UPSC Important Topics 2024: Check Subjest-wise Topics for CSE IAS Exam

The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC CSE (IAS) 2024 prelims exam on June 16, 2024. The candidates are suggested to revise and practise as much as they can because not much time is left. Here we are summarising the most important subject-wise topics for the UPSC IAS prelims General Studies Paper 1. The candidates can see below the mix of static and current-oriented topics for the UPSC CSE prelims exam 2024. 

  Most Important UPSC Topics for CSE (IAS) 2024

UPSC Topics for IAS Prelims 2024:  The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the Civil Service Exam (CSE) Prelims Exam on June 16, 2024, across the nation at the designated exam centres. Not much time is left for the exam and it is high time that the candidates should revise the most important topics for the UPSC CSE (IAS) prelims exam 2024. The UPSC IAS prelims exam is a qualifying exam only where the candidates are required to breach their category cutoff to qualify for the UPSC Main exam.The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC prelims exam 2024 based on the IAS syllabus mentioned in the official notification.

Also Read: UPSC Answer Key 2024 Live Updates

The candidates are suggested to practice with the previous year's question papers. The UPSC Prelims syllabus covers many subjects including Polity, Geography, History, Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, and Current Affairs. We suggest that the candidates perceive the UPSC topics as static topics and current topics. It will help the candidates to segregate their preparation build the mental links between them and prepare the concept with their application. 

There are certain topics which seem important for the UPSC IAS exam 2024 but interestingly they are not asked in the prelims exam. UPSC mostly ask for the background of current events. Ideally, UPSC asks around four aspects of a topic in one question through multiple options and only one option is correct. The candidate having a clear idea bout the topic can only answer those confusing questions. The candidates should balance their preparation in the static General Studies topics and Current affairs so that they can make the interconnect between the two. This will help in the answer writing as well as in the prelims exam.

UPSC IAS questions always spell surprise to most of the candidates because they ask interdisciplinary questions in the exam where the candidates need to write about various aspects of the topic within the time constraint. The information acquired in these topics can be utilized in these types of questions.

Current Affairs and UPSC Preparation

Current events of national and international importance and the General Studies topics are important for the IAS exam, be it IAS prelims, main or the IAS interview. The IAS exam needs a clear understanding of all aspects of Current affairs and general studies. We here provide a comprehensive list of topics important for the UPSC exam 2023 and the IAS main exam 2023. There are some IAS topics which are evergreen and some IAS topics are very important for the year. IAS preparation revolves around these IAS topics because there is a high probability of getting questions in the IAS question papers. The candidates can see below some of the most important static topics for the UPSC Prelims exam 2024.

UPSC Topics for Indian Polity & Governance Section

The Indian Polity section is the favourite section of the UPSC because a good number of questions are asked every year and the question seems very easy and direct but a close analysis of the questions provides the insight that the question was difficult. It is suggested to read Indian Polity questions twice before marking the answers. The important topics for the Indian Polity section are as follows.

• Making of the Constitution and its features
• Preamble
• Fundamental Rights and Duties

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)
• Parliament and State Legislatures
• Judiciary
• Writs In the Indian Constitution
• Cabinet Committees
• Article 370 and its abrogation
• Indian Penal Code
• Electoral Process
• Pro-tem Speaker
• Emergency Provisions
• Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies
• Anti-Defection Law
• Uniform Civil Code and CAA
• Model Prisons Act
• Electoral Bonds

• Important Provisions of Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023
• Expansion in BSF jurisdiction and the way ahead
• New Agriculture Laws are essential for long-pending Agricultural reforms
• All India orientation of CBI investigation
• Implications of J & K Reorganisation Act, 2019
• Difference between Cabinet Minister and Minister with Independent Charge
• Prime Minister as the Residuary Legatee
• Article related to the Land Boundaries and their redrawing
• Articles related to the Citizenship of India
• Citizenship Act
• Articles related to the Supreme Court of India
• Articles related to the Emergency Provisions in India
• Article related to the Union-State relations with social emphasis on Article 256, 356
• National Security Act
• Essential Commodities Act
• Important SC Judgements related to Fundamental Rights and Basic Structure Doctrine
• Panchayati Raj Institutions
• Lokpal Institution
• Functioning of NITI Aayog

UPSC Topics for Indian and World Geography

The Geography topics are important because geography is a science-based subject and various candidates found it difficult to prepare. There are a good number of questions about the physical geography of India and the world. World geography has very few questions in the IAS question paper. The important topics are as follows.

• Changing Sessional Patterns
• Changing Climate and Impact on Agriculture
• Places in News
• Increasing frequency of Cyclone and their naming
• Bihar and Assam Floods
• Flood and the Indian preparations across the state
• The naming convention of cyclones
• Physical Features Along Indo-China Border
• Geo-Magnetic Field and its significance
• Cyclone Amphan &  Cyclone Nisarga
• Formation of Himalayas and structure of Himalayas, Importance of Himalayas
• Physical Geography of India
• The drainage system in India
• Monsoon pattern in India
• Rock System in India
• Formation of Rocks
• Recent Census figures
• Climatology
• Hydrology
• Agriculture, irrigation and cropping patterns
• Minerals and energy sources
• Landforms and drainage systems
• Climatology and Heat Budget
• Indian rock systems and soil types
• Important straits, gulfs and bays
• Geographical phenomena in the news like Sittwe Port, Kakhovka Dam, Batagaika Crater etc.
• El Niño and La Niña
• Green Revolution and Other Revolutions
• Origin Of Universe

UPSC Topics for Indian Economy Section

Indian Economy topics are more oriented towards current events. The candidates need to prepare for the current economic events occurring in India and the world. The candidates need to understand the Indian Economic Structure and its interaction with the world.

• Role of RBI in post-COVID-19 recovery
• Recovery of the Indian Economy after the pandemic
• FATF Review of Indian Economy Pushed to 2023
• IMF Projection and Indian Economy
• Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan
• National Infrastructure Pipeline
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
• What is Negative Growth?
• Deflation and Recession
• Indian Economic Structure
• The primary, secondary and tertiary producers
• Agriculture in India
• Banking Structure of India (Recent Bank Mergers)
• Centre's Roadmap to Achieve US$300 Bn from Electronics
• Shortage of Semi-Conductors and India's Initiative
• Salient Features of National Monetisation Plan
• Highlights of World Economic Outlook Report October 2023
• Salient Features of MPLAD Scheme
• Salient Features of Poshan Abhiyaan
• Highlights of 8^th Indo-US Economic and Financial Partnership
• RBI Mandate and it's functioning
• SEBI, IRDA
• REPO rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Marginal Standing Facility, Bank Rate
• Crypto-currency and issues related to it ( Recently Supreme Court gave an order related to it)
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

Download here: UPSC IAS Question Papers

UPSC Topics for History

History of India is one of the largest sections in the IAS syllabus. The number of questions in IAS prelims and main exam is relatively less. Though the number is less, the UPSC can surprise any year with the increase in numbers in the IAS question paper. The important topic is based on the previous year's trend and recent discoveries.
The modern history is the most important section of the IAS prelims exam.

• History of Galwan Valley
• Dholavira excavation and the related discoveries
• Government of India Act 1935
• All the events occurred in the year 1919 and 1920.
• All the events related to Mahatma Gandhi and Jawahar Lal Nehru
• The Round Table Conferences – I, II and III. (III is most important)
• Poona Pact
• Jaliawalan Bagh Tragedy
• Civil Disobedience Movement 
• Cabinet Mission Plan
• Quit India Movement
• The Social Movements in Modern India
• The Formation of the Indian National Congress, the Democratic Socialist Party and the local parties
• The chronology of events leading to the Indian Independence
• National Leaders related to the National Movement
• Liberal Viceroys of India

UPSC Topics for Science and Technology

The Union Public Service Commission is proactive in asking Science and technology-related questions. These questions test the scientific temper of the candidates and the curiosity to know the latest happenings in the field of technology. The candidates can see below the important topics for the Science and Technology section.

• Fundamental and Basic Concepts of Physics and Chemistry
• Human Body and its functioning
• Wbe 3.0
• New Epidemics
• Internet of Things
• Fundamentals of Machine Learning, Large Language Model, Neural Network
• Cybersecurity
• Nuclear Power
• Blockchain Technology
• Space explorations of India and its factual details
• Geostationary v/s Geosynchronous
• LIGO India Project in India

UPSC Topics for Environmental Science

In recent years, the Environmental Science questions are getting prominence in the IAS prelims exam. The number of environment-related questions is increasing year after year. The candidates must consider this section separately but in conjunction with Geography.

• Environment as Perceived by Common Man
• Cloud Seeding
• Global Warming - Causes and Impact
• Bio-Geographical Classification of India
• Layers in Atmosphere
• Project Tiger
• Natural Biodiversity
• Food Web
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Different Ecosystems
• Ecology
• Pollution in Oceans
• Nutrient Cycle 
• Pollution  - Types
• Critically Endangered Animals
• Carbon Mitigation Strategies
• Environmental Degradation
• Environment Acts and Policies (WPA 1972)
• Waste Management
• Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks Mangrove Sites

Current Affairs Topics for UPSC IAS 2024

Current events of national and international importance are the guiding force for IAS preparation. It provides the locus of UPSC IAS preparation and the current affairs of the last 100 days are most important for the IAS prelims exam. The candidates need to prepare for the current affairs from January 1, 2023, to 20 days before the exam. The question paper is printed 20 – 25 days earlier than exam.

• C+C 5
• Agri Accelerator Funs
• Issue of Privacy
• Indian Mobile Operating System - Bharat OS
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools
• Green Hydrogen Policy
• Public Emergency in Sri Lanka
• Artificial Womb and its Importance
• Fly Ash Management and Utilisation Mission and its Relevance
• Understanding the New India Literacy Programme
• UNEP Frontiers Report
• UN Environment Report 2023
• Significance of the First India-Central Asia Summit
• India-France Agreement on Roadmap for Blue Economy & Ocean Governance
• Important Provisions of Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• NASSCOM's Report on Startups in India
• One Health Concept: What is it and its Relevance
• New Ordinance Companies and their relevance
• COVID-19 and India's Effort in 2021
• India's Rank in Global Hunger Index 2021
• Highlights of State of Education Report 2023 for India
• Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• Objectives of Fourth Assembly of International Solar Alliance
• Objectives of G-20 Innovation League
• India and International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Sahel Crisis Genesis and its Solution
• Delhi Declaration 2023 and way ahead
• Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index Or RECAI and its importance for India
• Waste Management Policy in India and its effectiveness
• Objective and Relevance of COP26
• ADIPEC 2023 Agenda and Outcomes 
• Recovery of Indian Economy
• New Agriculture Laws
• New National Education Policy
• Digital Education Report
• Stages of Vaccine Development
• ASEEM Platform
• Postal Ballet in India
• Net Zero Carbon Emission - Meaning
• 5G technology - Beam formation, Mass MIMO
• Working of ICMR
• Drug testing regulation in India
• String of Pearls theory and India's counter
• Sea Lines of Communication in the Indian Ocean
• One Belt One Road (OBOR) Policy and India's Counter
• Cyclone Nisarga affected areas
• Fabric required for PPE kit
• What percentage of oxygen is required for the normal functioning of the brain?
• Shifting of Earth's Geo-Magnetic field and its impact
• Indo-Nepal & Indo-China Border distpute
• Virus and Bacteria borne diseases differences
• Outbreak-Epidemic-Pandemic
• CORONA Test Techniques - Viral vs Antibody Test
• Recent NAM and SCO Summit
• Recent Dhaula-Vira Discoveries
• Coronavirus Pandemic
• China – Wuhan
• Facts related to the Citizenship Amendment Act
• The Jammu & Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh formation
• Sir Creek dispute
• Uttarakhand Summer Capital
• Environment Summits 

See here: IAS preparation in 100 days

 Important Essay Topics for UPSC IAS 2024 Main

The candidates should also practice to write IAS essay on a daily basis. The candidates shoudl write on diverse topics to practice for the essay. Topics given in the newspaper editorial can be very handy for the candidates for essay writing. The candidates explore more topics here.

• The changing world order and India’s participation
• India’s Foreign Policy and evolving bilateral issues
• India’s relation with its neighbours
• Border Security in India
• Status and Condition of Women in Indian Society
• Child labour and the restriction imposed by the Indian laws
• Impact of technological advancement on the social fabric of Indian Society
• Changing Trends in Indian Agriculture and the Economic Reforms
• The Health Infrastructure in India
• Rural and urban divide in India and how technology can play a vital role
• What are the differences in the life of child age, youth age and old age?

For more topics, the candidates can follow - topics for essay writing

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