UPSC syllabus

UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

Marine life " Botanical gardens
" Coral reefs " Protected areas
" Coral reefs in India " State of protected areas in the world
" Conserving coral reefs " UNESCO Man and the
" Mangroves
" Mangroves in India Biosphere Program (MAB)
" Freshwater in India " Characteristics of biosphere reserves
" Importance of lakes
" National Lake Conservation Plan International agreements for
" Wetlands and their importance biodiversity conservation
" Ramsar Convention
" Ramsar Sites " Convention on Biological Diversity
" Montreux Record " Cartagena Protocol
" Extent and distribution of wetlands in India " Nagoya Protocol
" Conserving the wetlands of India " Aichi Biodiversity Targets

6. Biodiversity Basics Important Coastal and
Marine Biodiversity Areas of India
" Biodiversity
" Important kinds of biodiversity " Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of India
" Degree of diversity in an ecosystem " Global Tiger Initiative
" Project Tiger
Endemic species " Project Elephant
" Keystone species " Indian Rhino Vision
" Indicator species " Recovery Programme for Critically
" Invasive species
" Allopatric and sympatric speciation Endangered Species
" Bioinformatics Use of indigenous knowledge for

Biodiversity distribution conserving biodiversity
" Megadivers Countries Seed village
" Uses and values of biodiversity
" State of global biodiversity 8. Effect of Human Activities on
" Threats to biodiversity Environment
" Biodiversity Hotspots
" Eco-regions " Effect of Modern Agriculture on Environment
" Role of traditional knowledge in biodiversity " Effect of Housing on Environment
" Biopiracy " Effect of Power Generation on Environment
" Extinction of species " Effect of River Valley Projects
" Mass extinction
" IUCN’s classification scheme (Water Resource Projects) on Environment
" IUCN Red-List of Threatened Species " Effect of Mining on Environment
" Level of biodiversity in India " Effect of Transportation
" Biogeographic classification of India
Activities on Environment
7. Biodiversity Conservation " Effect of Tourism on Environment

" Ex-situ aid in-situ conservation 9. Water Resource degradation
" Seed banks
" Zoos in biodiversity conservation " Water Cycle (Hydrological Cycle)
" Availability and Quality Aspects

(groundwater depletion)
" Water-borne and Water-induced Diseases
" Fluoride Problem in Drinking Water
" Arsenic Problem in Drinking Water

10. Minerals & Environmental
Degradation

" Mining and Environment
" Sensitivity of Select Ecosystems to Mining

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21 " Sources of Air Pollution
" Effects of Air Pollution
" Impact of Mining " Classification of Air Pollutant
" Indirect Impact of Mining " Control Measures of Air Pollution
" International Laws on Mining " Air Pollution Disasters
" Main Act or Statue to regulate the " Long Range Transport of Gaseous

impact of Indian Mining Sector Air Pollutants
" Sustainable Mining " National Ambient Air Quality Standards
" Water Pollution
11. Deforestation " Sources of Water Pollution
" Types of Water Pollutants
" Causes of Deforestation " Effects of Water Pollution
" Implications of Deforestation for " Water Quality Standards
" Control of Water Pollution
Climate Change " Thermal Pollution
" Consequences of Deforestation on the " Sources of Thermal Pollution
" Effects of Thermal Pollution
Wildlife of India " Control of Thermal Pollution
" Impact of Deforestation on Indian Monsoon " Soil Pollution or Land Degradation
" Impact of Deforestation on People " Sources of Soil Pollution
" Deforestation Leads to Water and " Effects of Soil Pollution
" Control Measures
Soil Resources Loss and Flooding " Noise Pollution
" Economical Impacts " Air-borne Diseases
" Strategies for Reducing Deforestation " Toxic Substances: Toxicant,
" Government Programmes for
Toxicity and Toxicology
Conservation of Forests " Factors affecting toxicity
" Legislations for Conservation of " Carcinogens

Forests using People Participation 15. Solid Waste Management
" Steps for Improving People Participation
" Sources of Solid Waste
in Forest Resource Management " Effect of Solid Waste
" Use of Local Traditional Methods " Control Measures of Solid Waste
" Solid Waste Management Rules
12. Waste Management " Hazardous Waste Management (HWM)

" Solid Waste 16. Coastal Ecosystem Management
" Hazardous Waste
" E-Waste " Mangroves
" Bio Medical Waste " Salient features of Mangroves
" Plastic Waste " Importance of Mangroves
" Methods for Waste Management " Mangroves in India
" Effects of Poor Waste Disposal " Mangroves under threats
" Landfill " Legal and Regulatory Approaches for

13. Sustainable Development Protection
" Estuaries
" Principles of sustainability " Importance of estuaries
" Measurement of Sustainability or " Threats to estuaries

Sustainable Ethics or Equitable
Utilisation of Natural Resource
" Sustainable Lifestyle (Role of an
individual in sustainable, development)
" Challenges to Sustainable Development
" International Efforts to Achieve Sustainability

14. Environmental Pollution

" Air Pollution

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

" Coral Reefs " Salient features
" Geographical Conditions Required of Forest Conservation Act, I980
" Uses of coral reefs
" Conservation of coral reef " Salient Features of
" Steps for Coastal Ecosystem Management Wildlife Protection Act,1972

17. Recent developments " Salient Features of Environment
(Protection) Act,1986
" Air Pollution
" Report on Air Pollution " Role of Government in
" Bharat Stage Emission Standards Environmental Protection
" Polluters Pay Model
" Household Air Pollution 20. Environment related Institutions and
" Open Waste Burning and its Impact Organizations
" Graded Response Action Plan on Pollution
" UN Sets Limits on Global Airline Emissions " Pollution Control Boards
" Waste Management " National Green Tribunal
" Biodegradable Plastics " Forest Survey of India
" Green Train Corridors " National Board for Wildlife
" Oil Spill
" Solid Waste Management-Buffer Zone 21. Schemes
" Other News
" Report of Parliamentary Committee " Ecomark Scheme
" National Afforestation Program
on Forest Fires " National River Conservation Plan
" Urban Forestry Scheme " National Mission for Clean Ganga
" Draft Notification to Regulate Pet Shops " National Air Quality Index (AQI)
" Ban on Import of Animal Skin " National
" River linking Project and Impact on " Action
" Programme to Combat Desertification
Environment " UJALA Scheme
" Algal Bloom Issue " Bharat Stage Norms
" Illegal Salt Mining and its Impact
" India’s Wetland Report, 2016 22. International Environmental
" Deep Sea Mining Governance
" Mass Coral Bleaching
" Ganga River Pollution " UNEP
" UNDP
18. Environmental Impact Assessment " Centre for Biological Diversity
" WWF for Nature
" Government Body which Executes EIA " IUCN - Red List
" Environmental Effects Analysed under EIA " Birdlife International
" Process of EIA " International Conventions / Protocols
" EIA Ruling 1984
& their Objectives
19. Environmental Laws
23. Basics of Climate change
" Environmental Laws: Provisions in
the Indian Constitution towards " Green House Effect and Global Warming
Environmental Protection
" Global Climate Change: International
" Salient Features of Air (Prevention Efforts to Control Global Warming or
and Control of Pollution) Act,1981* Global Climate Change

" Salient Features of Water (Prevention " Ozone Layer Depletion or Ozone Hole
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
" Acid Rain
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" El Nino

" La Nina

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

24. Urbanization and climate 26. Global Warming & Health

" Pollution in metros and climate change " Health impacts of global warming
" Real estate boom and environment " Mosquito-borne diseases
" Ozone depletion and human health
degradation
" Urban Heat Island 27. Recent developments
" Polythene bags and pollution
" Methane generation from waste " Carbon Neutrality Concept
" Climate Change Indicators: WMO report
25. Impact of agriculture on climate " IPCC 5th Assessment Report
" Paris Agreement
" Agriculture increases " Marrakech Climate Change Conference
Carbon Dioxide Emissions " International Solar Alliance (ISA)
" Kyoto Protocol (2nd Commitment 2013-20)
" Monoculture practice impacts biodiversity " Kigali Agreement
" Pollution due to use of chemical fertilizers " Climate Change Performance Index
" Soil-related effects
" Fertilizer’s Effect on the Environment
" Impact of livestock on environment
" Impact of use of Pesticides on environment
" Impact of GM crop on environment
" Emission of Methane from agricultural

practices
" Sustainable Agriculture Techniques

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

" Demand of Organic Farming showing " “Sukhna Lake becomes a ‘living entity’”
upward trend’
" Centre issues rules for import,
" ‘The concept of Precision farming possession of exotic species’
in India’
" World to suffer $10 trillion loss by
" ‘Zoological Survey of India lists 2050: WWF
62 species of skinks’
" ‘Kerala to curb alien plants’ growth
" Canada’s Milne ice shelf collapsed’ in NBR’

" ‘Arctic Ice fails to refreeze by late " Puntius sanctus
October, setting a new record’
" ‘Eight Beaches awarded the
" ‘First-ever World Solar Technology Blue Flag Certification’
Summit (WSTS)’
" Ecological disaster at Baghjan
" ‘Climate Migration primarily in middle
income, agri-dependent countries: Study’ " ‘Link between climate change and wildfires’

" A quarter of Bangladesh has been " Black carbon deposits on Himalayan glaciers
inundated with floodwaters: NASA
" Massive plastic pollution footprint
" ‘Net zero by 2060: China’s bold
new carbon emissions goal’ " A Giant fish is declared extinct

" ‘Conservation of the world’s seagrasses’ " Trimeresurus Salazar

" Snow Leapord " ‘Komodo dragons could become
extinct soon due to climate change’
" ‘Aldabra’s coral reefs recovered
faster from bleaching, finds new research’ " “The Future of Earth, 2020”

" Locust attack in India " Coastal Erosion – an analysis

" Conserving the Western Ghats " ‘Highest number of wetland species
in Kaziranga’
" Ramsar Sites in India
" Mud packs and other remedies to
" Delhi gets its first smog tower: What is it save the Taj from pollution, age and insects
and how does it work?
" State of India’s Birds 2020
" ‘Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan’

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

Remarks

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Internal Security Challenges 6. Security Challenges in Border Areas

" Internal Security Challenges " Challenges to Border Management
" Social Diversity as Issues of Security Threat " Issues Faced in Border Management
" Challenges from within " Community Participation for
" Neighbours as Issue of Security Threat
" Non-State Actors as Issue of Security Threat Border Management
" Global Indices and Measurement of
7. Basics of Cyber Security
Vulnerability of a State Towards
such Non-State Actors " Types of Cyber Crimes
" Law and Order vs. Internal Security " Impact and Steps needed
" Recent Incident: Ransomware
2. Terrorism Threat to India " The National Cyber Security Policy of

" Terrorism Threat to India India 2013
" Changing face of Terrorism
" Terror Threats Faced by India 8. Cyber Warfare
" Broader Framework to Deal with Terrorism
" Drawbacks in Intelligence Infrastructure " Factors Contributing/Aggravating
Rise of Cyber Attack
3. Organized Crime
" Recent Initiatives for Tackling Cyber Warfare
" Types of Organized Crime
" Problems in controlling organized crimes 9. Social Media and Internal Security
" Combating organized crimes Threat
" Linkage of Terrorism and Organized
" Regulation of Social Media in India for
Crime in India Internal Security

4. Linkage between Development and " Challenges in Monitoring Social Media
Spread of Extremism " Steps Needed

" Stated Purpose of the Naxal Movement 10. Money Laundering
" Why naxalism got huge support from
" Meaning of Money Laundering
common man? " Harmful Effects of Money Laundering
" Why naxalism is biggest threat " Steps taken by the Government

to internal security? 11. Black Money in India

5. Insurgency in North-East " Parallel Economy in India
" What are the various measures
" Issues & Conflicts
" Assam Insurgency taken by Government to curb Black Money?
" Impact of demonetisation on black money
" Criticisms

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12. Police Reforms in India UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

" The Organisational Structure 13. Various Security Forces and their
" Duties and Responsibilities of the Police Mandate
" Centre’s Role in Policing
" Traditional Security Challenges " Assam Rifles
" Non-Traditional Security Challenges (NTS) " Border Security Force (BSF)
" Recommendations for Police Reforms " Indo-Tibetan Border Police
" Police we Want in 21st Century " Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
" Central Reserve Police Force
Remarks " National Security Guard
" Issues with Paramilitary Forces

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21

ETHICS,
INTEGRITY & APTITUDE

1. Ethics Basic Introduction " Anonymity
" Civil Services Accountability
" Dimensions of Ethics " Integrity
" Essence of Ethics " Humility
" Approaches of Ethical Study as " Adaptability
" Magnanimity
Indian Perspective and Western Perspective " Perseverance
" Basic concept of ethics morality and value " Impartiality and Non-Partisanship
" Ethics in public life " Tolerance and compassion for
" Ethics in Economic Life
" Freedom and Discipline the weaker section
" Duties and Rights " Contribution to society
" Virtue Ethics
" Consequences of Ethics in Human Actions 4. India & World Thinkers
" Values and Ethics in Government:
" Indian Thinkers
Legislature, Executive and judiciary Mahatama Gandhi
" Contribution of Family in Value Education Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
" Contribution of Society in Inculcating Values Rabindranath Tagore
" Role of Educational Institutions in Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Mahadeva Govinda Ranade
Inculcating Values Sri Aurobindo
Swami Vivekananda
2. Human Values Sardar Patel
Buddha Bhim Rao Ambedkar
" Human value & Socialization Raja Ram Mohan Roy
" Individual Personality and Value Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj
" Values and Skill Mother Teresa
" Fundamental and Instrumental Values Amitabha Chowdhury
" Democratic values Aruna Roy
" Role of ethical value in governance T. N. Seshan
E. Sreedharan
and society
" Significance of value in civil services " Administrative Thinkers
" Aesthetic values Max Weber
" Values in work life and professional ethics Elton Mayo
Peter Drucker
3. Aptitude and foundational values of Chestar Barnard
civil services Mary Parker Follet

" Essential Aptitude for civil servants
" Foundational Values of Civil Services
" Neutrality

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" World Thinkers Isaac Newton
Plato Elie Wiesel
Aristotle King Ashoka
Socrates Sun Yat Sen
Jeremy Bentham
JS Mill 5. Attitude
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke " Components of Attitude
Jean Jacques Rousseau Affective component
John Rawls Cognitive component
Immanuel Kant Behavioral component
Carol Gilligan
Jean Paul Sartre " Functions of Attitude
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Adjustive Function
Confucius Ego-Defensive Function
René Descartes Value-Expressive Function
Karl Marx Knowledge Function
Adam Smith Attitude Formation Model
Thomas Aquinas Impact of Beliefs and Values
David Hume Group Influences
Democritus Social Influence
Galileo Persuasion Tactics
Friedrich Nietzsche Tools of Persuasion
Montesquieu Moral Attitude formation
Voltaire Political Attitude formation
Thomas Jefferson
6. Emotional Intelligence
" Indian & World Leaders
Benjamin Franklin " Theories Associated with
Martin Luther King Emotional Intelligence
Dalai Lama
Nelson Mandela " Can Emotional Intelligence be Developed?
Mahatma Gandhi " Components of Emotional Competencies
Siddhartha Gautama
Aung San Suu Kyi The Self-Awareness Cluster:
Swami Vivekanand Understanding Feelings and Accurate
Albert Einstein Self-Assessment
Abraham Lincoln
Mother Teresa The Self-Management Cluster:
J L Nehru Managing Internal States, Impulses, and
Lee Kuan Yew Resources
Henry Ford
Abdul Kalam The Social Awareness Cluster:
Muhammad Yunus Reading People and Groups Accurately
Wangari Maathai
Kofi Annan The Relationship Management
Lech Walesa Cluster: Inducing Desirable Responses
Desmond Tutu in Others

GS SCORE " Importance of Emotional Intelligence
at Workplace

" Importance of Emotional Intelligence
in Civil Services

7. Values & Ethics in Public
Administration

" Ethical Concerns in Public Institution 55
" Ethical Concerns in Private Institutions

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UPSC SYLLABUS 2020-21 " Importance of vigilant citizens

" Ethical Dilemmas in Public and " Information sharing and participation
Private Institutions
" Importance of Code of ethics
" Laws, Rules and Regulations as Source
of Ethical Guidance " Code of Ethics in Professions

" Accountability and Ethical Governance " Code of Conduct for Ministers; for
Strengthening of Ethical and Moral Legislators; for Civil Servants; for Regulators
Values in Governance and for the Judiciary

" Moral Judgments in International Relations " Components of a Citizen Charter
" Ethical Relation in Funding
" International Relations and concept " Steps in formulation of a Citizen’s Charter

of Moral Responsibility " Concept of Work Culture

" Ethics in working of international " The Indian Approach to Work
organizations
" Methods of improving Work Culture
" What is Corporate Governance?
" Models of Corporate Social Responsibility " Quality of Service Delivery
" Steps taken by World Bank for
" Utilisation of Public Funds
Good Corporate Governance
" Problems in Fund Release and Utilization
" Norms for Corporate Government in India
" Concept of business ethics " Parliamentary Control on Expenditure

8. Probity in Governance " Corruption in India: extent, dimension,
and response
" Concept of Public Service
" Philosophical basis of Governance " Corruption as a social evil

and Probity " Probity in public life Corrupt practice
among civil servants and official misconduct
" Information Sharing, Transparency
and Right to Information " Exposing corruption: Civil Society initiatives
and role of Whistleblower Act
" Flaws in RTI and recommendations
for improvement " Tackling corruption: Role of government
and institutions of governance

" Controlling corruption: Various approaches
and efficacy

APPLIED ETHICS

1. Euthanasia Issue " Ethical Issue: Need for sportsmanship
" Ethical Issue: Doping
" Social and ethical angle " Ethical Issue: Discrimination and
" Different arguments related to Euthanasia
" Conclusion Sexual Harassment
" Ethical Issue: Sports as a Business
2. Surrogacy " Steps needed

" Case study 4. Media Ethics
" Issues
" Ethical Issues " Role of Media
" Concept of ethical surrogacy " Ethical Issues faced by Reporters
" Conclusion " Trial by Media
" Media Prejudice
3. Ethics & Sports " Ethical Dilemma faced by Photo Journalists
" Digital Media Ethics
" Importance of sports " Paid News

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5. Business Ethics 12. Animal Ethics

" Principles of Business Ethics " Introduction
" Dimensions related to Business " Issues of conducting research on animals
" Issue of keeping animals as pets
Ethics in Organisation " Issue of Cruelty against animals
" Business Ethics and Corporate Governance " Conclusion
" Journey from Philanthropy to Corporate
13. Food Adulteration and Ethics
Social Responsibility
" Issues related to Corporate " Ethical dimension
" Ethical issue related to food additive
Social Responsibility
" Issues in implementation of Business Ethics 14. Abortion: Ethical or Unethical

6. Ethics Related to Economic " Law of abortion in India
Sanctions " Recent Supreme Court verdict
" Ethical Issue: Health of Women vs. fetus
" Why Economic Sanctions placed? " Justification for abortion
" Ethics in Economic Sanctions " Argument against abortion
" Conclusion " Abortion and women rights
" Abortion and father rights
7. Refugees & Ethics
15. Honour Killing
" Why Migration occurs?
" Case study of Syria " Honour killing is unethical
" Dilemmas related to Refugee crisis " Role of khap pachayat
" Steps needed
16. Marital Rape
8. Ethical Dilemmas of Globalization
" Why Marital Rape should not be criminalized?
" What is Globalisation " Why Marital Rape should be criminalized?
" Free trade in Globalised world " What are the hurdles?
" Issues with Newly developed trade patterns
" Criticism against global regime 17. Ethical Issue Involved in Child
" Way forward Labour

9. Ethics of War " Rights of children
" Child labour and company
" Ethics and War theories " Solution
" Evils of war " Role of consumer

10. Environmental Ethics 18. Ethical Issue Involved in Treating
Juvenile as Adult
" Linkage between Ethics and Environment
" Theories related to Environmental ethics " Juvenile justice system
" Role of individual " Negative implications

11. Ethical Issues in Biotechnology 19. Ethics and Old Age

" Issues related to Stem Cell " Ethical issues
" Issues related to cloning " Issues faced
" Issues related to designer babies " Importance of autonomy

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20. Ethics in Public and Private
Relationships

" Ethical values in Private relationships
" Ethical principles in Public relationships
" Linkage between Private relationships

and Public relationships

Remarks

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