UPSC Mains GS Paper II Syllabus
GS Paper II is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering governance, the Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations. The syllabus below is split into 40 topics across 4 subjects, with how often each was asked from 2016 to 2025.
Most asked Mains GS Paper II topics
- India & Neighbours — Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, MyanmarHigh-yieldasked 6/10 yrs
- Evolution of Constitution — Charter Acts (1773–1853), GoI Acts (1858/1919/1935), Independence ActHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Constituent Assembly — Objectives, Key Committees, Drafting & SourcesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Salient Features, Basic Structure Doctrine & Preamble ValuesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Federal Structure — Centre-State Relations, Cooperative/Competitive FederalismHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Executive — President, PM, CoM, Governor & Constitutional ConventionsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Welfare Schemes — Flagship Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Beneficiaries & DeliveryHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Welfare Schemes for SC/ST/OBC — Reservation Policy, Sub-categorisation, EWSHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Education Policy — NEP 2020, GER, Digital Divide, SSA, Higher EducationHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- India-China — Border Dispute, BRI, String of Pearls, Maritime CompetitionHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
Indian Constitution & Polity — 10 topics
- Evolution of Constitution — Charter Acts (1773–1853), GoI Acts (1858/1919/1935), Independence ActHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Constituent Assembly — Objectives, Key Committees, Drafting & SourcesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Salient Features, Basic Structure Doctrine & Preamble ValuesHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Constitutional Amendments — Major Amendments, Procedure & Basic Structure LimitsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Federal Structure — Centre-State Relations, Cooperative/Competitive FederalismHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Parliament & State Legislatures — Functions, Procedures, Privileges & OversightHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Executive — President, PM, CoM, Governor & Constitutional ConventionsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial Review, PILs & AppointmentsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances & Comparison with Other ConstitutionsHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Elections — ECI, Electoral Reforms, Delimitation, Anti-defection & Political PartiesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
Governance & Public Policy — 10 topics
- Civil Services — Role, Accountability, Lateral Entry & Reform DebatesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- E-Governance, Digital Public Infrastructure — Aadhaar, UPI, DPI, JAM TrinityHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Welfare Schemes — Flagship Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Beneficiaries & DeliveryHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Transparency — RTI, Lokpal, Lokayukta, Social Audits & Grievance RedressalHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Regulatory Bodies — CIC, CVC, CAG, NHRC, TRAI, SEBI & CommissionsHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Local Governance — Panchayats, Municipalities, 73rd/74th Amendment, SFCsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- NGOs, SHGs, Civil Society & Community Participation in GovernanceHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Legal-Regulatory Framework — RTI, POSH, Consumer Protection, Disability Rightsasked 2/10 yrs
- Government Budgeting, Finance Commission & Fiscal FederalismHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Development Processes — Policy Formulation, Implementation Gaps & Evaluationasked 2/10 yrs
Social Justice — 10 topics
- Welfare Schemes for SC/ST/OBC — Reservation Policy, Sub-categorisation, EWSHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Health Sector — Issues, UHC, Ayushman Bharat, Disease Control & Mental HealthHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Education Policy — NEP 2020, GER, Digital Divide, SSA, Higher EducationHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Hunger, Food Security & Poverty Alleviation — NFSA, PDS, Mid-Day MealHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Women & Children — POCSO, PCPNDT, Domestic Violence, Maternity BenefitsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Labour Reforms — Labour Codes, Gig Workers, Social Security & ESIC/EPFOHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Mechanisms for Vulnerable Sections — Tribals, Senior Citizens, LGBTQ+, PwDsHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Human Resource Development — Skill India, NSDC, Vocational Training & Employmentasked 2/10 yrs
- Urban Housing, Shelter & Homeless — PMAY, Slum Rehabilitationasked 2/10 yrs
- Social Security & Welfare Delivery — DBT, SECC, Aadhaar, PortabilityHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
International Relations — 10 topics
- India's Foreign Policy — Evolution, NAM, Look East/Act East, Neighbourhood FirstHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- India & Neighbours — Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, MyanmarHigh-yieldasked 6/10 yrs
- India-China — Border Dispute, BRI, String of Pearls, Maritime CompetitionHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- India-US Relations — Strategic Partnership, QUAD, Technology, Defence & TradeHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Multilateral Bodies — QUAD, SCO, BRICS, G20, ASEAN, Commonwealth & India's roleHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- United Nations, UN Reform, Peacekeeping & India's Permanent Membership BidHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Indian Diaspora — Soft Power, Remittances, UPI/Rupee Rails, Crisis EvacuationHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Maritime Security — SAGAR, IOR, Indo-Pacific, Coastal/Offshore SecurityHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Energy & Economic Diplomacy — Oil, Critical Minerals, Green Hydrogen, FTAsasked 3/10 yrs
- Global Governance — Climate Agreements, NPT, CTBT, WTO Disputes & India's Standasked 3/10 yrs
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