UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus 2025, Check Topic Wise General Studies Paper ii Syllabus

UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus 2025: In the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination , General Studies Paper 2 covers a wide range of topics related to governance, constitution, polity, social justice, and international relations. This paper, also known as UPSC Mains Paper III evaluates candidates' understanding of Indian Polity and Governance. The weightage of this paper is 250 marks out of 1750 marks in Mains.

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UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus 2025

1. There are TWENTY questions in total which are printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
2. Candidates need to answer only in the authorized medium, selected during the application process.
3. Keep in mind that all 20 questions are compulsory in the GS 2 Paper.
4. The word limit for questions no. 1 to 10 is 150 words each and 10 marks each are assigned to these questions.
5. The word limit for questions no. 11 to 20 is 250 words each and 15 marks each are assigned to these questions.

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UPSC Mains General Studies II Subjects

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 Syllabus 2025

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UPSC GS Paper 2 Subject Wise Topics 

UPSC GS Paper 2 Books

• Polity

• • NCERTs of Class XI and XII
  • Indian Polity by Laxmikant
  • Introduction to the Constitution of India by Durga Das Basu
  • PWONLYIAS UPSC Mains Polity

• Governance and Social Justice

• • Governance in India by Laxmikant
  • Second ARC Report and NITI Ayog Vision Document
  • Human Development Report & World Development Report
  • Current Affairs and Kurukshetra & Yojana Magazines
  • PW ONLY IAS UPSC Wallah Book

• International Relation

• • Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri.
  • The Hindu or Indian Express Newspaper
  • PW ONLYIAS UPSC Wallah IR Book

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UPSC GS Paper 2 Previous Year Question Papers

How to Prepare for UPSC GS Paper 2?

• Understand the Syllabus: Familiarise yourself with the UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus. Understand the topics and sub-topics mentioned in the syllabus.
• Refer to Standard Books: For Indian Polity, refer to books like "Indian Polity" by M. Laxmikanth. For Governance and International Relations, refer to the PW OnlyIAS UPSC Wallah book set recommended by experts.
• Current Affairs: Stay updated with current affairs, especially those related to polity, governance, social justice, and international relations. Read newspapers like The Hindu, and The Indian Express, also follow 'pwonlyias.com'. Make a note of the important events, government policies, and international developments.
• Previous Year Question Papers: Analyse previous year question papers to understand the pattern, type of questions asked, and the weightage given to different topics in the UPSC GS Paper 2 Syllabus. Practice answering these questions within the stipulated time to improve time management skills.
• Focus on Demand of The Question: It involves carefully analyzing the question, identifying the key components, and addressing them directly in your answer. Try to read questions 2-3 times if it is a difficult one. By doing so, candidates demonstrate their ability to comprehend the question's requirements and provide relevant and precise responses, which is essential for scoring well in the exam.
• Making Notes: Create concise notes of all the important topics, it should be in such a way that before the mains exam, it should be read 2-3 times . Also, create notes on famous Supreme Court Judgements , it is crucial to enhance your answers, as it helps in providing comprehensive and well-informed responses, ensuring clarity and depth in your arguments.
• Answer Writing Practice: Practice answer writing regularly. Focus on structuring your answers properly, including relevant facts, examples, and diagrams wherever necessary. Pay attention to language, clarity, and coherence in your answers.