is considered a wrong answer.
• Learners must appear for this paper compulsorily.
• Paper 2 is a qualifying examination, where Learners must obtain 33% or higher to clear it.

UPSC CSE - GS Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC CSE - GS Mains consists of four papers - GS Paper -I, II, III, and IV.

• Paper 1 consists of 250 marks.

• Paper 2 consists of 250 marks

• Paper 3 consists of 250 marks.

• Paper 4 consists of 250 marks.

UPSC CSE - GS 2022: Previous Years' Question Papers with Solutions

Learners preparing to appear for the UPSC CSE - GS 2022 can download the previous years' questions papers from the official UPSC website. The website consists of question papers along with the solutions. These will help aspiring Learners prepare well for the examinations and understand the overall syllabus' weightage. Moreover, they can also undertake mock tests on online learning platforms like Unacademy, that provide Interactive Live Classes by Top Educators for robust preparation.

Click here to download the UPSC CSE - GS previous years' question papers.

Study Plan for UPSC CSE - GS 2022

UPSC CSE - GS is one of the most prestigious examinations in the country. However, it is incredibly tough to crack the exam. The General Studies papers account for the largest share of marks in the CSE, GS syllabus is extensive, comprising numerous topics. Learners must formulate an efficient strategy to prepare sufficiently and ace the examination. By creating a timetable, learners can prioritise the syllabus based on their convenience, and understanding which topics are easier or more challenging to learn. In such cases, choosing the right guidance to prepare for the UPSC CSE - GS exam will be extremely helpful. Unacademy is a learning platform where Top Educators help Learners crack the UPSC CSE - GS exam through Interactive Live Classes and over 40 exams. Additionally, self-study is equally essential to ace in the GS examinations. Using all the right study material, solving previous years' question papers, and undertaking Unacademy's mock tests, Learners can master the subjects comprehensively and excel in the GS exams.

Given below is a detailed, seven-month study plan to help UPSC CSE - GS Learners prepare strategically for the papers:

How to Choose the Right Online Class for UPSC CSE - GS 2022?

When preparing for crucial exams like UPSC CSE - GS, appropriate guidance is critical. It is a long road to success that begins with laying a firm foundation, including choosing Top Educators for precise learning. Enrolling in online classes on digital learning platforms like Unacademy can help candidates take the first step. Through Unlimited Access and Interactive Live Classes, Unacademy provides well-structured and exceptional academic expertise to help students get a firm grasp over the exam syllabus.

Here are a few critical factors to consider when choosing the correct online learning platform and Educators for UPSC CSE - GS:

Checking the syllabus and study material available on the platform

Leading online learning platforms like Unacademy offer study material, including mock test papers, solved question papers, notes, textbooks, PDFs, question banks, etc. Get all the necessary information about how to appear for the mock tests, access the study material, get the latest and updated syllabus before enrolling for the course.

Checking its success record

Understanding the platform's success record is essential in evaluating if it will help you excel in the exam as well. Check its track record by taking feedback from current and past students, inquiring about the platform's study materials, facilities, mock exams, and how they've helped them succeed in acing the UPSC CSE - GS papers.

Checking the available faculty members

As mentioned before, proper guidance is paramount. Thus, learners need to look for Top Educators who can guide them the right way to ace the UPSC CSE - GS exams, such as the ones available on Unacademy. They offer essential tricks, tips, and teach through Interactive Live Classes for Learners to acquire the proper knowledge to ace the GS papers

Books to Refer for the UPSC CSE - GS Prelims Preparation 2022

• Indian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
• India's Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra
• NCERT XII (Modern Indian History)
• NCERT XI (Ancient & Medieval)

• World Atlas (Orient Black Swan)
• NCERT VI – X (Old Syllabus)
• Certificate Physical Geography – G C Leong
• NCERT XI, XII (New Syllabus)

• NCERT IX-XII
• Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth

• NCERT XI
• Economic Development and Policies in India – Jain & Ohri
• Indian Economy by Nitin Singhania

• Contemporary World Politics (NCERT XII)
• Current Affairs

• Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal
• Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual

• IAS GS Prelims Solved Papers by Vishal Publications

Books to Refer for the UPSC CSE - GS Mains Preparation 2022

• Social Change and Development in India (NCERT)
• Ancient History by R.S Sharma (Old NCERT)
• The modern history of Bipin Chandra (Old NCERT)
• The spectrum of modern India by Rajiv Ahir
• Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania
• Politics in India since Independence (NCERT)
• Indian Society (NCERT)
• World History NCERT by Arjun Dev (Old NCERT)
• Fundamentals of Physical Geography (NCERT)
• India: Physical Environment (NCERT)
• Fundamentals of Human Geography (NCERT)
• India since Independence by Bipin Chandra (Old NCERT)
• India People and Economy (NCERT)

• India Year Book
• Indian Constitution at Work (NCERT)
• Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
• Indian Polity by Laxmikanth
• Governance in India by Laxmikanth
• Contemporary World Politics (NCERT)

• Indian Economy for Civil Services Exam by Ramesh Singh
• Indian Economy NCERTs of class 11th and 12th
• Indian Economy by Uma Kapila
• India People and Economy (NCERT)
• For Science and Technology
• Economic Survey and Fiscal Budget
• ARC Report on Disaster Management
• India Year Book

• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude for Civil Services Examination by G. Subba Rao
• IGNOU Study Material for Ethics Course
• Justice: What's the right thing to do? - By Michael Sandel
• Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude for IAS General Studies by Niraj Kumar
• Psychology NCERT class 12th book
• Administrative Reforms Commission Report on Ethics

Mantras for Cracking UPSC CSE - GS 2022

Cracking such a competitive and testing examination like UPSC CSE - GS does require a considerable amount of grit and intellect. Therefore, to streamline your preparation, we've prepared a list of tips and tricks to ease the tension and help you increase your possibilities of cracking the UPSC CSE - GS 2022 exams.

Formulating a strict schedule

Time management is a major ‘make it or break it' factor when it comes to the UPSC CSE - GS papers. But with a steady focus and rigorous schedule, prioritising the topics at hand, learners can work hard every day to prepare effectively and increase their success chances. This may include studying notes for a few hours each day for a particular duration, starting preparation from months ahead, etc.

Evaluating and understanding the examination pattern

The UPSC portal mentions the whole examination pattern. Go through it, familiarise yourself with the complete syllabus, question patterns, and structure your preparation plan accordingly.

Structuring your study plan efficiently

Given how vast the UPSC CSE - GS syllabus is, topics may differ in their required preparation. Some may entail follow-ups with specific study material; others may need particular notes to understand better. It is, therefore, crucial to choose the amount of material you can comfortably fit into your schedule and structure your studying plan accordingly.

Practise tests

Solving previous years' question papers and undertaking mock tests on e-learning websites like Unacademy is significantly helpful. These regular tests will help you familiarise yourself with the UPSC CSE - GS examination patterns and analyse the areas that require improvement and help you prepare more efficiently.

Updating your current affairs knowledge

Several questions in the UPSC CSE - GS papers are based on current affairs. You must be well-versed with the latest happenings and have up-to-date awareness of both national and international affairs. Developing a habit of reading daily newspapers, news websites, etc. can help in this significantly.