UPSC Civil Services Mains GS-2 (Mains Paper-III) Syllabus

• UPSC Civil Services Mains General Studies II (GS-II) Syllabus consists of the following major areas: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.

UPSC Civil Services Mains General Studies II (GS-II) Detailed Syllabus

Indian Polity and Governance

• Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• 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.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
  and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization 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.
• 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.

Government Policy

• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
  their design and implementation.

The Role of Non-Government Institutions

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

Welfare schemes

• 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.

Social Sector

• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
  Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Aspects of Governance

• 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.

International Relations

• India and its neighbourhood 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.

Important International institutions

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