The Syllabus of Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination conducted by the UPSC to be effective from 2016 is given as under:
The standard of papers in General English and General Studies will be such as may be expected of a graduate of an Indian University. The standard of papers in the other subjects will be that of the Master's degree examination of an Indian University in the relevant disciplines.
The candidates will be expected to illustrate theory by facts, and to analyze problems with the help of theory. They will be expected to be particularly conversant with Indian problems in the field of Economic/Statistics.
Candidates will be required to write an essay in English. Other questions will be designed to test their understanding of English and workmanlike use of words. Passages will usually be set for summary or precise.
General Knowledge including knowledge of current events and of such matters of every day observation and experience in their scientific aspects as may be expected of an educated person who has not made a special study of any scientific subject.
The paper will also include questions on Indian Polity including the political system and the Constitution of India, History of India and Geography of a nature which the candidate should be able to answer without special study.