Overview of the major topics covered in Paper II:

The Paper II of UPSC covers a wide range of topics that are essential for understanding and analyzing the political, social, and economic aspects of society. This paper aims to evaluate the candidate's knowledge and understanding of various subjects related to governance, constitution, social justice, and international relations. Here is an overview of the major topics covered in Paper II:

1. Indian Constitution:
- Basic features, structure, and amendments of the Indian Constitution.
- Fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, and fundamental duties.
- Powers and functions of various constitutional bodies like the President, Parliament, Judiciary, and Election Commission.
- Constitutional provisions related to emergency provisions, federalism, and center-state relations.

2. Governance and Polity:
- Indian political system and its evolution.
- Public administration and governance in India.
- Role of bureaucracy, civil services, and their accountability.
- Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies.
- Issues related to transparency and accountability in governance.

3. Social Justice:
- Social inclusion, empowerment, and welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of society.
- Caste, religion, gender, and other social issues.
- Affirmative action policies, reservation, and their impact.

4. International Relations:
- India's foreign policy and its objectives.
- Bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries.
- International organizations and their role in global governance.
- India's role in global issues like climate change, terrorism, and trade.

5. Current Affairs:
- Recent events, policies, and developments at the national and international levels.
- Issues of national and international importance.
- Government schemes and initiatives.

6. Analytical Ability:
- Logical reasoning, data interpretation, and problem-solving skills.
- Analyzing and interpreting graphs, charts, and data.

Overall, Paper II of UPSC is designed to test the candidate's understanding of the Indian Constitution, governance, social justice, international relations, and their ability to analyze and interpret information. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and economic aspects of society, along with a strong grasp of current affairs.