IAS Prelims Syllabus – Step-By-Step Guide to Help You Understand Exam Pattern Well
For candidates who are preparing for IAS Prelims, the most important thing is to know about the IAS Prelims Syllabus. It will be a helpful step to guide them and clear their doubts. If you are looking for the right syllabus and want to get complete assistance for your preparation to crack Prelims, you have come to the right place. Himalai IAS, The Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore and most trusted coaching institute that offers you detailed information about IAS Prelims Syllabus. If you are preparing for Civil Services or IAS, you need to know about the IAS Prelims Syllabus divided into diverse categories like IAS Prelims Paper – 1 – General Studies Syllabus IAS Prelims CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test Syllabus.
IAS Prelims Paper – 1 – General Studies Syllabus IAS Prelims CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test Syllabus
General Studies Syllabus
The candidate prepares for the subjects given here. These subjects are all at the level of the 6th to 12th Standard of the NCERT syllabus. These subjects include:
- Current Events,
- Indian History,
- Indian National movement,
- Indian and world geography,
- Indian polity Panchayati Raj system and governance,
- Economic and social development,
- Environmental ecology,
- Biodiversity, climate change
- General Science, Art and culture
IAS Prelims CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Syllabus
Prelims CSAT tests the candidate’s skills in the following subjects
- English Comprehension,
- Interpersonal Communication Skill
- Logical Reasoning,
- Analytical Ability,
- Decision Making,
- Problem Solving,
- Basic Numeracy,
- Mental ability.
Note – Do not forget to note that CSAT is qualifying in nature. You will not obtain marks for improvement in merit. For candidates, it is mandatory to score a minimum of 33% in this paper to qualify for the IAS Prelims Exam.
IAS Preliminary examination pattern
1st stage of IAS exams which is considered as screening level and qualifying in Nature, whose marks are not counted for final ranking but compulsory for qualifying to Mains.
Consisting of two objective type papers
- General studies Paper – Consists of 100 MCQ’s, Each carrying 2 marks
Totally 200 marks for General studies - CSAT(Civil service Aptitude Test)- Consists of 80 MCQ’s Each carrying 2.5 Marks
Totally 200 marks for CSAT - Both the papers are conducted on same day with interval of 2 hours
- Negative Marks – There will be penalty of 1/3rd marks for each wrong answers
- Unanswered questions are not counted for Negative marking.
Course Details
Join Himalai IAS Classes for IAS Prelims
- classes are moulded around the UPSC syllabus
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- Flexible Learning -Synchronised Online classes and classroom training or both available as preferred by students
- Classes are taken by Himalai alumins IAS, IPS, IRS, KAS.. who are serving officers now and Subject Experts
- Enjoy the Benefit of Life Time Validity
- Access to 24 years of Rich resources.
- All general studies will be taught subject wise, topic wise and chapter wise
- Individual-based special classes will be added to the students along with ongoing classes
- Every student’s preparations are individually monitored by the mentors every day
- Simplified Summary Based study materials – Exam-oriented Simple summary-based study materials for all the subjects for a quick recap of the concepts both in Hardcopies and Online.
- Test Series and Quizzes – Tests are conducted regularly both Online and Offline Daily, Weekly, and Monthly on Current affairs, subject wise, topic wise, and chapter wise. Written Assignments for mains will be initiated during prelims preparation.
- Current Affairs – Exclusive classes, materials, quizzes, and periodicals for Current Affairs on Monthly, weekly, and daily
- All are well specialized on Exams standard
- State and National Affair
- International Affairs
- Contemporary issues specific to Socio economical India
- Special focus on Editorials
- Government of India Events and schemes
- International Organization etc.
- Economic Survey of India.
As a Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore Our main motive is to clear your doubts and ensure you will learn from experts to crack Prelims and secure your position for Mains Exam.
IAS Prelims Syllabus: Quick Overview
The IAS exam syllabus is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities. Understanding the IAS Prelims syllabus is crucial, as it forms the first stage of the journey toward becoming an IAS officer. Prelims acts as the gateway, determining eligibility for the Mains examination.
Overview of IAS Exam Syllabus
The IAS exam is conducted in three stages:
- Prelims (Preliminary Examination) – Screening stage to shortlist candidates for Mains. Marks in Prelims are not counted for final ranking.
- Mains (Written Examination) – In-depth assessment across multiple subjects.
- Interview (Personality Test) – Evaluates personality, leadership, and suitability for civil services.
Importance of Prelims:
- Acts as a qualifying exam for Mains.
- Includes two papers: General Studies (merit-based) and CSAT (qualifying).
- Determines which candidates proceed to the next stage.
Weightage and Marks Distribution:
- General Studies Paper 1: 200 marks (100 questions)
- CSAT Paper 2: 200 marks (80 questions, qualifying with minimum 33%)
IAS Prelims Syllabus Breakdown
Paper 1 – General Studies
- Current Events
- Indian History and National Movement
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance, including Panchayati Raj
- Economic and Social Development
- Environment, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
- General Science, Art, and Culture
Paper 2 – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
- English Comprehension
- Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
- Basic Numeracy and Mental Ability
Note: CSAT is qualifying in nature; a minimum of 33% is required. Focus on General Studies for merit ranking.
Comprehensive IAS Mains Syllabus & Coaching Guidance
Understanding the IAS Mains syllabus represents the starting point for every UPSC aspirant wanting to become a civil servant. The Mains exam consists of testing your knowledge and also your analytical abilities, writing style, and depth of understanding of different subjects such as General Studies, Essay and Optional papers. A clear understanding of the syllabus allows candidates to better plan and perform well at the time of the exam. At Himalai IAS Coaching, we offer structured guidance, thorough tutoring, and transparent information as it strengthens our overall value-based learning.
This ensures aspirants receive holistic practice, aligning with the IAS Mains syllabus at the maximum level of their potential.