Key Points
- UPSC conducts CSE annually to recruit for Group A & B services; 933 vacancies announced.
- Prelims marks are qualifying; final list is based on Mains & Interview scores.
- Prelims includes GS (Paper I) & CSAT (Paper II); CSAT requires 33% to qualify.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Service Preliminary (CSP) Examination to shortlist the candidates for the Mains examination. The UPSC CSE Prelims syllabus is of utmost importance as it is the initial stage of the selection process, with the written exam being of only qualifying nature, meaning the marks obtained in the Prelims exam would not be counted in the preparation of the final list.
Aspirants who are preparing for the upcoming cycles of the UPSC CSE can download the Prelims Syllabus and start preparing now. The syllabus is an important document which will help the candidates in aligning their preparation according to the requirement of the exam.
Apply Online for UPSC CSE 2026 Here
Check the UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 HERE
UPSC IAS Prelims Syllabus 2026
The UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination every year to recruit the candidates for Group A and Group B services. This year the UPSC has announced a total of 933 vacancies. The candidates are required to gear up their preparation levels in order to compete with lakhs of students who appear for the exam every year.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSE) |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| No. of Vacancies | 933 |
| Stages of Selection | Prelims; Mains; Interview |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Download UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF 2026
Aspirants of UPSC CSE must download the syllabus first before starting their preparation. The syllabus is the key to a good preparation strategy. It gives you a glimpse of the important topics from the subjects that have been mentioned in the syllabus. The UPSC CSE Prelims exam consists of two papers: Paper I (General Studies) and Paper II (CSAT). Download the UPSC Prelims Syllabus below:
| Syllabus | Download PDF |
| UPSC Prelims Syllabus |
UPSC Prelims Syllabus for General Studies
The Prelims syllabus for General Studies includes subjects like Indian Modern History, Indian and World Geography, Ancient and Medieval History, Art & Culture, General Science, Indian Economy, Indian Polity, Currents Affairs, and others. Check the subject-wise detailed syllabus here:
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Current events of national and international importance.
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History of India and Indian National Movement.
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Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
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Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
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Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
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General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
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General Science
UPSC Prelims Syllabus for CSAT (Paper II)
The UPSC Prelims Paper II is commonly known as the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) paper is a qualifying paper which requires a candidate to obtain 33% marks in Paper II. Only if a candidate passes the Paper II, their Paper I answer sheet will be checked. Therefore, Paper II also becomes necessary for the candidates to qualify for the Mains examination. The CSAT consists of General Mathematics, Reasoning and Aptitude, General English, and other miscellaneous topics.
- Comprehension;
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Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
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Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
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Decision making and problem solving;
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General mental ability;
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Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. - Class X level)
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