UPSC PRELIMS SYLLABUS 2026 |PDF DOWNLOAD

UPSC Syllabus 2026 PDF

The UPSC syllabus PDF serves as a roadmap for candidates, providing them with a clear understanding of what is expected in each stage of the examination, which includes the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, and the Personality Test (Interview). Candidates can download the UPSC Syllabus PDF for Prelims and Mains from the following links:

• UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF
• UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2025

The Civil Services Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It serves only as a screening test to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. The marks obtained in the Prelims are not counted towards the final merit list.

Particulars	Details
Number of Papers	2 compulsory papers
Type of Questions	Objective / Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Total Marks	400 (200 marks each paper)
Duration	2 hours for each paper (extra 20 minutes per hour for candidates with benchmark disabilities such as blindness, locomotor disability, or cerebral palsy – minimum 40% impairment)
Negative Marking	1/3rd of the marks allotted to a question
Medium of Exam	Bilingual – English and Hindi

Paper I – General Studies (GS Paper I)

Total Questions: 100
Total Marks: 200
Duration: 2 hours

• The questions are designed to test a candidate’s general awareness and understanding of current and historical events. The syllabus includes:
• Current events of national and international importance
• History of India and the Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the world
• Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, and Social Sector Initiatives
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change (no specialized knowledge required)
• General Science

Paper II – Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Total Questions: 80
Total Marks: 200
Duration: 2 hours

This paper evaluates analytical, comprehension, and decision-making skills. It covers the following topics:

• Reading comprehension
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy (numbers, relations, orders of magnitude, etc. – Class X level)
• Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, and data sufficiency – Class X level)

For more details and the latest updates, refer to the official UPSC notification https://upsc.gov.in/