GPSC Class 1-2 syllabus by paper
Preliminary examination
Preliminary (objective, screening) · 1 paper
Preliminary examination
Preliminary (objective, screening) · 1 paper
General Studies I & II
200 marks
General Studies I & II
200 marks
Topics for this paper haven't been mapped yet.
Main examination
Main (written, 1250) · 7 papers · 1250 marks count for merit
Main examination
Main (written, 1250) · 7 papers · 1250 marks count for merit
Paper I: Gujarati
300 marksQualifying
Paper I: Gujarati
300 marksQualifying
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
- નિબંધ: પાંચ પૈકી કોઈપણ એક. (આશરે ૨૫૦ થી ૩૦૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૪૦ ગુણ
- વિચાર વિસ્તાર (ત્રણ પૈકી કોઈપણ બે) કાવ્ય પંક્તિઓ કે ગદ્યસૂક્તિનો વિચાર વિસ્તાર. (આશરે ૧૦૦ થી ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- ઔપચારિક ઉદ્બોધન તૈયાર કરવા. (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- પ્રચાર માધ્યમો માટે નિવેદનો તૈયાર કરવા. (આશરે ૧૦૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- પત્ર લેખન. (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- ચર્ચાપત્ર. (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- અહેવાલ લેખન. (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- સંવાદ લેખન. (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- ભાષાંતર : અંગ્રેજીમાંથી ગુજરાતીમાં અનુવાદ-1 — ૨૦ ગુણ
- ભાષાંતર : અંગ્રેજીમાંથી ગુજરાતીમાં અનુવાદ-2 — ૨૦ ગુણ
- બેઠકની કાર્યવાહી નોંધ (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- અરજી લેખન (આશરે ૧૫૦ શબ્દોમાં) — ૨૦ ગુણ
- ગુજરાતી વ્યાકરણ. — ૪૦ ગુણ
Note: કુલ ૨૦ બહુવિકલ્પી પ્રશ્નો પુછવામાં આવશે. કોમ્પ્યુટરાઇઝ્ડ ખાસ પ્રકારની જવાબવહી (OMR Answer sheet) માં પ્રત્યેક ખોટા જવાબ તથા એક જ પ્રશ્ન માટે એકથી વધુ જવાબ અને એક પણ વિકલ્પ એનકોડ નહીં કરવાના કિસ્સામાં ૦.૬ (છ દશાંશ) ગુણ કાપવામાં આવશે.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — Printed in Gujarati in both halves of SYM-5-202627.pdf; read off the page image.
Paper II: English
300 marksQualifying
Paper II: English
300 marksQualifying
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
- ESSAY (About 500 words) : Choose any one topic from a list of five. — 80 marks
- PRECIS WRITING : A precis in about one-third of its lengh. — 70 marks
- READING COMPREHENSION : A reading passage to be given followed by short answer type questions. — 70 marks
- TRANSLATION : Translation of a short passage (of about 150 words) from Gujarati to English. — 20 marks
- ENGLISH GRAMMAR, VOCABULARY AND USAGE. — 60 marks
Note: Total 30 multiple choice questions will be asked. In case of wrong answer, multiple answers for the same question and not encoding any option in OMR Answer Sheet, 0.6 (six tenths) marks will be deducted.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Paper III: Essay
250 marks10 topics
Paper III: Essay
250 marks10 topics
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
Attempt two essays, one from each of the two sections, in about 1000-1200 words each.
Objective : This paper is designed to test candidates'
- Ability to compose a well-argued piece of writing
- Ability to express coherently and sequentially,
- Originality of thought and expression.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Topics on upsc2ias
Philosophy, Quotes & Values
Abstract and quote-based essays: truth, knowledge, happiness, character, excellence, self and society.
Democracy, Polity & Governance
Democracy, federalism and decentralisation, the judiciary, administration and civil services, citizenship and rights.
Society, Culture & Social Justice
Indian society, culture and values, poverty and social justice, media, cinema and literature, youth.
Economy & Development
Growth versus development, sectors of the economy, employment, agriculture and the farmer, inclusive growth.
Environment & Sustainability
Environment versus development, climate change, conservation, water and natural resources.
Education & Knowledge
Education systems and values in education, learning, skills and the knowledge society.
Women & Gender
Women's empowerment, gender justice and the place of women in society and the economy.
Science & Technology
Science and society, computers, the internet and social media, artificial intelligence and technology's promise and risks.
International Affairs & Security
Globalisation, India in the world, international organisations and bilateral relations, national and internal security.
History & Heritage
Lessons of history, colonialism and the freedom struggle, India's heritage and its relevance today.
Paper IV: General Studies 1
250 marks14 topics
Paper IV: General Studies 1
250 marks14 topics
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
(A) History
- Indus valley civilisation, Vedic age, Jainism and Buddhism.
- Important developments in Administration, Social, Religious and Economic conditions, etc. from Ancient to Modern India and Gujarat.
- The Bhakti Movement.
- Social reform movement in India and Gujarat in the 19th century.
- Modern Indian history including Gujarat from about the middle of the 18th century until Independence-significant events, personalities, issues.
- The freedom struggle-its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
- Mahagujarat Aandolan.
(B) Cultural Heritage
- Cultural heritage of India and Gujarat : Art forms, Literature, Sculpture, Architecture, Music, Dances, Theatre, etc. from Ancient to Modern times
- Life traditions of Gujarat, Fairs, Festivals, Food, Costumes, etc.
- Pilgrimage, Heritage and Tourist places of Gujarat.
- Gandhian thoughts and its relevance.
- Cultural Landscape of Gujarat : Coastal, Tribal and other communities.
(C) Indian Society
- Core characteristics and Diversity of Indian Society : Regional, linguistic, religious, social and cultural diversity in India. Key features of Indian society : Unity in diversity, Social division, family structures-Joint family, Nuclear family, Single parent family, Gender roles, Elderly etc.
- Women, Society, and Development : Women : Changing role of women in Indian society, Issues, Strategies and Solutions. Role of gender in decision making at different levels.
- Social Challenges : Measures for uplifting marginalized sections Communalism, regionalism, and secularism: Causes, consequences, and policy responses.
- Globalization and its impact : Influence of globalization on cultural, economic, and social life. Changing lifestyles, consumerism, and changing value system in a globalized world.
- Gujarati Diaspora : Influence and Contributions : Migration patterns and the global presence of the Gujarati community. Socio-economic, political, and cultural contributions of the Gujarati diaspora.
Note: The structure of the question paper: 10 questions of 15 marks (150 words) and 5 questions of 20 marks (200 words), total 250.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Topics on upsc2ias
Art & Culture
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Modern Indian History
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present—significant events, personalities, issues.
Freedom Struggle
The Freedom Struggle—its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Post-Independence India
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
Indian Society
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Women & Social Issues
Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Globalization
Effects of globalization on Indian society.
Social Ideologies
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Ancient India
Prehistory, the Indus Valley Civilisation, the Vedic age, Jainism and Buddhism, the Mauryas, Guptas and later kingdoms: administration, society, religion and economy.
Medieval India
The Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, the Mughals and the Marathas; the Bhakti and Sufi movements; administration, society and economy.
Gandhian Thought
Gandhian thoughts and their relevance today: truth and non-violence, satyagraha, swaraj, sarvodaya, trusteeship and the village economy.
History of Gujarat
Gujarat from the Harappan sites to the Mahagujarat movement: dynasties, princely states, reformers and Gujarat's role in the freedom struggle.
Gujarat's Cultural Heritage
Art, crafts and textiles, architecture, literature, music, dance, fairs and festivals of Gujarat.
Society of Gujarat
Tribal communities, demography, migration and the Gujarati diaspora.
Paper V: General Studies 2
250 marks17 topics
Paper V: General Studies 2
250 marks17 topics
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
(A) Indian Polity and Constitution
- Indian Constitution- salient features, basic structure and important amendments.
- Functions and duties of the Indian Union and the State Governments.
- Issues and challenges pertaining to the Federal structure.
- Distribution of powers between the Union and States : Issues and challenges.
- Local self-government institutions.
- Constitutional Authorities : Powers, Functions and Responsibilities.
- Judiciary in India – Structure and functions, judicial review, Public Interest Litigation, Landmark Judgments.
(B) Governance and Social Justice
- Role of Civil Services in Democracy.
- Development processes - the role of civil society, SHG, NGOs, pressure groups and other stakeholders.
- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial authorities.
- Good governance and e-governance- challenges and opportunities of e-governance- Transparency, accountability and responsiveness in governance – Citizen's Charter. RTI, Public Service Act and their implications, Concept of Social Audit and its importance.
- Development and Social Sector Management- Challenges in health, education, and human resource development, Role of governance and policy-making in strengthening social sectors.
- Poverty and Hunger- Poverty, inequality, and their developmental implications. Causes, consequences, and strategies to tackle poverty and hunger.
(C) Current Events of Regional, National and International Importance.
Note: The structure of the question paper: 10 questions of 15 marks (150 words) and 5 questions of 20 marks (200 words), total 250.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Topics on upsc2ias
Indian Constitution
Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Federal 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
Separation of powers between various organs, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Comparing Constitutions
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
Parliament and State Legislatures
Parliament and State Legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Executive and Judiciary
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.
Representation of People Act
Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.
Constitutional Bodies
Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Statutory Bodies
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Government Policies
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development Processes and NGOs
Development processes and the development industry—the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Welfare Schemes
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.
Social Sector
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Poverty and Hunger
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Governance and Accountability
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
Role of civil services in a democracy.
Local Self-Government
Panchayati Raj and urban local bodies: the 73rd and 74th Amendments, structure, powers, finances and functioning, and the challenges of devolution.
Paper VI: General Studies 3
250 marks26 topics
Paper VI: General Studies 3
250 marks26 topics
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
(A) Science and Technology
- Relevance of Science & Technology in day to day life.
- General awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Defence, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, bio-technology and other emerging technologies. Issues relating to intellectual property rights, etc.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) : Role of ICT in governance, economy and society. Cybersecurity - data privacy and emerging threats.
- Energy and Sustainability: India's energy needs, sources and efficiency measures. Renewable energy technologies and their impact. India's nuclear energy program and international commitment.
(B) Environmental Science and Disaster Management
- Issues and concerns related to environment-pollution, climate change, global warming. etc, Environmental Impact Assessment.
- International initiatives (Treaties, Protocols etc) and India's commitment, Biodiversity, Forest and Wildlife in India and Gujarat.
- Disaster Management in India and Gujarat : Types of disasters, Disaster Management framework, Role of technology, Community participation and capacity building, lessons learnt from major disasters, Challenges and future strategies.
- Developmental Issue, Sustainable Development.
(C) Geography
- Physical Features and Resources: India and Gujarat : Major landforms, climate, soil, rivers, vegetation, etc.
- Distribution of key natural resources across India and Gujarat : Major resources-Land, soil, rocks, minerals, water and vegetation resources, etc. Factors responsible for the location of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sector industries in various parts of India and Gujarat, issues and problems, etc.
- Demographic Dynamics of India and Gujarat : Population distribution, density, age-sex, composition, growth, Rural-urban composition, Race, Composition of Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste, religion, language, literacy, education. Migration-urbanisation, population policies and issues, etc.
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity, cyclone, etc.
(D) Economy of India and Gujarat
- Indian Economy & Economic Planning : Evolution of Indian economy since independence, major policy shifts, Economic planning and its evolution, role of NITI Aayog, Effects of liberalisation on the economy (post 1991 changes), changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth
- Public Finance & Budgeting: Fiscal policy and Indian taxation system, Recent fiscal and monetary policy issues and their impact, Government budgeting, public expenditure and Public debt. Deficit financing.
- Inclusive growth and associated issues/challenges
- Infrastructure & Economic Development: Role of infrastructure in economic growth: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in infrastructure projects. Social Impact Assessment.
- Agriculture & Rural Economy : Major crops, Cropping patterns, and irrigation. Land reforms and their socio-economic impact. Food security, Public Distribution System (PDS), and agricultural subsidies. Food processing and related industries in India. E-technology in agriculture and supply chain management.Policies for Sustainable agriculture, Organic farming, Cooperative sector in Gujarat etc.
Note: The structure of the question paper: 10 questions of 15 marks (150 words) and 5 questions of 20 marks (200 words), total 250.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Topics on upsc2ias
Resources & Industry
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Geophysical Phenomena
Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location—changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Indian Economy
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Inclusive Growth
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Government Budgeting
Government Budgeting.
Major Crops & Irrigation
Major crops—cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
Farm Subsidies & MSP
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System—objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Food Processing Industry
Food processing and related industries in India—scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Land Reforms
Land reforms in India.
Liberalization & Industrial Policy
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment Models
Investment models.
Science & Technology
Science and Technology—developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Achievements in S&T
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Information Technology & IPR
Awareness in the fields of Information Technology, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Environment & Pollution
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Disaster Management
Disaster and disaster management.
Cyber Security & Money Laundering
Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges; basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Geography of India
Physical features of India: major landforms, climate and the monsoon, soils, rivers and drainage, natural vegetation; social and economic geography of India.
Population & Demographics
Population distribution, density, age-sex composition and growth; rural-urban composition; SC/ST composition, religion, language and literacy; migration, urbanisation and population policy.
Fiscal & Monetary Policy
Fiscal policy and the Indian tax system; public expenditure, public debt and deficit financing; money, banking, inflation and monetary policy.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development: the concept, the SDGs, and the developmental issues it raises.
Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
Ecology and ecosystems; biodiversity, forests and wildlife and their conservation; climate change, global warming and the international treaties and protocols India has committed to.
Energy
India's energy needs, sources and efficiency measures; renewable energy technologies and their impact; India's nuclear energy programme and international commitments.
Geography of Gujarat
Physiography, rivers, coastline, regions (Kutch, Saurashtra, Bhal, Nalkantha), climate and natural resources of Gujarat.
Economy of Gujarat
Gujarat's agriculture, cooperatives, industry and industrial policy, infrastructure, ports and state schemes.
Paper VII: General Studies 4 (Ethics)
250 marks6 topics
Paper VII: General Studies 4 (Ethics)
250 marks6 topics
Official syllabus · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 syllabus
The nature and standard of questions in this paper will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. This paper is designed to test candidates', (i) Development of a positive character, responsible citizen, a compassionate and empathetic human being. (ii) Ability to resolve moral and ethical dilemmas in personal and professional spaces. (iii) Ability to take decision in difficult situation.
- Ethics in Public and Personal Life: Understanding right and wrong in daily decision-making, How values shape actions in personal and professional life.
- Honesty, Integrity, and Fairness: Being truthful and transparent in actions, Avoiding biases and treating all people fairly, Staying committed to principles even in difficult situations, Leading by example in personal and professional life.
- Compassion and Empathy in Governance: Understanding the struggles of ordinary citizens, Sensitivity toward weaker and marginalized sections. Ensuring justice and dignity for all, Serving people with humility and kindness.
- Moral Courage and Taking the Right Stand: Speaking up against corruption and wrongdoing, Handling pressure and resisting unethical influences, Making tough decisions for the greater good, Balancing duty and personal convictions.
- Leadership and Responsibility in Public Service: Building trust through ethical leadership, Taking responsibility for actions and decisions, Ensuring that government institutions work for the people.
- Transparency and Accountability: The importance of openness in government decision-making, Ensuring that public resources are used properly.
- Ethical Challenges in Administration: Balancing rules with real-life situations, Resolving conflicts of interest in decision-making, Ensuring justice by handling power responsibly.
- Case studies on above issues.
Note: The structure of the question paper: Case study (Part-A) 8 questions of 25 marks (200 words); Descriptive (Part-B) 5 questions of 10 marks (150 words); total 250.
Source: GPSC Main Examination syllabus, Advt. 05/2026-27 (notice dated 31/07/2026) — SYM-5-202627.pdf, English half. A scanned document: the text was read off the page images.
Topics on upsc2ias
Ethics & Human Interface
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships.
Human Values
Human Values—lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Civil Service Aptitude
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service: integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
Public Service Ethics
Public/Civil service values and ethics in public administration: status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Probity in Governance
Probity in Governance: concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity; information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information; codes of ethics, codes of conduct; citizen's charters; work culture; quality of service delivery; utilization of public funds; challenges of corruption.
Case Studies
Case studies on the above issues.
Interview / Personality Test
150 marks · final merit out of 1400
Interview / Personality Test
150 marks · final merit out of 1400
Official text · GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27 Examination Rules
SECTION IV — Personality Test-150 Marks
- The Personality Test shall carry 150 marks without any minimum qualifying marks. The aggregate marks obtained by the candidates in the Mains Examination (Written) and the Personality Test shall determine their final ranking.
Schedule II, (B) Main Examination
- The marks obtained in Papers-III to VII and the marks obtained in the Personality Test (Total 1400 Marks) shall be counted for ranking
- The Commission shall prepare the list of eligible candidates for document verification from the candidates who obtain such minimum qualifying marks as may be fixed by the Commission, in the written part of the Main examination. The number of candidates to be included in this list shall be decided by the Commission. After document verification, eligible candidate shall be called for the Personality Test. The number of candidates to be called for the personality test shall be about thrice the number of vacancies so advertised.
Source: GPSC Advt. 05/2026-27: Examination Rules, Schedule II