General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus – UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam

General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus of UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam comprises of four major areas: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations. The detailed syllabus is as follows below:

General Studies 2 Paper Syllabus for UPSC Civil Services Mains

• Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic 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 between various organs disputes redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges
  and issues arising out of these.
•  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.
•  Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions, and responsibilities of various
  Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
•  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Also read: IAS Study Materials and Notes as PDF for Free!

• Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
•  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.
• Issues relating to the development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
  Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• 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 in a democracy.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
  interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
  Diaspora.
•  Important International institutions, agencies, and fora- their structure, mandate.

Also read: General Studies Paper 3 Syllabus – UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam.

Books lists for General Studies Paper 2

The basic book-list suggested by many toppers is given in the post IAS Books for UPSC Civil Service Prelims & Mains. We are prescribing a special booklist that focuses only on General Studies  Paper 2 of Mains Exam.

1. Indian Polity for Civil Services Examinations – M. Laxmikanth. (Polity)
2. Governance in India for CSE. (Governance – GS2)
3. Pax Indica – Shashi Tharoor. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
4. India and the World by Surendra Kumar. (Foreign Policy – GS2)
5. Our Parliament by Subhash Kashyap
6. Challenge and Strategy: Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy by Rajiv Sikri
7. ARC reports on Public Order.
8. PIB.
9. India.gov.in for Welfare Schemes.
10. Articles from Planning Commission Website.
11. The Diplomat Magazine.
12. Briefs on Foreign Relations from MEA.

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