The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is one of the most prestigious civil services in India. It is responsible for managing India’s external affairs, representing India in international forums, managing diplomatic relations, promoting trade, and protecting Indian citizens abroad. The recruitment to this elite service is conducted through the Civil Services Examination (CSE), organized by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Candidates who clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination and choose Indian Foreign Service as their preference undergo rigorous training and serve as India’s diplomats worldwide.

Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Syllabus 2025 — Complete Guide (Prelims & Mains Separately)

• 1. IFS Prelims Syllabus
• 2. IFS Mains Syllabus
• 3. Optional Subjects for Mains
• 4. Recommended Books
• 5. Preparation Tips
• 6. Official UPSC PDF Link
• 7. Conclusion

1. Indian Foreign Service Prelims Syllabus 2025

Exam Overview:

Paper Name	Marks	Time	Nature
General Studies Paper 1	200	2 hrs	Objective MCQ
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT)	200	2 hrs	Qualifying (33%) MCQ

Detailed Syllabus – Prelims

General Studies Paper 1

Subject Area	Topic Detailed Explanation
Current Events	National & international important events, diplomacy, treaties
History	Indian history (ancient, medieval, modern), freedom struggle
Geography	Indian & world geography, physical, economic, social geography
Polity	Indian Constitution, governance, public policy, rights
Economy	Basics of Indian economy, economic development, budget, reforms
Environment & Ecology	Biodiversity, climate change, environmental issues
Science & Technology	Developments, applications relevant to India
General Mental Ability	Comprehension, reasoning, basic numeracy

General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) – Qualifying Paper

Subject Area	Topic Detailed Explanation
Comprehension	Reading comprehension
Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability	Logical puzzles, data interpretation, reasoning skills
Decision Making & Problem Solving	Situational questions, problem-solving approaches
Basic Numeracy	Arithmetic, percentages, ratio, data interpretation

Note: CSAT is qualifying with minimum 33% marks, marks not counted for merit.

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2. Indian Foreign Service Mains Syllabus 2025

Exam Overview:

Paper Name	Marks	Duration	Description
Paper A – Indian Language	Qualifying	3 hrs	Chosen Indian language
Paper B – English	Qualifying	3 hrs	English language
Essay	250	3 hrs	Essay writing on diverse topics
General Studies Paper 1	250	3 hrs	Indian heritage, culture, history, geography
General Studies Paper 2	250	3 hrs	Governance, constitution, polity, social justice
General Studies Paper 3	250	3 hrs	Technology, economic development, environment, security
General Studies Paper 4	250	3 hrs	Ethics, integrity, aptitude
Optional Subject Paper 1	250	3 hrs	Chosen optional subject
Optional Subject Paper 2	250	3 hrs	Chosen optional subject

Essay Paper

Essay writing on topics of national and international importance, cultural, social, economic issues. Clarity, coherence, presentation, and analytical skills are tested.

General Studies Paper 1: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

Topic	Detailed Explanation
Indian Culture	Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times
Modern Indian History	Freedom struggle, important personalities, movements
Post-independence India	Political, social, economic changes after 1947
World History	Events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, colonialism, decolonization
Geography	Physical geography, human geography, natural resources, biodiversity, and environment

General Studies Paper 2: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

Topic	Detailed Explanation
Indian Constitution	Features, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Amendment process
Governance	Transparency, accountability, e-governance, public policy, welfare schemes
Social Justice	Issues related to SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women, and vulnerable groups
International Relations	India’s foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral relations, regional and global groupings

General Studies Paper 3: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management

Topic	Detailed Explanation
Indian Economy	Structure, development, reforms, budgeting, agriculture, industry
Science and Technology	Developments in IT, space, biotechnology, nanotechnology, defense technology
Environment and Ecology	Conservation, climate change, environmental pollution, disasters
Security	Internal security, border management, cyber security, terrorism

General Studies Paper 4: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Topic	Detailed Explanation
Ethics and Human Interface	Concepts of ethics, values, duties
Integrity	Probity in governance, public service ethics
Aptitude and Emotional Intelligence	Emotional resilience, social influence, empathy, case studies on ethical dilemmas

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3. Optional Subjects for IFS Mains

• Political Science & International Relations
• History
• Sociology
• Public Administration
• Geography
• Anthropology
• Other UPSC approved optional subjects

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4. Recommended Books for IFS Prelims and Mains Preparation

Subject	Book Title	Author / Publisher
History	India’s Struggle for Independence	Bipan Chandra
History	A Brief History of Modern India	Spectrum Publications
Geography	Certificate Physical and Human Geography	G.C. Leong
Polity	Indian Polity	M. Laxmikanth
Economy	Indian Economy	Ramesh Singh
International Relations	Introduction to International Relations	Pavneet Singh
International Relations	India’s Foreign Policy	Muchkund Dubey
Ethics	Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude	Subba Rao
General Studies & Current Affairs	The Hindu / Indian Express Newspaper, Yojana Magazine	Daily reading recommended

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5. Preparation Tips for Indian Foreign Service Exam

• Understand UPSC syllabus carefully, especially the international relations section.
• Read standard textbooks and NCERTs to build basic concepts.
• Follow current affairs daily — newspapers, PIB releases, Ministry of External Affairs updates.
• Practice answer writing and essay writing regularly.
• Take mock tests for both Prelims and Mains.
• Join coaching or online groups focused on IFS optional and general studies.
• Improve language skills, communication, and interpersonal skills — vital for interview stage.

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6. Official UPSC IFS Syllabus PDF Download

You can download the official UPSC Civil Services Exam syllabus PDF here:
UPSC Civil Services Mains Syllabus PDF

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7. Conclusion

The Indian Foreign Service exam requires deep knowledge across diverse fields. The Prelims mainly consist of General Studies and CSAT, which test your basic understanding and reasoning abilities. In the Mains, your analytical and writing skills are evaluated through detailed essays, General Studies papers, and optional subjects.

You need to have a strong focus on international relations, as it is the core area of the IFS. Additionally, having ethical understanding and staying up-to-date with current affairs is essential.