IPS Syllabus: Download IPS Syllabus PDF for IPS Exam 2023
By Balaji
Updated on: March 11th, 2023
IPS syllabus is regulated by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and comprises a list of subjects and topics. The recruitment of IPS officers occurs every year by UPSC with the help of the Civil Services Exam. All India Services incorporates three services, one of which is the Indian Police Service. Indian Public Service Commission is responsible for launching the UPSC IPS syllabus that needs to be covered to get into government jobs in India.
The Civil Services examination has a set IPS exam pattern comprising three stages. The controlling authority of the UPSC syllabus for IPS examination is the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police is the entry-level post for IPS officers. In this article, individuals who wish to become IPS officers can understand everything about the IPS exam, including eligibility, age limit, and exam pattern. Candidates can go through the complete IPS syllabus PDF from the links provided.
Table of content
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1. IPS Syllabus 2023
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2. IPS Syllabus PDF
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3. IPS Syllabus for Prelims
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4. IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 1 (GS-1)
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5. IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 2 (CSAT/GS-2)
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6. IPS Syllabus 2023 for Mains
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7. IPS Syllabus for Mains (Paper A)
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8. IPS Syllabus for Mains (Paper B)
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9. IPS Syllabus for Interview
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10. IPS Exam Pattern – Important Dates
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11. Weightage of IPS Syllabus
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12. Tips to Prepare for IPS Syllabus 2023
IPS Syllabus 2023
Aspirants who wish to become IPS officers must thoroughly know the UPSC syllabus for the IPS exam. The IPS syllabus is split into two stages: IPS Prelims Syllabus and IPS Mains Syllabus. The exams are separated into two stages: The preliminary Exam (Objective Type) for selecting candidates for the Mains Examination and the Main Examination (Written) for selecting candidates for the diverse Government services posts.
IPS Syllabus PDF
UPSC IPS syllabus PDF is available in English. It is suggested by the experts that students must first download IPS Syllabus PDF and be familiar with all the vital topics. The Prelims round is divided into GS-1 and GS-2, and the Mains round is divided into Paper A and Paper B.
IPS Syllabus PDF
The IPS exam syllabus is huge, so before beginning with the preparation, aspirants must prepare a proper timetable to study and cover all the important subjects asked in Prelims, Mains, and interview round.
IPS Syllabus for Prelims
The Prelims stage is the first round of the selection process for the IPS Exam. The candidates must appear for two general studies papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2 (CSAT). IPS Syllabus for Prelims 2023 will assist the candidates in studying for the first round of the IPS exam.
The topics are split into sections, each with further subtopics and smaller topics. We have covered the IPS syllabus below for Prelims to draw your attention before you start preparing for the forthcoming exam.
IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 1 (GS-1)
Below is the IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 1 or GS – 1. Some subjects included are Geography, History, Science, Current Affairs, etc.
- Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity and Governance – Panchayati Raj, Constitution, Political System, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Current events of national and international importance
- General issues on Biodiversity, Environmental Ecology, and Climate Change
- The Indian National Movement and History of India
- General Science
- Economic and Social Development – Inclusion, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 2 (CSAT/GS-2)
Mentioned is the IPS Syllabus for Prelims Paper 2 or GS-2. Some important subjects asked in this paper are Mathematics, English comprehension, and general ability skills.
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- General mental ability
- Primary numeracy (digits and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level) and data arrangement (tables, charts, graphs, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
- Problem-solving and Decision-making
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Comprehension.
IPS Syllabus 2023 for Mains
Candidates can appear for the IPS Mains exam only if they clear the Prelims of the IPS Exam. The main objective of the IPS exam is to analyze the candidate’s academic expertise and the ability to present their knowledge.
The IPS Mains exam is a critical phase of the IPS selection process, so the candidates need to know the IPS Syllabus for Mains appropriately to start their preparation.
IPS Syllabus for Mains (Paper A)
Paper A of the IPS Syllabus for Mains is based on modern Indian languages and is 300 marks. The candidates will be tested on the following parameters:
- Precise Writing
- Short Essay
- Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Comprehension of given passages
The below table lists the modern Indian languages that can be selected for this paper:
Nepali | Manipuri | Tamil |
Santali | Sanskrit | |
Assamese | Telugu | Sindhi |
Malayalam | Konkani | Maithili |
Kashmiri | Hindi | Kannada |
Gujarati | Dogri | Bodo |
Marathi | Bengali | Urdu |
Punjabi | Oriya |
IPS Syllabus for Mains (Paper B)
This paper tests the candidate’s ability to read and understand profound deviating literature forms and express his/her ideas clearly and accurately in English. The paper is of 300 marks. The aspirants are evaluated on the following parameters:
- Precise Writing
- Short Essay
- Usage and Vocabulary
- Comprehension of given passages
The following table categorizes the papers that are counted for merit and thus impact the final ranking of the candidate.
Paper | IPS Syllabus | Marks |
Paper I – Essay: Candidates will be required to write two essays from a list of topics | The topics will be provided following the subject matter.
Candidates are advised to arrange their ideas in a concise and orderly manner. |
250 |
Paper II – General Studies (GS) | – Indian Heritage and Culture
– World and Indian Geography – Social Issues – World History |
250 |
Paper III – GS II | – Political System
– Governance – International Relations – Constitution – Social Justice |
250 |
Paper IV – GS III | – Biodiversity
– Technology – Environment – Security – Indian Economy |
250 |
Paper V – GS IV | – Administrative Aptitude
– Ethics – Integrity |
250 |
Paper VI – Optional Paper – I | Topics will be decided according to the optional subject chosen | 250 |
Paper VII – Optional Paper – II | Topics will be decided according to the optional subject chosen | 250 |
IPS syllabus covers vast topics. The total marks for the exam are estimated to be 1750.
UPSC IPS Syllabus for Mains (GS Paper 1 to 4)
IPS Syllabus GS 3 | IPS Syllabus GS 4 |
IPS Syllabus GS 1 | IPS Syllabus GS 2 |
For the Mains exam, applicants are free to pick out of the following optional subjects listed in the table below:
History | Mathematics |
Political Science | Sociology |
Management | Medical Science |
Agriculture | Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science |
Mechanical Engineering | Physics |
Public Administration | Zoology |
Statistics | Psychology |
Civil Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
Anthropology | Chemistry |
Economics | Geology |
Botany | Commerce and Accountancy |
Geography | Law |
Philosophy |
Candidates can select one of the following literature topics from the below List of Optional subjects included in the IPS exam syllabus:
Kashmiri | Konkani | Marathi |
Assamese | Bengali | Bodo |
Gujarati | Hindi | Kannada |
Malayalam | Manipuri | Sanskrit |
Maithili | Santhali | Sindhi |
Dogri | Tamil | Telugu |
Odia | Punjabi | Urdu |
IPS Syllabus for Interview
After qualifying for the Prelims and Mains examination, the third round is the interview round. The interview test has some guidelines that need to be followed.
This test is planned to evaluate the mental caliber of a candidate. The round examines their intellectual qualities, interest in Current Affairs, and social traits. Candidates, after clearing the objective and written exam, should know the IPS Syllabus for an interview which includes the following:
- Intellectual and moral integrity
- Clear and logical exposition
- The ability for social cohesion and leadership
- Critical powers of assimilation
- Variety and depth of interest
- The balance of judgment
- Mental alertness.
IPS Exam Pattern – Important Dates
The IPS syllabus should be well-versed as per the IPS exam pattern for this year. The table below illustrates the important dates for those appearing for the upcoming IPS exam.
Civil Services Examination (CSE) notification | 01 February 2023 |
IPS online application form | 01 February to 21 February 2023 |
IPS Preliminary admit card 2023 | 3rd week of May |
IPS exam date 2023 | 28 May 2023 |
IPS Preliminary result | August 2023 |
IPS Main exam date | 15 September 2023 (5 days) |
IPS Main exam result | October 2023 |
IPS personality test/ interview | November 2023 |
IPS final result | December 2023 |
Weightage of IPS Syllabus
Before you start preparing for the IPS exam, knowing the weightage of particular sections of the Prelims and Mains exam is crucial. Try to pick heavier weightage subjects first from the list of IPS Syllabus, then go for the simpler ones. The total weightage of the exam is 2025 Marks.
IPS Syllabus – Prelims | |
Paper A: One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution | 300 Marks |
Paper B: English | 300 Marks |
IPS Syllabus – Mains | |
Paper-I: Essay | 250 Marks |
Paper-II: General Studies 1 | 250 Marks |
Paper-III: General Studies 2 | 250 Marks |
Paper-IV: General Studies 3 | 250 Marks |
Paper-V: General Studies 4 | 250 Marks |
Paper-VI: Optional Subjects – Paper 1 | 250 Marks |
Paper-VII: Optional Subjects – Paper 2 | 250 Marks |
Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 Marks |
Personality Test | 275 Marks |
Grand Total | 2025 Marks |
Tips to Prepare for IPS Syllabus 2023
Mentioned are the primary preparation tips one can follow to enter the Indian Police services. While studying, it is crucial to understand and be well-versed with the entire IPS Syllabus and exam pattern.
- Experts advise aspiring future IPS officers to read NCERT textbooks from class 6 to class 12 thoroughly.
- Candidates must read all NCERT books from the 6th to 10th class and Economics, History, and Geography from classes 11th and class 12th.
- Reading the Best Newspaper for UPSC daily to know the latest current affairs and news is crucial.
- The most recommended newspaper for IPS aspirants is ‘The Hindu’.
- Applicants can watch news-related channels like Loksabha TV and Rajyasabha TV, which cover important debates, government schemes, and more that provide in-depth knowledge to the students about various subjects.
- Candidates who desire to become an IPS officer must understand the IPS syllabus, its exam pattern, and the right strategy for preparation. This helps in proper planning and the beginning of the preparation process.
- Aspirants need to enhance their general knowledge skills using different sources like mobile applications, NCERT books, advice from toppers, mentors, etc.
UPSC Notes | |
IPS Full Form in Hindi | How to Become IPS Officer? |
Difference Between IAS and IPS | IPS Exam 2023 |
IPS Officer Ranks | IPS Officer Salary |
IPS Training | IPS Eligibility 2023 |