Polity Syllabus for UPSC – Download UPSC Polity Syllabus 2023 PDF for Prelims and Mains
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 14th, 2023
Polity Syllabus for UPSC: Polity subject is an integral part of the Civil Services Exam. Indian polity is a part of both the Prelims and Mains examinations. In Prelims 2020, 16 questions were directly asked from the UPSC Polity syllabus. Questions related to Polity were asked in all three stages of the Civil Services Examination.
In this article, we have discussed the UPSC Polity syllabus in detail, which you need to cover properly for the upcoming UPSC exam. In addition, we will provide you with the best strategy to cover the syllabus of Indian polity for UPSC. Candidates can also download the Polity syllabus for UPSC PDF and kickstart their preparation.
Table of content
Polity Syllabus for UPSC
The system of government is called Polity, and it is midway between democracy and oligarchy. Polity deals with the government functioning in the country. It gives an understanding of the country’s executive, legislative, various constitutional authorities, judicial systems, etc. The Polity Syllabus for UPSC covers a wide range of topics, namely:
- Constitutional Framework
- System of Government
- State Government
- Central Government
- Constitutional Bodies
- Union Territories of India & Local Government
- Non-Constitutional Bodies
- Emergency Provisions
- Miscellaneous
- Current Affairs
Below, we will provide the Indian Polity Syllabus for UPSC in a more detailed manner.
| GS 1 Syllabus for UPSC | GS 2 Syllabus for UPSC |
| GS 3 Syllabus for UPSC | GS 4 Syllabus for UPSC |
UPSC Polity Syllabus 2023 PDF
Candidates must keep a copy of the Indian polity syllabus for UPSC to ensure they don’t miss out on crucial topics. To get a good score under this section, it is suggested to analyze the entire syllabus and have a thorough understanding of the important topics.
Polity Syllabus for UPSC PDF
We have provided the Indian polity syllabus for UPSC PDF, which the candidates can access and use while preparing for the toughest exam in India.
Topic-Wise Polity Syllabus for UPSC
Indian Polity sums up the entire constitutional framework and function of the political system. Below we have broken down the Polity Syllabus for UPSC into smaller sub-topics, which would make your preparation easier.
Make sure you go through all these topics in detail with the help of the Polity books and other NCERT Books for UPSC.
| Topic Wise UPSC Polity Syllabus | |
| Topic | Sub-topic |
| Constitutional Framework | Historical Background
Amendment of the Constitution Basic Structure Constitutional Development The Union & Its Territories Citizenship |
| System of Government | Parliamentary System
Inter-state Relations |
| State Government | Governor of India
State Council of Ministers State Legislature Chief Minister Subordinate Courts Special Provisions for Some States |
| Central Government | President of India
Parliament Central Council of Ministers Parliamentary Committee & Forums |
| Constitutional Bodies | Election Commission
UPSC Comptroller & Auditor General of India National Commission for SCs National Commission for STs State PCS |
| Union Territories & Local Government | Union Territories
Municipalities Scheduled & Tribal Areas |
| Non-Constitutional Bodies | Planning Commission
Central Information Commission |
| Emergency Provisions | National Emergency
Role of President in the Time of Emergency Effects and Implications of Emergency Revoking Emergency President’s Rule or State Emergency |
| Miscellaneous | Cooperative Societies
Official Language |
| Current Affairs | Important Schemes (both Central & State) |
Polity Syllabus for UPSC Prelims
Indian Polity and Governance syllabus for UPSC GS Paper-I is very precise but it covers a wide range of important concepts and issues to understand.
Indian polity is also a part of the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, and below, we have provided the Prelims Polity syllabus for UPSC. The syllabus for the preliminary examination is epigrammatic.
- Indian polity and Governance – Constitution;
- Political system;
- Panchayati Raj Public Policy, Rights Issues etc.
UPSC Polity Syllabus for Mains
The General Studies Paper-II of the UPSC Mains Syllabus includes the Indian Polity section. Candidates must go through the Polity Syllabus for UPSC Mains before starting their preparation.
- Indian Constitution;
- Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States;
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries;
- Parliament and State Legislatures;
- Appointment to various Constitutional posts;
- Structure, organization and Functioning of the Executive;
- Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act;
- Government policies and interventions;
- Health, Education, and Human Resources;
- Development Processes and the development industry;
- Issues relating to Poverty and hunger;
- Role of civil services in a Democracy;
- Important aspects of governance.
Strategy to Prepare for UPSC Polity Syllabus
Polity is an important subject for the competitive examination, especially for UPSC, and that is why candidates must follow a strategic approach when it comes to the preparation of the Polity syllabus for UPSC.
Below we have mentioned some effective tips that would help the candidates covering the Indian Polity syllabus for UPSC in an efficient manner.
- Make sure to read NCERTs of Political Sciences for Classes XI and XII to strengthen your foundation of the Polity UPSC syllabus.
- Read the basic Polity books, including M. Laxmikant and Introduction to Indian Constitution by D.D Basu, to develop a deep understanding of the subject.
- Prepare short notes highlighting the important points which would be helpful during the revision period.
- Go through the UPSC Previous Years Question Papers to get an idea about the types of questions asked from the syllabus of polity for UPSC in recent years.
- Give as many mock tests as possible, which would help to make necessary rectifications.
- Lastly, read the daily newspapers as numerous questions are asked about the recent scheme.
Polity Syllabus for UPSC: Booklist
UPSC Books are a must for the IAS exam preparation. Below we have compiled the best books for the Polity syllabus for UPSC that you must have:
- Indian Constitution at Work- Class 11;
- Political Theory- Class 11;
- Contemporary World Politics- Class 12;
- Politics in India Since Independence- Class 12;
- Indian Polity book for UPSC- M Laxmikant;
- Introduction to Constitution of India- Durga Das Basu;
- Important Acts that Transformed India- Alex Andrews George;
- Important Judgments that Transformed India- Alex Andrews George.
