UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
- Conducted by
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Question paper languages
- English, Hindi
- Last checked against official sources
Notes and practice for UPSC Prelims are coming soon. Until then, this guide has the official pattern, marking, syllabus and links.
Exam pattern and marking
Paper I: General Studies120 minutes200 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks per question | Negative marking | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studiesto be confirmed | 100 | 2 | 0 | MCQ |
Paper II: General Studies (CSAT), qualifying120 minutes200 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks per question | Negative marking | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSATto be confirmed | 80 | 10/4 | 0 | MCQ |
Two objective papers of 200 marks and 2 hours each, on the same day, in Hindi and English. Penalty: one-third of the marks assigned to the question. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying (33%); merit for Mains shortlisting is on Paper I only. Both papers are mandatory.
MCQ = single correct answer · MSQ = one or more correct answers · NAT / numeric = type a number. Negative marking is the number of marks deducted for a wrong answer.
Syllabus
42 subjects, topics and subtopics from the official syllabus. Tap a subject to expand it.
Explore the syllabus mapCurrent events of national and international importance3
- National affairs
- International relations and events
- Government schemes and reports
History of India and Indian National Movement4
- Ancient India
- Medieval India
- Modern India and the national movement
- Art and culture
Indian and World Geography3
- Physical geography of India and the world
- Social geography
- Economic geography
Indian Polity and Governance5
- Constitution
- Political system
- Panchayati Raj
- Public policy
- Rights issues
Economic and Social Development5
- Sustainable development
- Poverty and inclusion
- Demographics
- Social sector initiatives
- Macro-economy: growth, money, banking, fiscal policy
Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change3
- Ecology and ecosystems
- Biodiversity and conservation
- Climate change
General Science4
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology and health
- Science and technology: space, IT, biotech, defence
CSAT (General Studies Paper II)7
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy: numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude (Class X)
- Data interpretation: charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency (Class X)
Official sources
Always confirm details on the official website before applying.