UPPCS Prelims Syllabus 2026 - Complete Guide

Complete and updated syllabus for UPPCS Preliminary Examination 2026 as per the latest UPPSC notification. Covers both Paper 1 (General Studies) and Paper 2 (CSAT).

UPPCS Prelims 2026 - Exam Pattern

PaperSubjectQuestionsMarksDurationNature
Paper 1General Studies1502002 HoursMerit-based
Paper 2CSAT (General Studies-II)1002002 HoursQualifying

📌 Important Notes:

  • Negative Marking: 1/3 of allotted marks deducted for each wrong answer
  • Qualifying Paper: Paper 2 (CSAT) is qualifying with minimum 33% marks required
  • Merit: Only Paper 1 marks are counted for merit/cutoff
  • Both papers are objective (multiple choice questions)
1

Paper 1 - General Studies

150 Questions | 200 Marks | 2 Hours | Objective (MCQ)

1. Current Events of National and International Importance

Questions on current events will test the candidate's awareness of significant national and international developments, including politics, economy, sports, science, and technology.

2. History of India and Indian National Movement

Questions on history of India will cover broad understanding of social, economic, and political aspects. The Indian National Movement covers the nature and character of the freedom movement, growth of nationalism, and attainment of independence.

3. Indian and World Geography

Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World. Includes India's physical geography, climate, vegetation, natural resources, demographics, and industrial and economic geography. World geography covers continents, oceans, global phenomena, and resource distribution.

4. Indian Polity and Governance

Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Covers fundamental rights, directive principles, constitutional amendments, separation of powers, federalism, local governance, and citizens' rights and responsibilities.

5. Economic and Social Development

Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Covers economic planning, poverty alleviation programs, inclusive growth, demographic trends, employment, human development indices, and government welfare schemes.

6. Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change

General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change. Covers ecosystems, environmental degradation, conservation efforts, international agreements, pollution control, wildlife protection, and climate change mitigation strategies.

7. General Science

Questions on General Science covering Physics, Chemistry, and Biology up to Class 10 level. Includes everyday applications of science, scientific discoveries, health and nutrition, and emerging scientific developments relevant to daily life.

2

Paper 2 - CSAT (General Studies-II)

100 Questions | 200 Marks | 2 Hours | Objective (MCQ)

⚠️ Qualifying Nature - Minimum 33% marks required

1. Comprehension

Reading comprehension passages and questions

2. Interpersonal Skills

Including Communication Skills

3. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability

Deductive & inductive reasoning, patterns

4. Decision Making & Problem Solving

Situational judgement and analysis

5. General Mental Ability

Puzzles, series, coding-decoding, etc.

6. Basic Numeracy

Numbers, orders of magnitude - Class 10 level

7. Data Interpretation

Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data Sufficiency - Class 10 level

8. English Language Comprehension

Class 10 level English comprehension

9. Hindi Language Comprehension

Class 10 level Hindi comprehension (हिंदी भाषा बोधगम्यता)

Important Information for Candidates

The preliminary examination is meant to serve as a screening test only. Marks obtained in preliminary examination are not counted for final ranking.

Candidates must appear in both papers of the Preliminary Examination. Absence in any paper will result in disqualification.

Questions will be of objective type (multiple choice) with four alternatives. There is no separate sectional cutoff in Paper 1.

Candidates who qualify in Prelims are eligible to appear for the UPPCS Mains Examination.

Start Your UPPCS Prelims Preparation

Practice with our comprehensive Prelims Test Series covering all topics from the latest syllabus. Get detailed explanations, performance analytics, and expert-curated questions.