UPSC Exam Syllabus (IAS, IPS, IFS Exam Syllabus)

UPSC Syllabus 2026: Complete UPSC Exam Syllabus for Prelims, Mains & Interview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit candidates for prestigious services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and various Central Group A and Group B services.

The UPSC Civil Services Examination consists of three stages:

• Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
• Main Examination (Mains)
• Personality Test (Interview)

Candidates must clear each stage to proceed to the next. The Preliminary Examination is qualifying in nature for selection to the Main Examination, while the final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in the Mains Examination and the Personality Test.

UPSC Exam Pattern 2026

Total Marks (Mains + Interview): 2025

UPSC Preliminary Examination (Prelims) Syllabus

The UPSC Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers conducted on the same day.

Paper-I: General Studies (GS)

Total Marks: 200

Duration: 2 Hours

Negative Marking: One-third (0.33) marks deducted for every incorrect answer.

Topics Covered

Current Events

• National and international current affairs.
• Government schemes and policies.
• Economic developments.
• Science and technology updates.
• International organizations and reports.

History of India and Indian National Movement

• Ancient Indian history.
• Medieval India.
• Modern Indian history.
• Freedom struggle.
• Important movements and personalities.

Indian and World Geography

• Physical geography.
• Indian geography.
• World geography.
• Climate and weather.
• Agriculture and industries.
• Important geographical phenomena.

Indian Polity and Governance

• Constitution of India.
• Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Executive and Judiciary.
• Panchayati Raj.
• Constitutional and statutory bodies.
• Public policy and rights issues.

Economic and Social Development

• Poverty and unemployment.
• Inclusive growth.
• Budget and taxation.
• Sustainable development.
• Social sector initiatives.
• Demographics and urbanization.

Environment and Ecology

• Biodiversity.
• Climate change.
• Conservation efforts.
• Environmental organizations.
• Pollution and environmental laws.

General Science

• Physics.
• Chemistry.
• Biology.
• Everyday science.
• Recent developments in science and technology.

Paper-II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Total Marks: 200

Duration: 2 Hours

Qualifying Marks: 33%

Topics Covered

Comprehension

• Reading passages.
• Interpretation of information.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Analytical communication.

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

• Coding-decoding.
• Blood relations.
• Syllogisms.
• Statement and conclusion.

Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

• Case-based questions.
• Decision-making ability.

General Mental Ability

• Number systems.
• Percentages.
• Profit and loss.
• Time and work.
• Speed, distance, and time.

Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)

• Arithmetic.
• Algebra.
• Geometry.

Data Interpretation

• Tables.
• Charts.
• Graphs.
• Data sufficiency.

Note: Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature. Candidates need to secure at least 33% marks.

UPSC Main Examination (Mains) Syllabus

The UPSC Main Examination consists of nine descriptive papers. Out of these, two papers are qualifying, while the marks obtained in the remaining seven papers are considered for the final merit list.

Qualifying Papers

Paper-A: Indian Language (300 Marks)

Candidates can choose any one language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Syllabus

• Comprehension of passages.
• Precis writing.
• Usage and vocabulary.
• Short essays.
• Translation from English to the chosen language and vice versa.

Paper-B: English (300 Marks)

Syllabus

• Reading comprehension.
• Precis writing.
• Vocabulary and grammar.
• Short essays.

Paper-I: Essay (250 Marks)

Candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics. The essay paper evaluates:

• Clarity of thought.
• Logical organization.
• Critical analysis.
• Effective expression.
• Coherence and relevance.

General Studies-I (Indian Heritage, Culture, History and Geography)

Marks: 250

Indian Heritage and Culture

• Indian art forms.
• Literature.
• Architecture.
• Ancient and modern culture.

Modern Indian History

• Events from the eighteenth century onward.
• Freedom struggle.
• Important personalities.
• Post-independence consolidation.

World History

• Industrial Revolution.
• World Wars.
• Colonization and decolonization.
• Political philosophies.

Indian Society

• Diversity of India.
• Women’s role and organizations.
• Population and associated issues.
• Poverty and urbanization.
• Globalization.

Geography

• Physical geography.
• Distribution of natural resources.
• Industrial location.
• Earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and geographical changes.

General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

Marks: 250

Constitution and Governance

• Constitutional framework.
• Parliament and legislatures.
• Judiciary.
• Federalism.
• Separation of powers.

Governance

• Government policies.
• Development processes.
• NGOs and pressure groups.
• Transparency and accountability.
• E-governance.

Social Justice

• Welfare schemes.
• Health and education.
• Poverty and hunger.
• Social sector initiatives.

International Relations

• India and neighboring countries.
• Bilateral and multilateral agreements.
• International institutions.

General Studies-III (Technology, Economy, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)

Marks: 250

Indian Economy

• Inclusive growth.
• Budgeting.
• Agriculture.
• Food processing.
• Infrastructure.
• Investment models.

Science and Technology

• Scientific developments.
• Space technology.
• Biotechnology.
• Robotics.
• Artificial intelligence.

Environment

• Conservation.
• Biodiversity.
• Pollution.
• Climate change.

Disaster Management

• Disaster preparedness.
• Risk reduction.
• Disaster response mechanisms.

Internal Security

• Terrorism.
• Cybersecurity.
• Border management.
• Organized crime.

General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)

Marks: 250

Ethics and Human Interface

• Human values.
• Ethics in public administration.
• Family and educational influences.

Attitude

• Content and structure.
• Moral and political attitudes.

Aptitude

• Emotional intelligence.
• Integrity.
• Impartiality.
• Objectivity.
• Empathy.

Probity in Governance

• Accountability.
• Transparency.
• Codes of conduct.
• Citizen charters.

Case Studies

• Ethics-based practical scenarios.

UPSC Optional Subjects List

Candidates must choose one optional subject, consisting of two papers carrying 250 marks each.

Literature Subjects

• Assamese
• Bengali
• Bodo
• Dogri
• English
• Gujarati
• Hindi
• Kannada
• Kashmiri
• Konkani
• Maithili
• Malayalam
• Manipuri
• Marathi
• Nepali
• Odia
• Punjabi
• Sanskrit
• Santali
• Sindhi
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Urdu

Other Optional Subjects

• Agriculture
• Anthropology
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Commerce and Accountancy
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering
• Geography
• Geology
• History
• Law
• Management
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Zoology

UPSC Personality Test (Interview)

The Personality Test carries 275 marks and evaluates a candidate’s suitability for a career in public service.

The interview assesses:

• Mental alertness.
• Critical thinking ability.
• Balance of judgment.
• Leadership qualities.
• Intellectual and moral integrity.
• Social awareness.
• Communication skills.
• Decision-making ability.

Services Recruited Through UPSC CSE

Successful candidates are allocated to various services, including:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
• Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
• Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS)
• Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
• Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
• Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)