UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026 – Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern

About Post: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for prestigious services like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A & Group B posts. Understanding the latest UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026 and exam pattern is the first step for every aspirant.

In this article, you will find the complete UPSC syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview, along with the exam pattern and important topics.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026
UPSC / Quick Overview of Notification.
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UPSC Exam Overview

ComponentDetails
Exam NameUPSC Civil Services Examination
Conducting BodyUnion Public Service Commission
Exam LevelAll India
StagesPrelims, Mains, Interview
Mode of ExamOffline (Pen-Paper)
Type of QuestionsObjective & Descriptive
Negative Marking (Prelims)Yes
LanguageHindi & English

UPSC Exam Pattern 2026

The UPSC exam is conducted in three stages:

  1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

  2. Mains Examination (Descriptive)

  3. Personality Test / Interview

PaperSubjectMarksQuestionsDurationNature
Paper-IGeneral Studies-I2001002 HoursMerit
Paper-IICSAT (General Studies-II)200802 HoursQualifying (33%)

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

General Studies Paper-1

Topics include:

  • Indian History & National Movement

  • Indian & World Geography

  • Indian Polity & Governance

  • Economic & Social Development

  • Environment & Ecology

  • General Science

  • Current Affairs

CSAT (Paper-2)

Includes:

  • Comprehension

  • Logical Reasoning

  • Analytical Ability

  • Decision Making

  • Basic Numeracy

  • Data Interpretation

Note: CSAT is qualifying only (33% required).

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UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2026

Mains consists of 9 descriptive papers:

PaperSubjectMarksCounted for Merit
Paper-AIndian Language300No
Paper-BEnglish300No
Paper-IEssay250Yes
Paper-IIGS-I250Yes
Paper-IIIGS-II250Yes
Paper-IVGS-III250Yes
Paper-VGS-IV250Yes
Paper-VIOptional Paper-1250Yes
Paper-VIIOptional Paper-2250Yes
✔ Total Marks for Merit = 1750
✔ Interview Marks = 275
✔ Grand Total = 2025
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UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 (Detailed)

General Studies Paper-1

Includes:

  • Indian Culture & Heritage

  • Modern Indian History

  • World History

  • Indian Society & Diversity

  • Women, Globalization, Social Issues

General Studies Paper-2

Includes:

  • Indian Constitution

  • Parliament & Governance

  • Welfare Schemes

  • Role of NGOs & SHGs

  • International Relations

General Studies Paper-3

Includes:

  • Indian Economy

  • Agriculture

  • Science & Technology

  • Environment & Biodiversity

  • Disaster Management

  • Security Issues

General Studies Paper-4

Includes:

  • Ethics & Morality

  • Attitude & Emotional Intelligence

  • Public Administration Values

  • Case Studies

UPSC Optional Subject

Candidates can choose one optional subject (two papers). Examples include:

  • Public Administration

  • History

  • Geography

  • Sociology

  • Political Science

  • Anthropology

  • Literature Subjects

  • Engineering Subjects etc.

UPSC Interview

The interview carries 275 marks and tests:

  • Personality

  • Decision Making

  • Communication Skills

  • Awareness

  • Leadership Quality

Important Links Available

Download  Notification

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Official Website

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)👇

Q1. How many stages are there in UPSC Civil Services Exam?
Three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Q2. Is CSAT qualifying?
Yes, you must score 33% marks to qualify.

Q3. How many optional subjects are there?
There are 48 optional subjects.

Q4. In which language can I write the exam?
Candidates may choose Hindi or English.

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UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026

Paritosh Kumar

(Content Creator | 5+ Years Experience)

I regularly publish verified government job notifications, Admit cards, Results, and Exam Updates on SarkariCyber.com. My goal is to present Official information in a clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand format for job Aspirants. Read More

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