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UPSC CSE Syllabus 2026
Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination
67 trackable topics
Highest difficulty
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.
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)
Pattern
Preliminary (Objective), Mains (Descriptive), Personality Test (Interview)
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Detailed topic-wise syllabus
Preliminary Examination+
Two Papers | GS Paper I: 200 marks | CSAT Paper II: 200 marks (qualifying 33%)
GS Paper I
200 marks100 questionsCSAT Paper II (Qualifying)
200 marks80 questionsMains Examination+
9 Papers | 1750 marks (Merit) + 300 marks (Language Papers - Qualifying Only)
Paper I: Essay
250 marksPaper II: General Studies I
250 marksPaper III: General Studies II - Governance & IR
250 marksPaper IV: General Studies III - Economy & Security
250 marksPaper V: General Studies IV - Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude
250 marksOptional Subject (2 Papers)
500 marksPersonality Test (Interview)+
275 marks | Board of Members | Tests for mental calibre and personality
Personality Assessment
Recommended reference books
| Subject | Book | 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 |