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UPSC Mains GS Paper 2 syllabus

GS Paper 2 covers governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. Here it is in 20 topics and 102 subtopics you can study and tick off one at a time.

Answers
descriptive
Marks
250
Time
3 hours

Contents

  1. Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure
  2. Functions and Responsibilities of Union and States, Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances
  3. Separation of Powers, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions
  4. Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with Other Countries
  5. Parliament and State Legislatures — structure, functioning, powers and privileges
  6. Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and Judiciary
  7. Salient Features of the Representation of People's Act
  8. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of Constitutional Bodies
  9. Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies
  10. Government Policies and Interventions for Development, Design and Implementation Issues
  11. Development Processes and the Development Industry — NGOs, SHGs and Stakeholders
  12. Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections and Protective Mechanisms
  13. Development and Management of Social Sector/Services — Health, Education, Human Resources
  14. Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger
  15. Governance, Transparency and Accountability, e-Governance
  16. Role of Civil Services in a Democracy
  17. India and its Neighborhood — Relations
  18. Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements Involving India
  19. Effect of Policies of Developed/Developing Countries on India, Indian Diaspora
  20. Important International Institutions, Agencies and Fora

Indian Constitution — historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions, basic structure

  1. Historical Background — GoI Acts 1919 & 1935
  2. Constituent Assembly Debates
  3. Preamble and Its Significance
  4. Fundamental Rights and Reasonable Restrictions
  5. Directive Principles vs Fundamental Rights
  6. Fundamental Duties
  7. Basic Structure Doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati)
  8. Key Amendments (42nd, 44th, 73rd, 74th, 101st)
  9. Citizenship Provisions
  10. Emergency Provisions

Functions and Responsibilities of Union and States, Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances

  1. Legislative, Administrative and Financial Relations
  2. Fiscal Federalism and GST Council
  3. Finance Commission's Role
  4. Inter-State Council and River Water Disputes
  5. 73rd and 74th Amendment — Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Bodies
  6. Cooperative vs Competitive Federalism

Separation of Powers, Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions

  1. Doctrine of Separation of Powers in India
  2. Checks and Balances Among Organs
  3. Judicial Review and Judicial Activism
  4. Administrative Tribunals and Lok Adalats
  5. Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with Other Countries

  1. Parliamentary vs Presidential Systems
  2. Comparison with US, UK and Canadian Constitutions
  3. Federal Models — Comparative Study
  4. Written vs Unwritten Constitutions

Parliament and State Legislatures — structure, functioning, powers and privileges

  1. Structure and Composition of Parliament
  2. Role of Speaker and Presiding Officers
  3. Legislative Procedure and Types of Bills
  4. Budgetary Process in Parliament
  5. Parliamentary Committees (PAC, Estimates, DRSCs)
  6. Anti-Defection Law and Tenth Schedule
  7. Parliamentary Privileges

Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and Judiciary

  1. Council of Ministers and Collective Responsibility
  2. Cabinet Committees
  3. Judicial Appointments — Collegium System
  4. Judicial Accountability and NJAC Judgment
  5. Pressure Groups and Lobbying

Salient Features of the Representation of People's Act

  1. Key Provisions of RPA 1950 and 1951
  2. Disqualification of Legislators
  3. Electoral Reforms and EVMs
  4. Political Funding and Electoral Bonds
  5. Model Code of Conduct

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of Constitutional Bodies

  1. Election Commission of India
  2. Union and State Public Service Commissions
  3. Comptroller and Auditor General
  4. Finance Commission
  5. National Commissions for SC/ST/OBC

Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies

  1. National and State Human Rights Commissions
  2. Central and State Information Commissions
  3. Lokpal and Lokayuktas
  4. Sectoral Regulators — SEBI, IRDAI, TRAI, CCI
  5. National Green Tribunal

Government Policies and Interventions for Development, Design and Implementation Issues

  1. Infrastructure Development Schemes
  2. Social Security Schemes
  3. Skill Development Initiatives
  4. Design vs Implementation Gaps
  5. Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks

Development Processes and the Development Industry — NGOs, SHGs and Stakeholders

  1. Role of NGOs and Civil Society
  2. Self-Help Groups and Microfinance
  3. CSR and Corporate Involvement in Development
  4. NGO Regulation — FCRA

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections and Protective Mechanisms

  1. Schemes for Women and Child Welfare
  2. Schemes for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities
  3. Schemes for Elderly and Disabled
  4. Legal Protections for Vulnerable Groups

Development and Management of Social Sector/Services — Health, Education, Human Resources

  1. National Health Policy and Ayushman Bharat
  2. Public vs Private Healthcare
  3. National Education Policy 2020
  4. Skill India and Employability
  5. Human Resource Development Challenges

Issues Relating to Poverty and Hunger

  1. Poverty Line Measurement Methods
  2. Causes of Poverty — Structural and Regional
  3. Food Security and PDS
  4. Malnutrition and Nutrition Missions

Governance, Transparency and Accountability, e-Governance

  1. e-Governance Initiatives and Digital India
  2. Right to Information Act
  3. Citizen's Charters
  4. Corruption and Anti-Corruption Mechanisms
  5. Direct Benefit Transfer

Role of Civil Services in a Democracy

  1. Role and Evolution of Civil Services
  2. Civil Services Reforms
  3. Neutrality and Political Interference
  4. Accountability Mechanisms

India and its Neighborhood — Relations

  1. India-Pakistan Relations
  2. India-China Relations
  3. India-Bangladesh Relations
  4. India-Nepal and Bhutan Relations
  5. India-Sri Lanka and Maldives Relations
  6. India-Myanmar and Act East Policy

Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements Involving India

  1. SAARC and BIMSTEC
  2. BRICS and SCO
  3. ASEAN and Act East Policy
  4. QUAD and Indo-Pacific Strategy
  5. Connectivity Initiatives (Chabahar, INSTC)

Effect of Policies of Developed/Developing Countries on India, Indian Diaspora

  1. Indian Diaspora — Contributions and Challenges
  2. US-China Relations and Impact on India
  3. Trade Wars and Protectionism
  4. India's Soft Power

Important International Institutions, Agencies and Fora

  1. United Nations and UNSC Reforms
  2. Bretton Woods Institutions — IMF, World Bank
  3. World Trade Organization
  4. Regional Development Banks (AIIB, NDB)

This is Mented's breakdown of the official UPSC syllabus into study-sized subtopics. For the syllabus as notified, see the Civil Services Examination notice on upsc.gov.in.

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