Syllabus for UPSC Indian Information Service (IIS)

UPSC Indian Information Service (IIS) Syllabus

The Indian Information Service (IIS) is a Group A central service under the Government of India. It primarily deals with managing the communication and public relations of the government. While the UPSC Civil Services Exam does not have a specific syllabus for IIS, candidates aspiring for this service need to clear the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The CSE is common for all Group A and Group B services, and the IIS is one of the options after clearing the exam.

UPSC Civil Services Exam Syllabus

The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
2. Main Examination (Mains)
3. Personality Test (Interview)

1. Preliminary Examination (Prelims)

The Prelims consist of two papers:

• Paper I – General Studies (GS)
• Paper II – Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Paper I: General Studies (200 marks)

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.

Paper II: CSAT (200 marks)

• Comprehension.
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.
• General mental ability.
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level).
• English Language Comprehension skills (Class X level).

2. Main Examination (Mains)

The Mains consist of nine papers:

• Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language (300 marks)
• Paper B: English (300 marks)
• Paper I: Essay (250 marks)
• Paper II: General Studies I (250 marks)
• Paper III: General Studies II (250 marks)
• Paper IV: General Studies III (250 marks)
• Paper V: General Studies IV (250 marks)
• Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject (2 Papers, 250 marks each)

Paper A: Compulsory Indian Language (300 marks)

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.
• Translation from English to the Indian language and vice-versa.

Paper B: English (300 marks)

• Comprehension of given passages.
• Precis Writing.
• Usage and Vocabulary.
• Short Essays.

Paper I: Essay (250 marks)

• Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They are expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay, arrange their ideas orderly, and write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.

Paper II: General Studies I (250 marks)

• Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.

Paper III: General Studies II (250 marks)

• Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations.

Paper IV: General Studies III (250 marks)

• Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.

Paper V: General Studies IV (250 marks)

• Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude.

Paper VI & VII: Optional Subject (250 marks each)

• Candidates can choose any one subject from the list of optional subjects provided by UPSC. The subject will have two papers.

3. Personality Test (Interview)

• The candidate will be interviewed by a Board that will have before them a record of the candidate’s career. The objective of the interview is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service.
• The test is intended to judge the mental caliber of a candidate. In broad terms, this is really an assessment of not only their intellectual qualities but also social traits and their interest in current affairs.
• Some of the qualities to be judged include mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.

Specific Preparation for IIS

While IIS officers do not have a specific syllabus beyond what is tested in the CSE, it is beneficial for aspirants to have an understanding of:

• Mass Communication: Concepts, theories, and models of communication, media management, media laws and ethics, etc.
• Current Affairs: Emphasis on media-related developments, information technology, and government communication policies.
• General Knowledge: A strong grasp of current events, especially those related to information dissemination, public relations, and media.

Optional Subjects

Candidates aiming for IIS might choose optional subjects like Public Administration, Political Science & International Relations, Sociology, or any other subject that aligns with their interest and background.