UPSC CSE 2026 Complete Information & Syllabus
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is considered one of the most prestigious and challenging competitive examinations in India. It is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select capable candidates for some of the highest positions in the Indian government, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Revenue Service (IRS), along with several other central services. Through this examination, the government recruits individuals who will play a crucial role in policy implementation, administration, law enforcement, and international diplomacy. Because of the wide range of responsibilities these officers handle, the examination is designed to test not only a candidate’s knowledge but also their analytical ability, decision-making skills, awareness of national and global issues, and overall personality. Therefore, understanding the UPSC syllabus is the very first and most important step for any aspirant. A clear understanding of the syllabus helps candidates plan their preparation systematically, choose the right study materials, focus on important topics, and build a strong strategy for each stage of the exam: Preliminary, Mains, and the Interview. Without a proper understanding of what the exam demands, preparation can easily become unfocused and overwhelming. Hence, knowing the syllabus thoroughly provides direction, clarity, and confidence throughout the preparation journey.
UPSC CSE 2026 Overview
UPSC Civil Services Examination – Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Duration | Total Marks | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I – General Studies | 2 Hours | 200 | 100 | 2 | 1/3rd (0.66) |
| Paper II – CSAT | 2 Hours | 200 | 80 | 2.5 | 1/3rd (0.83) |
Note:
- Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature.
- Candidates must score minimum 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify.
UPSC Civil Services Examination – Mains Examination
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| Indian Language (Qualifying Paper A) | 300 |
| English (Qualifying Paper B) | 300 |
| Essay | 250 |
| GS Paper I – Indian Heritage & Culture, Modern Indian History, Society, World & Indian Geography | 250 |
| GS Paper II – Polity, Constitution, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations | 250 |
| GS Paper III – Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, Internal Security | 250 |
| GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | 250 |
| Optional Subject Paper I | 250 |
| Optional Subject Paper II | 250 |
| Total (for merit calculation) | 1750 Marks |
Note:
- Each paper duration is 3 hours.
- Indian Language (Paper A) and English (Paper B) are qualifying papers.
- Paper A language can be chosen from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
UPSC Civil Services Examination – Interview Stage
| Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 |
Final Merit Total = 1750 (Mains) + 275 (Interview) = 2025 Marks
UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims Syllabus (GS Paper I & II)
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Both papers contain multiple-choice questions and carry 200 marks each. The main purpose of this stage is to screen candidates for the next stage of the exam, which is the Mains Examination. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final merit list; they are only used to determine which candidates qualify for the Mains. Therefore, the Prelims act as a filtering stage, ensuring that only the most prepared candidates move forward in the selection process.
GS Paper I Syllabus:
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, 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, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.
- General Science.
GS Paper II (CSAT) Syllabus:
- 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, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level);
UPSC CSE 2026 Mains Syllabus
The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination is the second stage of the selection process and is conducted after candidates qualify the Preliminary Examination. It consists of two parts: a written examination and an Interview or Personality Test. The written examination includes nine descriptive papers, where candidates have to write detailed answers instead of selecting options like in the Prelims. Out of these nine papers, two papers are qualifying in nature (Indian Language and English), which means candidates only need to secure the minimum required marks in them. The marks obtained in the remaining papers are considered for preparing the final merit list, which plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s rank and service allocation.
General Studies-I
Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
- Indian Culture – Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.
- The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
- Post-independence Consolidation and Reorganization within the country.
- History of the World including events from the 18th century such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc.— their forms and effect on society.
- Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
- Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
- Effects of Globalization on Indian society.
- Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism & Secularism.
- Salient features of World’s Physical Geography.
- Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
- Important Geophysical Phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclones etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Art & Culture
Indian Culture – Salient Aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Indian Art Forms | Overview of traditional and classical art traditions of India |
| Indian Paintings | Mural Paintings, Miniature Paintings, Mughal Paintings, Rajput Paintings, Pahari Paintings |
| Dance in India | Classical Dance Forms, Folk Dance Forms, Modern Dance |
| Music | Classical Music, Folk Music |
| Puppetry | String Puppets, Shadow Puppets, Rod Puppets, Glove Puppets, Modern Puppetry, Tribal Puppetry |
| Pottery | Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), Black and Red Ware (BRW), Painted Grey Ware (PGW), Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), Glazed and Unglazed Pottery |
| Drama / Theatre | Classical Sanskrit Theatre, Regional Theatre, Modern Theatre |
| Martial Arts | Thang Ta, Gatka, Kalaripayattu, Mallakhamb, Silambam, Other Important Martial Arts |
| Visual Art | Sculptures of Harappan Civilization, Mauryan Age Sculptures, Post-Mauryan Sculptures, Jain Sculptures, Buddhist Sculptures, Gupta Sculptures, Medieval School of Sculpture, Modern Indian Sculpture |
| Bhakti & Sufi Movements | Spread of Bhakti and Sufi Movements, Women Poets of Bhakti Movement |
| Literature | Classical Sanskrit Literature, Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Works of Kalidasa and Vishakhadatta, Ancient Buddhist Literature, Ancient Jain Literature, Early Dravidian Literature (Sangam Period), Medieval Literature and its Trends, Modern Indian Literature |
| Architecture | Harappan Architecture, Mauryan Architecture, Post-Mauryan & Gupta Architecture |
| Temple Architecture | Nagara Style, Dravida Style, Vesara Style |
| Cave Architecture | Buddhist Caves, Jaina Caves, Gupta Period Caves |
| Medieval & Indo-Islamic Architecture | Imperial Style of Delhi Sultanate, Provincial Style, Mughal Style, Sikh Style of Architecture, Rajput Architecture |
| Colonial & Modern Architecture | European Influence, Indo-Saracenic Architecture, Post-Independence Architecture |
| Contribution of Religions | Contribution of Buddhism and Jainism to the Development of Indian Architecture |
| Rock-Cut Architecture | South Indian Rock-Cut Architecture, Western Indian Rock-Cut Architecture, Eastern Indian Rock-Cut Architecture |
Ancient History
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Pre-Historic Period | Stone Age, Chalcolithic Age, Iron Age |
| Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) | Town Planning, Harappan Society, Characteristics of Major Centers, Harappan Art & Architecture, Decline of Harappan Culture |
| Vedic Society | Original Home of Aryans, Socio-Economic Characteristics of Vedic Society, Vedic Literature, Social Organization and Varna System, Religion and Thought |
| Pre-Mauryan Period | Mahajanapadas, Haryanka Dynasty, Shishunaga Dynasty, Nanda Dynasty |
| Jainism and Buddhism | Gautama Buddha, Mahavira, Growth and Spread of Jainism and Buddhism |
| Mauryan Empire | Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara, Arthashastra (by Kautilya), Megasthenes, Ashoka and His Successors, Ashoka’s Inscriptions and Sites, Ashoka’s Dhamma, Mauryan Administration, Economy, Society and Art, Decline of Mauryan Empire |
| Post-Mauryan India | Arrival of Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians and Kushanas; Satavahanas and Other Indigenous Dynasties; Schools of Art – Gandhara, Mathura, Amravati |
| Imperial Guptas | Political History of Guptas, Gupta Administration, Development of Art and Culture, Golden Age of Guptas, Economic Conditions, Urban Centres in the Gupta Period |
| Harshavardhana | Sources for Harsha’s Period, Early Life of Harsha, Harsha’s Administration, Important Officials, Economy under Harsha, Hiuen Tsang, Society, Religion |
| Southern Dynasties | Satavahanas (230 BC–225 AD), Pallavas (330–796 AD), Chalukyas (535–1190 AD), Pandyas of Madurai (590–1323 AD), Chola Dynasty (850–1310 AD), Rashtrakutas (753–973 AD) |
Medieval History
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Delhi Sultanate | Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk Dynasty, Khilji Dynasty, Tughluq Dynasty, Sayyid Dynasty, Lodi Dynasty |
| Struggle for Empire in North India | Conflict among Afghans, Rajputs and Mughals |
| Mughal Empire | Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb |
| Later Mughals | Successors of Aurangzeb and weakening of central authority |
| Decline of Mughal Empire | Political instability, regional revolts, economic decline, rise of regional powers |
| Sur Dynasty | Sher Shah Suri and his successors; administration and reforms |
| Maratha Empire | Rise of Marathas and expansion of Maratha power |
| Deccan Sultanates | Ahmednagar Sultanate, Bijapur Sultanate, Berar Sultanate, Golconda Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate |
Modern History
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Modern Indian History (18th Century onwards) | Significant events, personalities and issues from the mid-18th century to the present |
| Freedom Struggle | Various stages of the freedom movement and contributions from different regions of India |
| Important Events Before 1857 | Later Mughals, Rise of Regional Powers in the 18th Century, Carnatic Wars, Battle of Plassey and Buxar, Anglo-Mysore Wars, Anglo-Punjab Wars |
| Socio-Economic Conditions | Socio-economic condition of people under early British rule |
| European Penetration in India | Arrival and expansion of European trading companies |
| British Conquest of India | Expansion of British political control across India |
| British Policies and Their Impact | Economic exploitation, administrative changes, socio-cultural impact |
| Socio-Cultural Reform Movements | Reform movements addressing social and religious issues |
| Uprisings Before 1857 | Various rebellions and resistance movements against British rule before 1857 |
| Revolt of 1857 | Causes, leaders and nature of the revolt; suppression of the revolt; consequences; Government of India Act 1858 |
| Growth of Nationalism (1858–1905) | Political, economic and administrative unification; role of Western education; role of the press; rediscovery of India’s past; early political movements |
| Formation of Indian National Congress (INC) | Establishment and early activities of INC |
| Era of Moderates | Moderate leadership and constitutional methods of protest |
| Rise of Militant Nationalism (1905–1918) | Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, Surat Split, international influences, Morley–Minto Reforms, growth of communalism |
| Beginning of Mass Nationalism (1919–1939) | Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership, Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, Rowlatt Act, Satyagraha, Jallianwala Bagh Massacre |
| Major Movements | Non-Cooperation Movement, Khilafat Movement |
| Political Developments | Swarajists and No-Changers, emergence of socialist ideas, youth movements, trade unionism |
| Revolutionary Activities | Activities of revolutionary groups against British rule |
| Constitutional Developments | Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Civil Disobedience Movement, Round Table Conferences |
| Communal Issues | Communal Award and Poona Pact |
| Political Participation | Elections to Central Legislature (1934) and Provincial Assemblies (1937), Government of India Act 1935 |
| Towards Independence and Partition (1939–1947) | National movement during World War II, August Offer, Individual Satyagraha, growth of communalism |
| Major Developments During WWII | Peasant movements, State People’s movements, Cripps Mission |
| Final Phase of Freedom Struggle | Quit India Movement, Wavell Plan, INA and Subhash Chandra Bose, Cabinet Mission |
| End of Colonial Rule | Nationalist upsurge after World War II and Independence with Partition (1947) |
Post-Independence India
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Nation Building | Partition and its aftermath, Integration of Princely States |
| Reorganisation of States | Linguistic Regionalism in India, State Reorganisation |
| Language Issues | Issue of Official Language |
| Tribal and Regional Issues | Tribal Consolidation, Regional Aspirations |
| Foreign Policy | Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Panchsheel, Wars with Pakistan and China, Nuclear Policy |
| Economy | Planned Development, Green Revolution, Operation Flood and Cooperatives, Agrarian and Land Reforms, Industrial Reforms, LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) Reforms |
| Polity | Era of One-Party Dominance, Emergence of Opposition Parties, Emergency and Crisis of Democratic Order, Rise of Regional Parties, Coalition Era |
| Social Changes | Popular Movements, Communalism |
| Women in Post-Independence India | Status of Indian Women since Independence, Women’s Issues and Evolution of Women’s Movements |
| Internal Security Issues | Naxalism |
| Science and Technology Policy | Post-Independence Science and Technology Policy, India’s Policy in the Field of Science and Technology, Impact of Economic Reforms on Science and Technology in India |
World History
History of the World will include events from 18th century such as Industrial Revolution, world wars, Redrawal of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, political philosophies like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Beginning of the Modern World | Renaissance, Discovery of Sea Routes, Reformation, Counter Reformation |
| Industrial Revolution | Causes, technological innovations, economic and social impacts |
| European Expansion in the Americas | European Nations Settling in North America, Rise of Slave Trade |
| American Revolution | Foundation of American Colonies, American War of Independence, Independence of the United States of America, American Revolutionary War, Impact of the American Revolution |
| US Civil War | Causes and course of the war, Impact on the USA, Global Impact of the Civil War, Impact on India |
| French Revolution | Causes of the Revolution, The Revolution in France, France under Napoleon, Impact and Significance of the Revolution |
| Nationalism in Europe | Rise of the Nation-State System, Unification of Italy, Unification of Germany |
| Rise of Capitalism, Colonialism and Imperialism | Colonialism, Age of Imperialism (1870–1914), Imperialism in Asia, Analysis of Colonialism |
| World War I | Causes of the War, Scope and Course of the War |
| Russian Revolution | Major Events in Pre-Revolution Russia, Causes, Course of the Revolution, Consequences |
| Aftermath of World War I | Post-Lenin Russia, End of the War and Peace Treaties, Consequences of the War, League of Nations |
| World Between the Two Wars | Europe after the War – Fascism and Nazism, The Great Depression, Emergence of the Soviet Union, Nationalist Movements in Asia and Africa, Rise of the USA as a Strong Power |
| World War II | Fascist Aggression and Response of Western Democracies, Outbreak of the War, Theatres of the War, US Entry into the War, Global Nature of the War, The Holocaust, Resistance Movements |
| After-effects of World War II | Decolonisation and Redrawal of National Boundaries, Europe after World War II |
| Cold War Era | Cold War Politics, Rise of Asia and Africa, Developments in West Asia and North Africa, Spread of Communism |
| Major Cold War Conflicts | Korean War, Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis |
| End of Cold War | Collapse of the Soviet Union |
| Political Philosophies | Concept, Types and Social Impact of Political Philosophies – Communism, Capitalism, Socialism |
Indian Society
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Salient Features of Indian Society | Features of Indian Society, Diversity in India (Caste, Linguistic, Social, Religious, Race, Tribe, Ethnicity, Culture), Challenges of Diversity, Unity, Pluralism, Unity in Diversity, Inequality and Exclusion, Family System, Examples |
| Role of Women and Women’s Organizations | Women’s Organizations in Indian History, Types of Women’s Organizations, Level of Penetration, 19th Century Social Reform Movements and Early Women’s Organizations, Agrarian Struggles and Revolts, Participation in Freedom Struggle, Women’s Organizations (with examples), Problems faced by Women’s Organizations, Possibility of Larger Vocal Role and Ways to Achieve It, Role of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Microfinance Institutions |
| Population and Associated Issues | Basic Demography of India, Population Trends and Implications, Causes and Effects of Overpopulation, Challenges of Population Explosion, Changing Age Structure, Demographic Dividend – Boon or Bane, Population Ageing in India, India’s Population Policy and Initiatives |
| Poverty and Developmental Issues | Concept of Development and Poverty, Types of Poverty, Measurement of Poverty (Poverty Line), Causes of Poverty, Poverty as a Social Problem, Socio-Economic Spread of Poverty, Consequences of Poverty (Inequality, Vicious Cycle), Groups Most Affected by Poverty, Rising Urban Poverty, Poverty Alleviation Initiatives, Policy Shift from Trickle-Down to Inclusive Development, Poverty–Inequality–Development Nexus |
| Urbanisation, Problems and Remedies | Urbanisation Trends and Implications (Demographic and Social), Factors Driving Urbanisation, State of Service Delivery and Challenges, Problems of Urban Areas, Social Consequences of Urbanisation, Impact on Rural Areas, Urban Planning and Role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Required Reforms and Government Initiatives, Problems of Slums |
| Effects of Globalisation on Indian Society | Understanding Globalisation and Its Dimensions, Globalisation and Culture (Homogenisation vs Glocalisation), Factors Driving Globalisation, Globalisation and India, Socio-cultural and Economic Impact, Impact on Women and Agrarian Sector, Debate on Globalisation and Poverty |
| Social Empowerment | Socially Disadvantaged Groups, Meaning and Concept of Social Empowerment, Dimensions of Social Empowerment, Need for Social Empowerment, Government Initiatives, Practical Reality and India’s Experience |
| Communalism | Characteristics of Communalism, Communalism in India (Historical and Contemporary), Causes, Consequences, Measures to Control and Eradicate Communalism, Secularism as an Antidote |
| Regionalism | Concept of Region and Regionalism, Forms of Regionalism, Regionalism in India, Causes, Concept of ‘Sons of Soil’, Consequences, Federalism and Regionalism, Role of Regional Parties, Measures to Contain Regionalism, Regionalism in the International Context |
| Secularism | Concept of Secularism, Indian Model of Secularism, Nature and Practice of Secularism in India, Uniform Civil Code, Challenges to Secularism in India, Measures to Strengthen Secularism |
World and Indian Geography
| Major Theme | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Salient Features of World’s Physical Geography | Overview of major physical features and processes of the Earth |
| Geomorphology | Origin & Evolution of Earth, Interior of the Earth, Distribution of Continents & Oceans, Plate Tectonic Theory, Distribution of Earthquakes & Volcanoes, Rocks & Rock Cycle, Geomorphic Processes (Endogenic & Exogenic), Landforms and their Evolution, Geological Time Scale |
| Oceanography | Hydrological Cycle, Seafloor Spreading, Ocean Floor Configuration, Temperature and Salinity of Oceans, Movement of Oceans – Waves, Tides and Currents |
| Climatology | Composition and Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere, Solar Radiation, Heat Budget and Temperature, Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems, World Climate (with examples) |
| Soil Geography | Soil and Soil Contents, Process of Soil Formation, Soil Forming Factors, Types of Soils (with examples), Soil Erosion and Conservation |
| Distribution of Natural Resources | Distribution of Key Natural Resources across the World including South Asia and the Indian Subcontinent |
| Types of Resources | Classification on the Basis of Origin, Ownership, Exhaustibility etc. |
| Land Resources | Land Utilisation, Land Use Pattern, Land Degradation and Conservation |
| Forest Resources | Types and Distribution (Grasslands, Forests etc.), Causes of Depletion, Conservation of Forests |
| Water Resources | Marine and Freshwater Resources, Water Scarcity and Need for Conservation, Integrated Water Resources Management |
| Agricultural Resources | Types of Farming, Cropping Patterns, Contribution to Economy, Employment and Output, Food Security |
| Mineral and Energy Resources | Classification of Minerals (Ferrous and Non-Ferrous), Occurrence of Minerals, Conservation of Minerals, Classification of Energy Resources (Conventional and Non-Conventional), Occurrence and Conservation of Energy Resources |
| Location of Industries | Factors responsible for the location of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sector Industries across the World and India |
| Industrial Location Factors | Raw Material, Labour, Market, Capital, Land, Grants and Financial Incentives, Power, Transport, Water, Communication |
| Distribution of Major Industries | Iron and Steel Industry, Information Technology Industry, Cotton Textile Industry |
| Industrial Patterns | Agglomeration of Industries, Footloose Industries |
| Important Geophysical Phenomena | Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic Activity, Cyclones and their geographical impacts |
| Earthquakes | Causes of Earthquakes, Earthquake Waves, Shadow Zone, Types of Earthquakes, Measurement of Earthquakes, Effects of Earthquakes |
| Tsunami | Causes of Tsunami, Effects of Tsunami, Mitigation of Tsunami Impacts |
| Volcanoes | Types of Volcanoes, Causes of Volcanic Activity, Volcanic Landforms, Intrusive Volcanic Landforms, Extrusive Volcanic Landforms, Distribution of Volcanoes |
| Cyclones | Tropical Cyclones, Anti-Cyclones, Extra-Tropical Cyclones |
| Changes in Critical Geographical Features | Factors causing changes in geographical features, Examples – Melting of Ice Sheets, Desertification etc., Impact of changing geographical features |
| Physical Geography of India | Physiography of India, Drainage System, Climate, Soils of India, Natural Vegetation |
| Human Geography of India | Demography, Urbanisation, Census |
| Economic Geography of India | Agriculture, Mineral Resources, Energy Resources, Industry, Transport and Communication |
Syllabus (Optional Subjects)
The syllabus for the optional subject papers (Paper VI and Paper VII) in the examination is designed to be at the honours degree level. This is higher than a bachelor’s degree but lower than a master’s degree. For disciplines such as Engineering, Medical Science, and Law, the syllabus is aligned with the bachelor’s degree level.
UPSC CSE – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
1. Who is eligible to apply for the UPSC Civil Services Examination?
To apply for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, a candidate must meet certain eligibility conditions. For services like IAS, IPS, and IFS, the candidate must be a citizen of India. For other services, people who are citizens of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962, or persons of Indian origin from certain specified countries can also apply. The age limit is between 21 and 32 years, and the age is calculated as of 1st August of the exam year. However, there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to reserved categories. In terms of education, a candidate must have completed a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
2. How many attempts are allowed?
The number of attempts depends on the category of the candidate. General category candidates get 6 attempts, OBC candidates get 9 attempts, while SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts within the age limit. For PwBD candidates, General, EWS, and OBC candidates get 9 attempts, while SC/ST PwBD candidates have unlimited attempts.
3. What are the stages of the Civil Services Examination?
The examination has three stages. The first stage is the Preliminary Examination, which is an objective-type exam with two papers (General Studies and CSAT). Candidates who clear this stage move to the Main Examination, which consists of nine descriptive papers. Those who qualify the Mains are called for the Interview or Personality Test, which is the final stage.
4. What is the application fee?
Candidates belonging to the General, OBC, and EWS categories must pay Rs. 100 as the application fee. However, women candidates, SC/ST candidates, and persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) do not have to pay any fee.
5. What documents are required to apply?
While filling out the application form, candidates need to provide certain documents. These include a valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, or passport, educational certificates showing proof of graduation, and a caste or category certificate if they are claiming reservation. Candidates must also upload scanned copies of their photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
6. Can category or service preference be changed after submitting the form?
No. Once the application form is submitted, requests to change category (such as from OBC to SC/ST) are not accepted. Similarly, service preferences selected during the application process cannot be changed later, so candidates must choose them carefully.
7. How are candidates selected for the Main Examination?
Only those candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination are allowed to appear for the Main Examination.
8. How many candidates are selected for the Mains?
Generally, the number of candidates selected for the Main Examination is about 12 to 13 times the total number of vacancies. For example, if there are 1000 vacancies, around 12,000 to 13,000 candidates may be selected for the Mains.
9. How many candidates are selected for the Interview?
From the candidates who appear in the Mains, around 2.5 to 3 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for the Interview or Personality Test.
10. Is there relaxation for differently-abled candidates?
Yes, candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) are given relaxation in age limits and number of attempts, depending on their category.
11. How can candidates apply for the exam?
Candidates must apply online through the official UPSC website. The application process usually involves registration, filling personal and academic details, uploading documents, and paying the application fee.
12. Are Prelims marks counted in the final result?
No. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not counted in the final merit list. Prelims only act as a screening stage to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
13. Is it compulsory to appear in both Prelims papers?
Yes. Candidates must appear in both papers of the Preliminary Examination. If they fail to appear in one of the papers, they will not be considered for evaluation.
14. If I appear in only one paper, will it count as an attempt?
Yes. Even if a candidate appears in only one paper of the Prelims, it will still be counted as one attempt.
15. What happens if a candidate misses one of the Prelims papers?
If a candidate does not appear in both papers, they will be disqualified from the evaluation process.
16. How many candidates usually qualify for the Mains?
Generally, 12–13 times the number of vacancies are selected from the Prelims to appear for the Main Examination.
17. What happens if someone reaches the interview stage but is not selected?
Candidates who reach the interview stage but are not recommended may choose to share their details with registered public and private sector organizations, which may offer them employment opportunities.
18. Which disabilities are eligible under PwBD reservation?
Reservation is available for candidates with certain disabilities such as blindness or low vision, deafness or hearing impairment, locomotor disabilities (including cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, acid attack victims), and multiple disabilities.
19. What is the format of the qualifying papers in Mains?
There are two qualifying papers in the Main Examination: Paper A (Indian Language) and Paper B (English), each carrying 300 marks. Candidates must score at least 25% marks in each to have their other papers evaluated.
20. Can candidates with disabilities avail reservation?
Yes. Candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) can avail reservation, provided they meet the specified eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification.
21. Can the examination center be changed after submitting the form?
No. Once the application form is submitted, requests to change the examination center are not accepted.
22. What is the examination fee for UPSC CSE 2026?
The fee is Rs. 100 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, while women, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted from paying the fee.
23. How can candidates apply for UPSC CSE?
Applications must be submitted online through the UPSC official website using the One-Time Registration (OTR) system.
24. Can the OTR profile be modified after submission?
Yes, certain details in the OTR profile can be updated or modified, but candidates should ensure that all information provided is accurate and correct before final submission.
