UPSC Mains Syllabus → Microtheme Mapping

The official UPSC Civil Services Mains syllabus, translated into the microthemes actually tested — and the 969+ PYQs that test them, across GS-I to GS-IV (2013–2025).

The four GS papers

Each row lists a broad UPSC syllabus point on the left and the specific microthemes plus PYQ count on the right. Click any paper to open its microtheme-wise PYQ index.

GS-I

Indian Heritage, History, Geography & Society

View GS-I PYQs →

Art & Culture, Modern History, World History, Society, and Geography of India and the world.

Syllabus points (official)

  • · Indian Heritage and Culture
  • · History of the World and Society
  • · Indian Society (salient features, women, poverty, urbanisation, globalisation)
  • · Geography of the World (physical, social, economic)

Covered on this hub

Subjects:
6
Microthemes:
76
PYQs (2013–2025):
270
Full syllabus breakdown
GS-II

Governance, Constitution, Polity & International Relations

View GS-II PYQs →

Polity, Governance, Social Justice, and India's role in the global order.

Syllabus points (official)

  • · Indian Constitution, Polity, Governance
  • · Social Justice and Welfare Schemes
  • · International Relations (India & the world)

Covered on this hub

Subjects:
4
Microthemes:
79
PYQs (2013–2025):
289
Full syllabus breakdown
GS-III

Economy, Technology, Environment & Security

View GS-III PYQs →

Economic Development, Agriculture, Science & Tech, Environment, Disaster Management, Internal Security.

Syllabus points (official)

  • · Economic Development (planning, growth, inclusive growth)
  • · Agriculture, Food Security & Farm Economics
  • · Science, Technology & Innovation
  • · Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
  • · Internal Security (Naxalism, cyber, border management)

Covered on this hub

Subjects:
6
Microthemes:
112
PYQs (2013–2025):
268
Full syllabus breakdown
GS-IV

Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude

View GS-IV PYQs →

Foundational values, attitudes, emotional intelligence, thinkers, and case studies.

Syllabus points (official)

  • · Ethics & Human Interface
  • · Attitude, Aptitude & Foundational Values
  • · Emotional Intelligence & Public Service Values
  • · Probity in Governance & Case Studies

Covered on this hub

Subjects:
1
Microthemes:
46
PYQs (2013–2025):
142
Full syllabus breakdown

Frequently asked

What is the UPSC Mains syllabus in one line?
The UPSC Civil Services Mains syllabus covers four General Studies papers (GS-I to GS-IV) plus Essay, Optional and language papers — testing an aspirant's grasp of India's history, polity, economy, environment, ethics and current affairs across roughly 200 broad topics.
How does this microtheme mapping work?
The official UPSC syllabus lists broad topics (e.g. 'federalism'); a microtheme is the sub-topic actually tested in a question (e.g. 'cooperative federalism after GST'). Every one of the 800+ PYQs on this hub is tagged to its exact microtheme, so you can revise the syllabus by concept — not by year.
Which GS paper is hardest to prepare?
GS-II (Polity, Governance, IR) and GS-III (Economy, Environment, S&T, Security) usually feel widest because they mix static concepts with fast-changing current affairs. GS-IV (Ethics) is scoring but demands practised, principle-first answers.
How many PYQs are covered per syllabus point?
The full 2013–2025 UPSC Mains PYQ set — 969+ questions across 313 microthemes — is indexed here. Each syllabus point below links to the GS-paper page where the corresponding microtheme-wise questions live.

Ready to attempt PYQs microtheme-wise?

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