Syllabus
UPSC Indian Economic Service (IES) Syllabus 2025: Detailed Exam Pattern & Subject-wise Topics
Access the comprehensive UPSC Indian Economic Service (IES) syllabus for 2025, covering all six papers: General English, General Studies, General Economics I, II, III, and Indian Economics. Understand the exam pattern, marking scheme, and key topics to enhance your preparation for the IES examination.
The Indian Economic Service (IES) exam is conducted by UPSC to recruit economic professionals for government roles related to economic analysis, planning, and policy advice. This guide covers the complete, detailed syllabus for IES 2025, including all topics, marks distribution, recommended books, preparation tips, and FAQs.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Indian Economic Service
- Exam Overview
- Detailed IES Syllabus 2025 (Subject-wise with topics & descriptions)
- Marks Distribution
- Recommended Books
- Preparation Tips
- Specialization & Career Prospects
- FAQs
- Conclusion
The Indian Economic Service plays a vital role in shaping India’s economic policies. Candidates with a strong foundation in economics and statistics can apply. The exam tests knowledge on theoretical and applied economics, statistics, and policy issues, making it demanding and highly competitive.
Exam Overview 2025
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | UPSC |
| Exam Type | Written (Offline) + Interview |
| Number of Papers | 6 Written Papers |
| Marks | 600 (Written) + 200 (Interview) |
| Duration | 3 hours per paper |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Detailed IES Syllabus 2025 – Subject-wise Topics
1. General English (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Topics / Description |
|---|---|
| Comprehension | Understanding passages, identifying main points, inference. |
| Precis Writing | Condensing paragraphs into brief summaries without loss of meaning. |
| Essay Writing | Writing essays on economic and social issues with clarity. |
| Grammar & Vocabulary | Sentence correction, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and phrases. |
2. General Economics (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| Microeconomics | Consumer behavior and demand theory: utility, indifference curves, budget constraints. Producer theory: production functions, costs, supply. Market structures: perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition. Factor pricing: rent, wages, interest, profit theories. |
| Macroeconomics | National income concepts and measurement. Consumption, investment, saving functions; Keynesian theories. Inflation: causes, measures (CPI, WPI), effects. Unemployment: types, natural rate. Monetary policy, fiscal policy, business cycles. |
| Indian Economy | Economic planning: objectives, process, and performance. Agriculture: trends, productivity, green revolution. Industry: types, role, industrial policy changes. Infrastructure: transport, energy, communication sectors. |
| Development Economics | Growth theories: Harrod-Domar, Solow, endogenous growth. Human development: HDI, poverty, inequality measures. Sustainable development, environmental impact. |
3. Statistical Methods and Econometrics (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| Probability Theory | Basic probability concepts, rules, conditional probability. |
| Probability Distributions | Discrete (Binomial, Poisson), Continuous (Normal, Exponential). |
| Sampling Theory | Types of sampling, sampling distribution, Central Limit Theorem. |
| Estimation Theory | Point estimation, interval estimation, properties of estimators. |
| Hypothesis Testing | Null and alternative hypotheses, Type I & II errors, t-test, chi-square test. |
| Regression Analysis | Simple linear regression, multiple regression, assumptions, interpretation. |
| Time Series Analysis | Components: trend, seasonal, cyclical; smoothing methods. |
| Panel Data Econometrics | Fixed effects, random effects models, estimation techniques. |
| Index Numbers | Construction and uses of price and quantity indices. |
4. Indian Economic Policy and Development Experience (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| Planning in India | Evolution of planning: Five Year Plans, NITI Aayog role. |
| Industrial Policy | Industrial licensing, privatization, liberalization reforms. |
| Trade Policy | Foreign trade trends, export-import policies, WTO impact. |
| Monetary Policy | RBI functions, instruments of monetary control, inflation targeting. |
| Fiscal Policy | Government revenue & expenditure, deficit financing, GST. |
| Agricultural Policy | Subsidies, minimum support price, agricultural credit, rural development schemes. |
| Social Sector Policies | Education, health care, poverty alleviation programs (MGNREGA, PMAY). |
| Infrastructure Development | Transport, energy, communication sector reforms and challenges. |
| Economic Reforms Since 1991 | Liberalization, privatization, globalization effects. |
5. Economic Statistics (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| National Accounts | Concepts of GDP, GNP, NNP; methods of estimation (production, income, expenditure). |
| Price Indices | CPI, WPI, GDP deflator; methods of constructing indices, uses, and limitations. |
| Labour & Employment Statistics | Labour force participation, unemployment rates, employment surveys. |
| Population & Demography | Census methodology, population growth trends, migration, fertility, mortality rates. |
| Sample Surveys | Design, data collection methods, non-sampling errors. |
| Data Interpretation | Tabulation, graphical representation, correlation and regression analysis. |
6. Indian Economic Service Specific Topics (100 Marks)
| Topic | Detailed Description |
|---|---|
| Public Finance | Taxation: direct and indirect taxes, tax reforms. Government budgets, fiscal deficit, debt management. |
| International Economics | Theories of international trade, trade policies, balance of payments. Exchange rate systems, IMF, World Bank roles. |
| Environmental Economics | Environmental externalities, cost-benefit analysis, sustainable development policies. |
| Development Economics | Poverty and inequality: measurement, causes, and policies. Human capital formation, education, health, and social welfare. |
Marks Distribution Summary
| Paper No. | Subject | Marks | Duration (Hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General English | 100 | 3 |
| 2 | General Economics | 100 | 3 |
| 3 | Statistical Methods & Econometrics | 100 | 3 |
| 4 | Indian Economic Policy & Development | 100 | 3 |
| 5 | Economic Statistics | 100 | 3 |
| 6 | IES Specific Topics | 100 | 3 |
| Total | 600 | ||
Recommended Books for IES Exam
| Subject | Book Name | Author(s) | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Economics | Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | McGraw Hill |
| Microeconomics | Microeconomic Theory | Andreu Mas-Colell | Oxford University |
| Macroeconomics | Macroeconomics | N. Gregory Mankiw | Worth Publishers |
| Econometrics | Introductory Econometrics | Jeffrey M. Wooldridge | Cengage Learning |
| Statistics | Fundamentals of Statistics | S.C. Gupta | Himalaya Publishing |
| Economic Policy | Economic Policy in India | ISI Publication | Indian Statistical Institute |
| Indian Economy | An Economic History of India | B.R. Tomlinson | Oxford University |
Preparation Tips for IES 2025
- Understand the entire syllabus carefully and break topics into manageable portions.
- Build strong basics in economics and statistics first.
- Use standard textbooks recommended by UPSC toppers.
- Solve previous year papers for pattern and question types.
- Stay updated with current economic affairs, government policies, and reforms.
- Practice writing essays and answers to improve articulation.
- Join coaching or online test series for regular assessment.
- Revise regularly to retain vast syllabus content.
- Develop skills in data interpretation and quantitative techniques.
Specialization & Career Prospects
- Policy Analyst/Advisor in Ministries (Finance, Commerce, Planning)
- Research Officer in Economic Departments
- Consultant for Government & International Agencies
- Roles in Public Sector Undertakings
- Positions in multilateral organizations like IMF, World Bank
Download IES 2025 Official Notification PDF
Here’s the direct link to download the Indian Economic Service (IES) 2025 official notification PDF, which includes the syllabus:
UPSC IES 2025 Notification PDF
You can open and save this PDF — it contains all exam details including the syllabus.
If you want a dedicated syllabus PDF, it’s only available inside this notification file.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What educational qualification is required?
- Postgraduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics, or Econometrics.
- How many papers are there in the written exam?
- Six papers, each of 3 hours duration.
- What is the interview stage?
- Candidates clearing written exam appear for a personality test/interview carrying 200 marks.
- Is the exam conducted online?
- No, the exam is conducted offline (pen and paper).
- Is there negative marking?
- No negative marking in the exam.
Conclusion
The Indian Economic Service exam is highly competitive and requires thorough preparation in economics, statistics, and policy understanding. With this complete, detailed syllabus and effective preparation strategies, aspirants can confidently aim for success in IES 2025.
Focus on conceptual clarity, current economic developments, and consistent practice to achieve your goal of becoming an Indian Economic Service officer.
