Decoding UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 Syllabus

Indian Constitution and Polity

This section covers the foundational legal and political structure of India.

Constitutional Framework

• Indian Constitution: Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.

The Federal System

• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.

Organs of Government

• Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organisation and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary; Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.

Statutory & Constitutional Bodies

• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Governance and Social Justice

This section focuses on the application of policy, welfare mechanisms, and administrative accountability.

Governance & Accountability

• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance: Applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens’ charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.

Development & Welfare

• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to the development and management of the Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, and Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Stakeholders in Development

• Development processes and the development industry: the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

International Relations (IR)

This section covers India’s foreign policy and its position in the global order.

India’s Foreign Policy

• India and its neighborhood – relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Global Institutions

• Important International institutions, agencies and fora – their structure, mandate.

Learn about the GS 1 Syllabus in detail.