Philosophy Optional Syllabus

Here is the official UPSC Philosophy Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.

Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026, revised file of 06.02.2026, pp. 132–133), upsc.gov.in. The Philosophy syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.

Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each; Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory, and three more are attempted with at least one from each section. Paper I, History and Problems of Philosophy: Section A – Western philosophy (items 1–11 of the syllabus); Section B – Indian philosophy (items 12–20). Paper II: Section A – Socio-Political Philosophy; Section B – Philosophy of Religion.

Syllabus at a glance

Paper	Section and unit	Topics
Paper I	Section A: Western Philosophy	11
Paper I	Section B: Indian Philosophy	9
Paper II	Section A: Socio-Political Philosophy	10
Paper II	Section B: Philosophy of Religion	10

Paper I

Paper I – Section A

1. Western Philosophy

1.1 Plato and Aristotle

• Ideas
• Substance
• Form and matter
• Causation
• Actuality and potentiality

1.2 Rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz)

• Cartesian method and certain knowledge
• Substance
• God
• Mind-body dualism
• Determinism and freedom

1.3 Empiricism (Locke, Berkeley, Hume)

• Theory of knowledge
• Substance and qualities
• Self and God
• Scepticism

1.4 Kant

• Possibility of synthetic a priori judgments
• Space and time
• Categories
• Ideas of reason
• Antinomies
• Critique of proofs for the existence of God

1.5 Hegel

• Dialectical method
• Absolute idealism

1.6 Moore, Russell and early Wittgenstein

• Defence of commonsense
• Refutation of idealism
• Logical atomism
• Logical constructions
• Incomplete symbols
• Picture theory of meaning
• Saying and showing

1.7 Logical positivism

• Verification theory of meaning
• Rejection of metaphysics
• Linguistic theory of necessary propositions

1.8 Later Wittgenstein

• Meaning and use
• Language-games
• Critique of private language

1.9 Phenomenology (Husserl)

• Method
• Theory of essences
• Avoidance of psychologism

1.10 Existentialism (Kierkegaard, Sartre, Heidegger)

• Existence and essence
• Choice, responsibility and authentic existence
• Being-in-the-world and temporality

1.11 Quine and Strawson

• Critique of empiricism
• Theory of basic particulars and persons

Paper I – Section B

2. Indian Philosophy

2.1 Carvaka

• Theory of knowledge
• Rejection of transcendent entities

2.2 Jainism

• Theory of reality
• Saptabhanginaya
• Bondage and liberation

2.3 Schools of Buddhism

• Pratityasamutpada
• Ksanikavada
• Nairatmyavada

2.4 Nyaya–Vaisesika

• Theory of categories
• Theory of appearance
• Theory of pramana
• Self, liberation
• God and proofs for the existence of God
• Theory of causation
• Atomistic theory of creation

2.5 Samkhya

• Prakrti
• Purusa
• Causation
• Liberation

2.6 Yoga

• Citta
• Cittavrtti
• Klesas
• Samadhi
• Kaivalya

2.7 Mimamsa: theory of knowledge

2.8 Schools of Vedanta

• Brahman
• Isvara
• Atman
• Jiva
• Jagat
• Maya
• Avidya
• Adhyasa
• Moksa
• Aprthaksiddhi
• Pancavidhabheda

2.9 Aurobindo

• Evolution and involution
• Integral yoga

Paper II

Paper II – Section A

1. Socio-Political Philosophy

1.1 Social and political ideals

• Equality
• Justice
• Liberty

1.2 Sovereignty

• Austin
• Bodin
• Laski
• Kautilya

1.3 Individual and State

• Rights
• Duties and accountability

1.4 Forms of government

• Monarchy
• Theocracy
• Democracy

1.5 Political ideologies

• Anarchism
• Marxism
• Socialism

1.6 Humanism, secularism and multi-culturalism

• Humanism
• Secularism
• Multi-culturalism

1.7 Crime and punishment

• Corruption
• Mass violence
• Genocide
• Capital punishment

1.8 Development and social progress

1.9 Gender discrimination

• Female foeticide
• Land and property rights
• Empowerment

1.10 Caste discrimination: Gandhi and Ambedkar

Paper II – Section B

2. Philosophy of Religion

2.1 Notions of God (Indian and Western)

• Attributes
• Relation to man and the world

2.2 Proofs for the existence of God and their critique (Indian and Western)

2.3 Problem of evil

2.4 Soul

• Immortality
• Rebirth and liberation

2.5 Reason, revelation and faith

2.6 Religious experience (Indian and Western)

• Nature
• Object

2.7 Religion without God

2.8 Religion and morality

2.9 Religious pluralism and the problem of absolute truth

2.10 Nature of religious language

• Analogical and symbolic
• Cognitivist and non-cognitive

Total: 40 numbered topics across 4 units.

Last updated: 30 October 2026