Physics Wallah

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026, Download Pre Topic Wise PDF

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 focuses on key economic concepts, policies, and issues. Find out the UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 and booklist here.
authorImageAnil Solonki20 Sept, 2025
Share

Share

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026: The UPSC Preliminary Examination, the initial phase of the Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission, comprises two papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT). The economy is part of the syllabus for GS Paper 1 in UPSC Prelims 2026, which is scheduled to be held on 25 May across the country

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 necessitates candidates to have a foundational understanding of a broad range of topics crucial for understanding economic and social development. This includes sustainable development, poverty alleviation, inclusive growth strategies, demographic trends, and initiatives in the social sector. Find out the complete UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 here!

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 

The UPSC Prelims Economy syllabus is part of General Studies Paper 1 and focuses on testing candidates' understanding of economic concepts, policies, and their implications. The overview of the UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus is:
  • Indian Economy and Development
  • Economic Concepts and Terminology
  • Macroeconomic Indicators
  • Economic Planning in India
  • Indian Agriculture
  • Industry and Infrastructure
  • Banking and Finance
  • International Trade and Investment
  • Budget and Fiscal Policy
  • Sustainable Development

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

The UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 is a crucial component of the civil services examination. It covers a wide range of topics related to economic principles, policies, and current affairs. Understanding the syllabus is key to formulating a focused and effective preparation strategy. UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 PDF provides a detailed outline of the topics that will be tested, helping candidates stay on track and ensure comprehensive coverage of all relevant areas. By familiarizing themselves with the latest UPSC IAS Economy Syllabus, candidates can approach their preparation with clarity and confidence. Click on the link below to access PDF:

Topic Wise UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026

The economy section is critical because it covers a range of topics related to India's economy that are frequently asked in the exam. The table below contains the detailed UPSC Economy Syllabus 2026:
UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus in Detail
Topics Subtopics
1. Introduction to Economics
  • Definition and scope of economics
  • Basic concepts
  • Role of State in an Economy
  • Sectors of an Economy
  • Types of Economies
  • Idea of National Income- GDP, NDP, GNP, NNP, Cost and Price of National Income
  • Comparing GVA & GDP
  • Characteristics of the Indian Economy
2. Macroeconomics
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • Unemployment
  • Inflation
  • Fiscal Policy
  • Monetary Policy
  • Economic Growth
  • Exchange Rates
3. Microeconomics
  • Supply and Demand
  • Market Structures (Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Oligopoly, Monopolistic Competition)
  • Elasticity
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Producer Behavior
  • Market Failures
4. Growth, Development and Happiness
  • Economic growth vs. development
  • Measurement of development
  • Insights into Human Behaviour Social Norms, Culture and Development Values and Economics
5. Evolution of the Indian Economy
  • Pre-independence economy
  • Post-independence economy
  • Prime Moving Force: Agriculture vs. Industry Planned and
  • Mixed Economy
  • Economic reforms since independence
6. Economic Planning
  • Concept of economic planning
  • Different Types of Economic Planning
  • Objectives and Strategies
  • Five-Year Plans, Twenty-Point Programme, MPLADS
7. Planning in India
  • Pioneer Plans: The Visvesvaraya Plan, The Congress Plan, The Bombay Plan, The Gandhian Plan, The People's Plan, The Sarvodaya Plan.
  • Planning Commission and Its Functions
  • NDC
  • Grassroot Planning
  • NITI Aayog and Its Functions
  • Inclusive Growth
  • Resource Mobilisation
  • Investment Models
8. Economic Reforms
  • Washington Consensus
  • Mixed Economy
  • Obligatory Reform Reform Measures
  • The LPG-Liberalisation Privatisation Globalisation Reforms in India
  • Generations of Economic Reforms
  • Disinvestment
  • New economic policies
9. Inflation and Business cycle
  • Causes and types of inflation
  • Measurement
  • Effects
  • Business cycle theory
  • Inflationary Gap, Deflationary Gap, Inflation Tax, Inflation Spira,l Inflation Accounting, Inflation Premium, Phillips Curve, Reflation, Stagflation.
  • Skewflation, GDP Deflator, Base Effect, Effects of Inflation.
  • WPI and CPI
  • Producer Price Index, Housing Price Index, and Service Price Index.
10. Agriculture and Food Management
  • Cropping System and Types of Crops in India
  • Agricultural Policies
  • Green Revolution
  • Minimum Support Price Market Intervention Scheme Procurement Prices Issue Price Economic Cost of Foodgrains Open Market Sale Scheme Price Stabilisation Fund
  • Agriculture Marketing, Model APMC Act, Model Contract Farming Act
  • Irrigation, Farm Mechanisation, Seed Development, Fertilisers, Pesticides, Agri-Credit
  • WTO and the Indian Agriculture: Prospects and Challenges, WTO and Agricultural Subsidies AMS
  • National Food Security Act, Climate Smart Agriculture
11. Industry and Infrastructure
  • Industrial development
  • Industrial Policies Upto 1986, New Industrial Policy, 1991
  • Disinvestment Types of Disinvestment Current Disinvestment Policy Proceeds of Disinvestment: Debate Concerning the Use.
  • MSME Sector, Ease of Doing Business Make in India Start-up India Indian Infrastructure,
  • UDAY Scheme, Railways, Roads, Civil Aviation,
  • Smart Cities Private Sector and Urbanisation PPP Models Concerns of Petroleum Sector Renewable Energy Logistics Sector Housing Policy, PMAY-U
  • National Infrastructure Pipeline
12. Services Sector
  • Growth and contribution
  • IT and ITES Sector
  • Tourism industry
  • Offshore Fund Management, Global Negotiations WTO Negotiations Bilateral Agreements
13. Indian Financial Market
  • Indian Money Market,
  • Financial intermediaries
  • Mutual Funds DFHI,
  • Indian Capital Market Project Financing 1. Financial Institutions 2. Banking Industry 3. Insurance Industry 4. Security Market
  • Financial Regulation in India, Establishment of FSDC
14. Banking in India
  • Types of banks
  • RBI and its functions
  • RBI's Reserves & Surplus Capital,
  • Cash Reserve Ratio Statutory Liquidity Ratio Bank Rate Repo Rate Long Term Repo Reverse Repo Rate Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Other Tools
  • Base Rate MCLR
  • Nationalisation and Development of Banking in India, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Co-operative Banks,
  • Financial Sector Reforms, Banking Sector Reforms
  • REsolution of NPAs and Stressed ASSETS
  • SARFAESI Act, 2002, Capital Adequacy Ratio, Basel III Compliance of the PSBs & RRBs
  • Non-Resident Indian Deposits, Nidhi, Chit Fund, Small & Payment Banks,
  • Financial Inclusion
  • Gold Investment Schemes
  • Mudra Bank
15. Insurance in India
  • Types of insurance
  • IRDA and regulation
  • Insurance penetration in India
  • LIC and GIC
  • Public Sector Insurance Companies
  • Reinsurance, Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), National Export Insurance Account (NEIA)
  • New Insurance Schemes
16. Security Market in India
  • Stock exchanges and Important Terms of Stock Market
  • Primary and Secondary Markets
  • IPOs
  • Mutual funds
  • SEBI and regulation, Commodity Trading, Spot Exchanges in India
  • Foreign Financial Investment, Angel Investor, QFIs Scheme, Participatory Notes (PNs)
  • Credit Default Swap (CDS), Securitisation, Corporate Bond in India, Inflation-Indexed Bonds, Gold Exchange Traded Funds
17. External Sector in India
  • Foreign trade policy
  • Definitions of Forex Reserves, External Debt, Fixed Currency Regime, Floating Currency Regime, Managed Exchange Rates, Foreign Exchange Market, Exchange Rate in India, Trade Balance, Trade Policy, Depreciation, Devaluation, Revaluation, Appreciation, Current Account, Capital Account, Balance of Payment (BoP)
  • Convertibility in India
  • LERMS, NEER, REER
  • Hard Currency, Soft Currency, Hot Currency, Heated Currency
  • Cheap currency, Dear Currency
  • Special Economic Zone
  • ECB Liberalised
  • New Foreign Trade Policy,
18. International Economic Organisations & India
  • IMF
  • World Bank
  • WTO
  • BRICS
  • India's role and memberships
  • Asian Development Bank
  • Nairobi Negotiations & India
  • Buenos Aires Conference and India
  • Trade Facilitation By India
  • BRICS Bank
  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
20. Tax structure in India
  • Incidence of Tax and Impact of Tax
  • Direct and indirect taxes
  • Progressive Taxation, Regressive Taxation, Proportional Taxation
  • VAT and GST
  • Commodities Transaction Tax, Securities Transaction Tax
  • Capital Gains Tax, Minimum Alternate Tax
  • Corporate Tax, Reform Dividend Distribution Tax, Tax Expenditure Collection Rate
  • Income and Consumption Analysis
  • Tax reforms
  • Tax administration in India
21. Public Finance in India
  • Developmental and Non-developmental Expenditure
  • Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure
  • Tax and Non-tax Revenue Receipts
  • Revenue Budget, Revenue and Non-revenue Receipts , Revenue Expenditure
  • Revenue Deficit, Effective Revenue Deficit,
  • Capital Budget, Capital Receipts Capital Expenditure Capital Deficit
  • Fiscal Deficit, Primary Deficit, Primary Surplus, Monetised Deficit, Deficit and Surplus Budget
  • Government budgeting, Types of Budgets, Golden Rule, Balanced Budget, Gender Budgeting
  • Public Debt, Independent Debt Management, Central Government Debt
  • FRBM Act, 2003.
  • Means of Deficit Financing
  • Fiscal Policy and Deficit Financing in India
22. Sustainability and Climate Change: India and the World
  • Environmental policies
  • Green Finance, Climate Finance, Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, INDCs, Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable development
23. Human Development in India
  • Health and education indicators
  • Demographics, Socio-Economic and Caste Census, Education for All , Skill Development, Employment Scenario in India
  • Burden of Diseases, Health for All, Drinking Water & Sanitation
  • Social welfare schemes
  • Poverty alleviation programs
  • Other Development Indicators
25. Economic Survey 2024
  • Overview of key economic indicators, Government policies and initiatives
26. Union Budget 2026-2026
  • Budgetary allocations, Tax proposals, Economic outlook

Important Books for UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026

To effectively prepare for the UPSC Prelims Economy syllabus, selecting the right books is crucial. These books cover essential economic concepts, India's economic policies, and global economic trends, helping aspirants build a strong foundation:
  • NCERT Class XI – Indian Economic Development
  • NCERT Class XII – Introductory Macroeconomics
  • NCERT Class XII – Introductory Microeconomics (Selective Reading)
  • Reference Books: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh or Indian Economy By Datt And Sundharam
  • Economic Survey and Budget
  • India Year Book Selected Reading
  • UPSC Wallah Economy book
  • PW UDAAN books

 

To prepare for the UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus, you can also enroll in Physics Wallah’s UPSC Courses for structured guidance! 

UPSC Prelims Economy Syllabus 2026 FAQs

Is Economics important for UPSC Prelims?

Yes, Economics is crucial for UPSC Prelims as it covers topics like Indian economy, economic development, and global economic issues. Questions on these areas often appear in the exam, making a solid understanding of economics essential for success.

What is Economics subject in UPSC?

Economics is a subject in the UPSC CSE exam, that covers topics such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic development, international economics, and quantitative methods, assessing candidates' understanding of economic theories, policies, and their applications.

Is Economics in the UPSC exam difficult?

UPSC Economics can be challenging due to its broad syllabus covering micro and macroeconomics, Indian economy, international trade, and development economics. However, with thorough understanding, consistent practice, and strategic preparation, it can be conquered.

What is the syllabus for UPSC Prelims Economics 2026?

The UPSC Prelims Economics 2025 syllabus covers economic concepts, India’s economic development, government policies, sectors, public finance, and global economic relations.

Is Economics scoring in UPSC IAS exam?

Yes, Economics is a scoring subject in the UPSC IAS exam. It offers a good balance of conceptual understanding and application, and questions are often straightforward. A strong grasp of economic theories, current affairs, and analytical skills can help candidates secure high marks in this paper.
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Point IconLive & recorded classes available at ease
Point IconDashboard for progress tracking
Point IconMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Download ButtonDownload Button
Banner Image
Banner Image
Free Learning Resources
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others

Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.