UPSC CSE Syllabus 2026

Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination

Conducted By Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Eligibility Graduate from any recognized University. Age: 21-32 years (General)

Age Limit 21-32 years (Gen), 21-35 (OBC), 21-37 (SC/ST)

Exam Pattern Preliminary (Objective), Mains (Descriptive), Personality Test (Interview)

Joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Police Service (IPS) is the dream of lakhs of graduates. The Civil Services Examination conducted by UPSC is the pathway to these prestigious roles. To succeed, you need to prepare for three distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. The preliminary stage tests your general knowledge and basic aptitude. The mains stage consists of nine descriptive papers that require deep writing practice. Finally, the personality test checks your communication and confidence. Aspirants usually spend two to three years of intense study for this exam. You must study subjects like History, Geography, Economics, and Polity in great depth. Keeping track of current affairs is also very important. Tracking your daily progress across this massive syllabus is crucial. This page organizes all topics subject-wise to help you cover the syllabus systematically.

Detailed Topic-wise Syllabus (67 topics)

Preliminary Examination

Two Papers | GS Paper I: 200 marks | CSAT Paper II: 200 marks (qualifying 33%)

GS Paper I 200 Marks

Current Events of National and International Importance
History - Ancient India: Indus, Vedic, Mahajanpadas, Maurya, Gupta
History - Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara, Mughals, Bhakti
History - Modern India: British Rule, Reform Movements, Freedom Struggle
World History - Colonialism, World Wars, Decolonisation
Indian Art & Culture - Architecture, Paintings, Performing Arts
Physical Geography - Mountains, Plateaus, Peninsulas, Drainage
Indian Geography - Climate, Vegetation, Agriculture, Minerals
World Geography - Continents, Oceans, Resources
Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity, Conservation
Climate Change and Disaster Management
Indian Polity - Constitution, Parliament, Governance
Economic and Social Development - Poverty, Demographics
General Science - Physics, Chemistry, Biology

CSAT Paper II (Qualifying) 200 Marks

Comprehension of Passages
Interpersonal Skills and Communication
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
Decision Making and Problem Solving
General Mental Ability
Basic Numeracy - Class 10 Level Maths
Data Interpretation - Graphs, Charts, Tables
English / Hindi Language Comprehension Skills

Mains Examination

9 Papers | 1750 marks (Merit) + 300 marks (Language Papers - Qualifying Only)

Paper I: Essay 250 Marks

Section A Essay - Abstract, Philosophical Topics
Section B Essay - Social, Economic, Political Topics

Paper II: General Studies I 250 Marks

Indian Heritage and Culture - Salient Aspects
Modern Indian History - Significant Events, Personalities
The Freedom Struggle - Important Stages, Contributions
Post-Independence Consolidation - States Reorganisation
History of the World - Industrial Revolution, WWI, WWII, Cold War
Indian Society - Diversity, Role of Women, Poverty, Globalisation
Physical Geography - Important Geophysical Phenomena
Geography of Resources - Water, Land, Agriculture

Paper III: General Studies II - Governance & IR 250 Marks

Indian Constitution - Historical Background, Evolution
Parliament and State Legislatures - Structure, Functioning
Structure of Executive and Judiciary
Federal Issues - Centre-State Fiscal Relations
Decentralisation - Panchayati Raj, Urban Bodies
Government Policies and Welfare Mechanisms
Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies
India's Bilateral Relations - Neighbours, Major Powers
International Organizations - UN, WTO, IMF, Groupings
Global Developments affecting India - Terrorism, Drugs

Paper IV: General Studies III - Economy & Security 250 Marks

Indian Economy - Growth, Challenges, Planning
Agriculture - Land Reforms, Food Processing, E-Technology
Infrastructure - Energy, Ports, Roads, Railways
Investment Models - PPP, FDI, Startup India
Science and Technology - IT, Space, Biotechnology, AI
Environmental Conservation - Pollution, Forests, Wildlife
Disaster Management - NDMA, Resilience
Internal Security - Terrorism, Extremism, Insurgency
Security Challenges - Border Issues, Organized Crime

Paper V: General Studies IV - Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude 250 Marks

Ethics and Human Interface - Essence, Determinants
Attitude - Social Influence, Moral Reasoning
Aptitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service
Emotional Intelligence - Concepts, Utilities, Applications
Contributions of Moral Thinkers - India and World
Ethics in Public Administration
Probity in Governance - Information Sharing, RTI
Case Studies - Ethical Dilemmas in Public Life

Optional Subject (2 Papers) 500 Marks

Choose from 26 Optional Subjects (e.g. History, Geography, Public Admin, Sociology, Political Science, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.)
Optional Paper I - Core Topics of Chosen Subject
Optional Paper II - Advanced Topics of Chosen Subject

Personality Test (Interview)

275 marks | Board of Members | Tests for mental calibre and personality

Personality Assessment

Mental Alertness and Critical Powers of Assimilation
Clear and Logical Exposition of Ideas
Balance of Judgement and Variety of Interest
Ability for Social Cohesion and Leadership
Intellectual and Moral Integrity

Recommended Reference Books

Subject	Book Title	Author / Publisher
History	India's Struggle for Independence	Bipan Chandra
Polity	Indian Polity	M. Laxmikanth
Geography	Certificate Physical & Human Geography	G.C. Leong
Economy	Indian Economy	Ramesh Singh
Environment	Environment & Ecology	Majid Husain
Science	NCERT Science Books Class 6-12	NCERT
Ethics	Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude	G Subba Rao
Current Affairs	The Hindu / Indian Express (Daily)	Newspaper

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