UPSC CSE 2026 Syllabus — Prelims, Mains & Interview

UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern

Prelims (Screening)

| Paper | Marks | Duration | Nature |

|-------|-------|----------|--------|

| GS Paper I | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying + Merit |

| GS Paper II (CSAT) | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying (33%) |

Mains (9 Papers)

| Paper | Marks |

|-------|-------|

| Essay | 250 |

| GS Paper I (Indian Heritage, History, Geography) | 250 |

| GS Paper II (Governance, Polity, Constitution) | 250 |

| GS Paper III (Technology, Economy, Environment) | 250 |

| GS Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 |

| Optional Paper I | 250 |

| Optional Paper II | 250 |

| English (Qualifying) | 300 |

| Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 |

| **Total (Merit)** | **1750** |

Interview: 275 marks

Total: 2025 marks (Mains + Interview)

Prelims GS Paper I Topics

- Current Events, History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, Environment, General Science

Preparation Strategy

1. Start with NCERT (6-12) for all subjects

2. Read "The Hindu" or "Indian Express" daily

3. Make short notes

4. Solve previous 10 years' papers

5. Take answer writing practice for Mains

6. Choose optional wisely (based on interest + scoring potential)