UPSC GS Foundation Prelims+Mains, 2025
Answer Writing & Skill Development
Increase your changes of clearing Mains through extensive practice
Structure & Presentation of answers
Learn how to present your answer & increase your marks
Detailed Evaluation
Evaluation provided on alignment, context, content, conclusion competence & much more
Expert Feedback & Assessment
Understand context of questions through marco & micro feedback, comments & suggestions
Complete coverage of UPSC Syllabus
Don’t miss out on any topics of the syllabus & get complete coverage
Live Test Discussions
In-depth live test discussion in the form of videos for test papers for a better understanding
Mains Guidance Programme with Answer Writing for UPSC 2023
Starting: 19th June 2023
Online & Offline
Know More & Register Today!
About GS Mains Test Series for UPSC 2023
The IQRA IAS All India GS Mains Test Series 2023, is a comprehensive test that mirrors the format and difficulty of the actual UPSC Mains Examination. This Test series aims to assess your subject knowledge, comprehension, articulation, and critical thinking abilities – the very skills required to conquer the Mains.
Why should you participate?
Assess Your Preparation: This test gives you the chance to evaluate your preparation level and identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Enhance Your Writing Skill: The test focuses on improving your writing abilities, helping you structure your thoughts better, and present your arguments effectively – the qualities that UPSC values highly.
Gain a Competitive Edge: Experience the rigor and structure of the actual Mains examination. Understand the examination pattern, improve your time management skills and develop a well-informed strategy to tackle the exam.
FREE Participation: Yes, you read it right! The All India Mock Test Mains 2023 is absolutely free to join. An opportunity like this is rare, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on this free chance to uplift your IAS preparation.
Don’t Miss Out!
We can’t stress this enough – this is an opportunity that you really can’t afford to miss. This Mock Test is an invaluable tool in your IAS preparation arsenal. Not participating might keep you a step behind in the highly competitive journey towards IAS.
Remember, those who have succeeded in the past took every opportunity they could to practice, learn, and grow. And this is your chance to do the same. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Highlights of the Programme
- Solutions to GS 400+ Marks
- Covers 120+ Most Essential Topics Related to Contemporary Issues Linked with Static Topics.
- After Prelims: Starts from 25th Jun 2023 and goes on till 3rd Sep 2023
- Along with the Test Series, Aspirants can also take the Online Mains Enrichment Programme, which starts after Prelims Exams 2023. Details will be provided after Prelims 2023.
- Tests will be conducted in Both Online and Offline mode
- An Intensive Video Discussion by Faculty will follow every Test, clearing all the concepts.
- Students will be given the option of One-to-One Discussions with the faculty in case of any further doubts required by the student.
- Each Test Evaluation to be done before students appear for Next Test (Max: 5 days)
- Mains Test Series Contains the Following:
- 8 Sectional Tests
- 4 Full-Length Tests
- 2 Essay Papers
- Online Live Test Discussion (Recording of the Lecture also Available)
- Live/Recorded Discussions of Current Events, after Pre 2023, from Mains Perspective. Monday to Friday (Time: 2 pm to 4 pm)
- Fees: Regular Fees
10,000/-Limited Time Discount 5,000/- INR + GST. - Course Duration: 10 to 12 months (approx.)
- Mode of the exam: English Medium
This Test Series is designed in 4 – Levels
Level A (Basic):
This Level Tests Basic Understanding of Each Subject and is Concentrated more on Information, Conceptual Clarity and Basic Analytical Approach.
Level B (Intermediate Level):
This Level is Designed to Test Students’ Analytical Approach in Different Subjects with Significant Depth.
Level C (Advance Level):
This Level Focuses on Language, Structure of Your Answer, Conceptual Clarity, better Analytical Understanding, Strict Evaluation Parameter etc.
Mock Tests:
Mock Tests are designed to make Students Feel the Pressure of Real Exams and Prepare themselves Accordingly.
Key Features:
- Questions are prepared after intensive research over previous years’ question papers, standard books, authentic websites and newspapers, which helps students revise the entire syllabus.
- Each Test Paper to have 20 Questions
- Model answers will also be provided for the questions on the student dashboard on the website after expert discussion so that students understand the dynamics of quality answer writing.
- Students can submit answers online.
- Experts guidance, comment & feedback, will be provided.
- Students can give offline Tests at IQRA IAS Kanpur & Pune centres. Timing: Every Sunday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at IQRA IAS (Kanpur & Pune Centres)
Pune – Building No 1584, 2nd Floor, Sadashiv Peth, Kushal Shirkai Bldg,
Opp Maharashtra Mandal, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Rd, (Above Notebook Hub), Pune, Maharashtra 411030 (View directions on Google Maps)
Kanpur – 117/O/62 Crossing No. 9, Behind Commerce Zone, Sharda Nagar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208025 (View directions on Google Maps)
Test Schedule
Subject and Topics
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER –1
INDIAN HISTORY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE AND WORLD HISTORY
- Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
- The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
- History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redraw of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.
- Current Affairs Developments from January to June 2023
References
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- New NCERT Class 8
- Old NCERT Modern History by Bipin Chandra
- New NCERT Class 12 – India Since Independence
- OLD NCERT Class 9 and 10 – The Story of Civilization
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- NCERT- World History (Arjun Dev)
- NCERT- Themes in World History
- Mastering Modern World
- History by Normal Lowe
- From Plassey to Partition: Sekhar Bandyopadhyay
- India After Gandhi by Ramchandra Guha
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER –1 -> INDIAN AND WORLD GEOGRAPHY AND INDIAN SOCIETY
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
- Effects of globalization on Indian society
- Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &
- Salient features of world’s physical geography.
- Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
- Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
- Geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes)
Current Affairs Developments from January to Jun 2023
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- NCERT Class 11
- Fundamental Physical Geography
- Indian Physical Environment
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G C Leong
- New NCERT– Class 11 and 12
- Introducing Sociology
- Understanding Sociology
- Indian Society
- Social Change and Development of India
- Class and Printed IQRA Notes
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- NCERTs – Class 11 and 12 (Physical and Human)
- Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong
- Physical Geography –Savinder Singh
- Down to Earth Magazine
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 2 -> IDNIAN POLITY AND CONSTITUTION
- 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 dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
- Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, 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
Current Affairs Developments from January to Jun 2023
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING:
- NCERT Democratic Politics Class 9 and 10
- 11th NCERT
- Constitution at Work
- Political Theory
- Indian Polity by Laxmikant
- Introduction to the Constitution of India: D D Basu
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- 2ARC REPORT
- PUNCHHI COMMISSION REPORT
- EPW MAGAZINE
- YOGANA
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 2 -> GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATION
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
- 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 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 – their structure, mandate.
- Current Affairs Developments from January to June 2023
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- Our Constitution, Our Parliament: Subhash Kashyap
- Indian Foreign policy by V P DUTT
- Introduction to the Constitution of India: D.D. Basu
- 2nd ARC REPORTS
- Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazine
- Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20 – NITI Aayog
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- 2ARC REPORT
- PUNCHHI COMMISSION REPORT
- EPW MAGAZINE
- YOGANA MAGAZINE
- Foreign Affairs Website
- Governance in India by Laxmikanth
- Indian Foreign Policy by Oxford Publication
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 3 -> INDIAN ECONOMY
- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
- Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security;
- Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
- Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
- Land reforms in India
- Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
- Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- Investment models.
Current Affairs Developments from January to Jun 2023
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- NCERT– Class 11 (Indian Economic Development)
- Class 12 – Macroeconomics
- Economic Survey – 2022
- Budget – 2022
- Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20 – NITI Aayog
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- Yojana Magazine
- EPW Magazine
- Three Year Action Agenda, 2017-18 to 2019-20 – NITI Aayog
- Economic Survey –2023
- Budget – 2023
- Indian Economy – Dutt, Sundaram / Uma Kapila / Mishra Puri
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 3 -> SCI-TECH, ENVIRONMENT, DISASTER MANAGEMENT, INTERNAL SECURITY
- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights
- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
- Disaster and disaster management.
- Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
- Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
- Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
- Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism
- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
Current Affairs Developments from January to Jun 2023
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- CBSE – Class 11 (Natural Hazards and Disaster Management)
- Environment Book of your choice
- NIOS – Indian Culture and Heritage
- NCERT- Introduction to Fine Arts
- NCERT- Modern India (Bipin Chandra)
- NCERT- Themes in Indian History (Part 3)
- Science Reporter’s Magazine
- IDSA publications on Security (Northeast, LWE, Border Security, Financial,
- International & Organised Crime)
- 2nd ARC (7th Report Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution)
- 2nd ARC (8th Report Combating Terrorism
- Protecting by Righteousness)
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- The Oxford’s Handbook of India’s National Security
- Down to Earth Magazine
- Geography and You Magazine
- IDSA Website
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 4 -> ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
- Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non- partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
- Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world
PRIMARY AND ESSENTIAL READING
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by D K Balaji
- 2 nd ARC REPORT (4th Report- Ethics in
- Governance, 10th Report – Refurbishing of Personnel Administration)
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by D K Balaji
- 2nd ARC REPORT (4th Report- Ethics in Governance
- 10th Report – Refurbishing of Personnel Administration)
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 4 -> ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruptions.
- Case Studies on above issues.
SECONDARY SOURCES:
- Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude by D K Balaji
- 2nd ARC REPORT (4th Report- Ethics in Governance
- 10th Report – Refurbishing of Personnel Administration)
- Class and Printed IQRA IAS Notes
- Newspapers: The Indian Express, The Hindu
