IFS Syllabus 2023 – IFS Exam Syllabus PDF for Prelims, Mains, Interview
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
IFS Syllabus refers to the topics and subjects that are covered in the Indian Foreign Service Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The Indian Foreign Service is a highly respected and coveted career option for individuals interested in international relations and diplomacy. The IFS is a branch of the Indian Civil Service and is responsible for representing India in diplomatic missions abroad and handling matters related to foreign affairs. As It is a highly competitive exam, aspirants need to be well-versed in the IFS Exam Syllabus to crack the exam.
The IFS exam is conducted in three stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interviews. The IFS Syllabus must be properly understood by candidates in order to succeed in all three stages of the examination. The entry-level post of an Indian Foreign Service Officer is a “Junior Time Scale”. It is also referred to as the “Third Secretary” in the Indian Foreign Service. The IFS Exam Syllabus is determined by the UPSC, which is responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination in India. Check the Indian Foreign Service Syllabus in detail along with some tips on how to prepare for it in detail below.
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IFS Syllabus 2023
The IFS Syllabus is a detailed document outlining subjects for the Indian Foreign Service exam, which is a highly competitive and prestigious exam conducted by UPSC. IFS officers represent India abroad and maintain diplomatic relations with other countries and international organizations. The IFS syllabus is divided into three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Personality Test. Aspirants who wish to become IFS officers must study the IFS Exam Syllabus in detail to have a clear understanding of the topics covered in the exam so that they maximize their chances of success in the exam.
IFS Syllabus PDF
The IFS Syllabus is vast and covers a wide range of topics. It is essential for candidates to have a clear understanding of the syllabus to prepare for the examination effectively. Aspirants can download the IFS Exam Syllabus PDF from the direct link provided above.
Having the IFS Syllabus PDF is crucial for aspirants as it provides them with an easily accessible document that they can refer to while preparing for the exam. It also helps aspirants to get a better idea of the exam pattern and prepare accordingly.
IFS Syllabus in Hindi
आईएफएस पाठ्यक्रम पीडीएफ को हिंदी में प्राप्त करना महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि यह उम्मीदवारों को उनकी पसंदीदा भाषा में पाठ्यक्रम तक पहुंचने में सक्षम बनाता है। इससे उन्हें पाठ्यक्रम को बेहतर ढंग से समझने और परीक्षा के लिए अधिक प्रभावी ढंग से तैयारी करने में मदद मिल सकती है। इसके अतिरिक्त, पाठ्यक्रम का पीडीएफ संस्करण होने से उम्मीदवारों के लिए किसी भी समय, ऑफ़लाइन होने पर भी इसे संदर्भित करना आसान हो जाता है। उम्मीदवार यहां दिए गए सीधे लिंक से IFS Syllabus in Hindi प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।
| IPS Syllabus in Hindi | IAS Syllabus in Hindi |
| CSAT Syllabus in Hindi | UPSC Prelims Syllabus in Hindi |
IFS Syllabus for Prelims
The IFS Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the Civil Services Exam conducted by the UPSC. The IFS Prelim Exam consists of two objective-type papers. Each paper carries 200 marks and has a duration of two hours. Both papers are compulsory. The IFS Prelim syllabus is similar to that of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Candidates can check the detailed IFS Syllabus for Prelim below.
Indian Foreign Service Syllabus for GS Paper 1
This paper covers a wide range of topics from diverse fields. The following topics are included in this paper:
- Current events of national and international importance
- Indian History and Culture
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Economic and Social Development
- Environmental Ecology, biodiversity, and climate change
- General Science
IFS Syllabus for CSAT (General Studies Paper 2)
This paper tests the candidate’s aptitude and logical reasoning abilities. The topics included in the Indian Foreign Service Syllabus for CSAT are:
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy
| IPS Syllabus | IAS Syllabus |
| UPSC CSAT Syllabus | UPSC Prelims Syllabus |
| UPSC Mains Syllabus | UPSC GS Syllabus |
IFS Mains Syllabus
The IFS Mains Examination is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC. The IFS Mains Syllabus is designed to test the candidate’s knowledge, analytical abilities, and writing skills. Candidates can check the detailed explanation of the IFS Syllabus for the Mains Exam below:
Paper A: Compulsory Indian language
The compulsory Indian language paper is designed to test the candidate’s proficiency in one of the scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The syllabus for the paper is as follows:
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Precis Writing
- Comprehension
- Short Essay
Paper B: English
The English language paper is designed to test the candidate’s proficiency in English. The paper is meant to test the candidate’s ability to understand and use the English language in a professional and formal setting. The IFS exam syllabus for the paper is as follows:
- Translation from English to the Indian language and vice versa
- Comprehension of given passages
- Precis Writing
- Short Essay
- Usage and Vocabulary
For the remaining papers in the UPSC Mains exam, the IFS syllabus is provided in the following table:
| Paper | Topics |
| Paper-I | Essay |
| Paper-II | Indian Heritage and Culture, World History, Geography, Indian Society, International Relations |
| Paper-III | Constitution and Polity, Social Justice and International Relations, Governance, Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies |
| Paper-IV | Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management |
| Paper-V | Ethics and Human Interface, Attitude, Aptitude, Emotional Intelligence |
| Paper-VI and Paper-VII | Optional Subjects (Candidates have to choose two) |
IFS Syllabus for Mains Optional Subjects
The Indian Foreign Service is a highly competitive and prestigious career option for individuals who aspire to serve in the field of diplomacy and international relations. The IFS exam syllabus consists of three stages – Prelims, Mains, and Interviews. In the Main examination, there are two optional papers – Paper VI and Paper VII.
For Paper VI, there are 25 optional subjects that candidates can choose from, while for Paper VII, there are 23 literature optional subjects. IFS optional subjects for Paper VI and Paper VII provide candidates with a diverse range of choices. Candidates are required to choose two optional subjects from a list of subjects provided by the UPSC. Each paper carries 250 marks, and the total marks for both papers are 500.
Paper VI:
Candidates can check the list of optional subjects for Paper VI from the table below:
| Optional Subject for Paper VI | ||||
| Anthropology | Agriculture | Civil Engineering | Botany | Chemistry |
| Philosophy | Economics | Medical Science | Physics | Geography |
| Law | Geology | History | Management | Mathematics |
| Mechanical Engineering | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science | Commerce and Accountancy | Electrical Engineering | Political Science and International Relations |
| Sociology | Psychology | Public Administration | Statistics | Zoology |
Paper VII:
Candidates can check the list of optional subjects for Paper VI from the table below:
| Optional Subjects for Paper VII | |
| Assamese | Marathi |
| Bodo | Nepali |
| Bengali | Odia |
| Dogri | Punjabi |
| English | Sanskrit |
| Hindi | Santhali |
| Gujarati | Tamil |
| Konkani | Sindhi |
| Kashmiri | Kannada |
| Malayalam | Telugu |
| Maithili | Urdu |
| Manipuri | – |
IFS Syllabus for Interview
The UPSC Interview for the IFS exam is a crucial stage as it determines the candidate’s overall suitability and aptitude for the Indian Foreign Service. The detailed topics covered in the IFS syllabus for the Interview stage include familiarity with current affairs, national and international events, India’s relations with neighboring countries, etc.
The selection of candidates in the interview round of the Indian Foreign Service exam is based on several factors such as Personality and Communication Skills, Knowledge of International Affairs, Interpersonal Skills, Mental Alertness, Variety as well as Depth of Interest, Leadership, Balance of Judgment, etc. Candidates preparing for the IFS exam can check below the key topics that can be covered in the IFS Syllabus for the Interview round:
- Current Affairs: The interview board can ask questions about recent political developments, economic policies, environmental issues, scientific advancements, etc.
- India and its Foreign Policy: The candidates are expected to have knowledge of India’s foreign policy, its objectives, and the role played by India in international affairs.
- Communication Skills: The interview board may ask questions related to a candidate’s communication skills, such as their ability to express themselves effectively in English, their knowledge of any other foreign language, and their skills in persuasion and negotiation.
- Professional Experience: The interview board may ask questions related to their previous work experience, academic achievements, and how it will help them in their future career in the Indian Foreign Service.
- Personality Traits: The interview board can ask questions related to a candidate’s personality traits, such as leadership skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.
Tips to Prepare for Indian Foreign Service Syllabus
Preparing for the Indian Foreign Service Exam requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. To successfully crack the exam, aspirants must have a clear understanding of the IFS Syllabus and adopt effective study strategies that work best for them. Here are some tips to prepare for the IFS Exam Syllabus:
- Analyze the IFS Syllabus: Before starting the preparation, aspirants must analyze the IFS Syllabus in detail and understand the weightage of each topic. This will help them to prioritize their preparation and focus more on important topics.
- Plan and Organize: Creating a study plan is crucial for effective preparation. Aspirants must divide the syllabus into manageable chunks and allocate time for each topic accordingly. They should also make a schedule for revision and practice tests.
- Read Newspapers and Magazines: Reading newspapers and magazines can help aspirants stay updated on current events and international affairs, which is an important part of the IFS Exam Syllabus. They should also make notes of important events and developments.
- Refer to Standard Books: Aspirants should refer to standard UPSC books recommended by experts for each subject. This will help them to build a strong foundation and clear their concepts.
- Practice Mock Tests: Taking UPSC mock tests is an effective way to assess one’s preparation level and identify areas that need improvement. Aspirants should practice mock tests regularly to improve their speed and accuracy.
- Focus on Language Proficiency: Language proficiency is an important part of the IFS Syllabus. Aspirants should focus on improving their reading, writing, and speaking skills in English and any one of the Indian languages.
- Focus on Current Affairs: The IFS exam places a lot of emphasis on current affairs, so candidates should stay up-to-date with the latest news and events.
- Revise Regularly: Revision is key to success in the IFS exam. Candidates should revise regularly and ensure that they have a good understanding of all the topics covered in the syllabus.
