UPSC Mains: General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

Main Examination: General Studies II. Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations. In UPSC's numbering this is Paper III: Paper I is the Essay, and General Studies I to IV are Papers II to V. At a glance: • 250 marks, 3 hours. Counted for merit (the final ranking), provided you reach 25% in both qualifying language papers (Indian Language, unless you are exempt from it, and English). The Commission may also fix qualifying marks in this paper. • Descriptive written answers, not multiple choice. • The question paper is in Hindi and English. You answer in the medium you chose in your application: English or one of the 22 Indian languages of the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution, such as Hindi. What the questions test: The main Examination is intended to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory. The nature and standard of questions in the General Studies papers (Paper II to Paper V) will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate's general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services. The questions are likely to test the candidate's basic understanding of all relevant issues, and ability to analyze, and take a view on conflicting socio-economic goals, objectives and demands. The candidates must give relevant, meaningful and succinct answers. Constitution and polity: • 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. Social justice and development: • Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. • Development processes and the development industry: the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders. • 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 development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources. • Issues relating to poverty and hunger. 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 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. • Important International institutions, agencies and fora: their structure, mandate. Source: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026, Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, 4 February 2026.