Management Optional Syllabus for UPSC 2025
Complete syllabus guide for Management Optional in UPSC Civil Services Examination. Master both papers with our comprehensive study material.
The candidate should make a study of the concept of development of Management as science and art drawing upon the contributions of leading thinkers of management and apply the concepts to the real life of government and business decision-making keeping in view the changes in the strategic and operative environment.
Paper I
1. Managerial Function and Process
Concept and foundations of management
Evolution of Management Thoughts
Core Functions
- Planning
- Organizing
- Controlling
- Decision-making
Key Areas
- Role of Manager
- Managerial skills
- Entrepreneurship
- Management of innovation
- Managing in a global environment
- Flexible Systems Management
- Social responsibility and managerial ethics
- Process and customer orientation
- Managerial processes on direct and indirect value chain
2. Organisational Behaviour and Design
Individual Processes
- Personality
- Values and attitude
- Perception
- Motivation
- Learning and reinforcement
- Work stress and stress management
Organization Dynamics
- Power and politics
- Conflict and negotiation
- Leadership process and styles
- Communication
Organizational Design
- Classical approaches
- Neoclassical approaches
- Contingency approaches
- Organizational culture
- Managing cultural diversity
- Learning Organization
- Organizational change and development
- Knowledge Based Enterprise
- Networked and virtual organizations
3. Human Resource Management
HR challenges
HRM functions
Strategic Management of human resources
Human resource planning
Job analysis and evaluation
Recruitment and selection
Training and development
Promotion and transfer
Performance management
Compensation management and benefits
Employee morale and productivity
Management of Organizational climate
Industrial relations
Human resources accounting and audit
Human resource information system
International human resource management
4. Accounting for Managers
Financial Accounting
- Concept, importance and scope
- Generally accepted accounting principles
- Preparation of financial statements
- Analysis of balance sheet
- Measurement of business income
- Inventory valuation and depreciation
- Financial statement analysis
- Fund flow analysis
- Statement of cash flows
Management Accounting
- Cost accounting records and processes
- Cost ledger and control accounts
- Reconciliation and integration
- Overhead cost and control
- Job and process costing
- Budget and budgetary control
- Performance budgeting
- Zero-base budgeting
- Relevant costing
- Standard costing and variance analysis
- Marginal costing and absorption costing
5. Financial Management
Goal of Finance Function
Concepts of value and return
Valuation of bonds and Shares
Management of working capital
Cost of capital
Capital budgeting
Financial and operating leverage
Design of capital structure
Shareholder value creation
Capital and money markets
Leasing hire purchase and venture capital
Risk and return
Financial derivatives
Recent reforms in financial sector
6. Marketing Management
Concept, evolution and scope
Marketing strategy formulation
Segmenting and targeting
Positioning and differentiation
Analyzing competition and consumer markets
Market research
Product strategy
Pricing strategies
Marketing channels
Integrated marketing communications
Customer satisfaction and retention
Services and non-profit marketing
Ethics in marketing
Internet marketing
Retail management
Customer relationship management
Holistic marketing
Paper II
1. Quantitative Techniques in Decision-making
Statistical Methods
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Inferential statistics
- Hypothesis testing
- Chi-square and ANOVA
- Correlation and regression
- Time series and forecasting
Decision Tools
- Decision theory
- Index numbers
- Linear programming
- Sensitivity analysis
2. Production and Operations Management
Operations management fundamentals
Aggregate production planning
Capacity and facility planning
Production control
Supply chain management
Quality management
Six Sigma
Manufacturing systems flexibility
Project management
R&D management
Service operations
Materials management
Inventory control
Waste management
3. Management Information System
Information systems foundations
Information resource management
Systems Development
Project implementation and control
Information technology trends
Data resources management
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Expert systems
e-Business architecture
e-Governance
Information systems planning
User involvement and evaluation
4. Government Business Interface
State participation in business
Government-Business interaction
Small Scale Industries policy
Enterprise establishment clearances
Public Distribution System
Price and distribution control
Consumer Protection Act
New Industrial Policy
Indian planning system
Backward areas development
Environmental protection
Corporate Governance
Cyber Laws
5. Strategic Cost Management
Strategic management scope
Strategic planning process
Environmental and internal analysis
Strategic analysis tools
Value chain concept
Competitive strategies
Growth strategies
Core competence
Strategic flexibility
Strategy implementation
Strategic alliances
Mergers and Acquisitions
Indian context evolution
6. International Business
International Business Environment
India's Foreign Trade
International trade financing
Regional Economic Cooperation
International production
Global operations management
International Taxation
Global competitiveness
Global E-Business
Multicultural management
Global marketing
Export Management
Joint Ventures
Foreign Investment
Foreign Exchange Management
International Banking
Country Risk Analysis
Note: This syllabus requires a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical concepts and their practical applications. Special attention should be given to case studies, current business scenarios, and the integration of various management functions.
Recommended Study Resources
Essential Books and Publications
- • Principles of Management - Standard Reference
- • Organizational Behavior and Leadership
- • Financial Management and Accounting
- • Marketing Management Principles
- • Strategic Management Guide
Reference Materials
- • Harvard Business Review Articles
- • Case Studies Collection
- • Management Research Papers
- • Industry Reports and Analysis
Study Aids
- • Previous Years' UPSC Question Papers (Management Optional)
- • Model Answer Writing Practice Sets
- • Management Concept Maps
- • Strategic Analysis Templates
Online Resources
- • Management Theory Video Lectures
- • Business Case Analysis Tools
- • Financial Modeling Templates
- • Marketing Strategy Frameworks
Journals and Periodicals
- • Harvard Business Review
- • Academy of Management Journal
- • Strategic Management Journal
- • International Business Review