UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Syllabus – Prelims, Mains & Interview

Last updated Feb 09, 2026
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Last updated Feb 09, 2026

🔔 Exam Overview

Particular Details
Exam Name Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
Conducting Authority Union Public Service Commission
Exam Stages Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview
Mode of Exam Offline (Pen & Paper)

🟢 UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination Syllabus 2026

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers.

📄 Paper I – General Studies (200 Marks)

Topics Covered:

  • Current events of national and international importance

  • History of India and Indian National Movement

  • Indian and World Geography

    • Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World

  • Indian Polity and Governance

    • Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues

  • Economic and Social Development

    • Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives

  • General issues on Environmental Ecology

    • Biodiversity, Climate Change (without subject specialization)

  • General Science

Marks obtained in Paper I are counted for Prelims cutoff.

📄 Paper II – General Studies (CSAT) (200 Marks)

Topics Covered:

  • Comprehension

  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills

  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability

  • Decision-making and problem-solving

  • General mental ability

  • Basic numeracy (Class X level)

    • Numbers, Percentages, Ratios, Time & Distance

  • Data interpretation (Class X level)

    • Charts, Graphs, Tables

Qualifying Paper – Minimum 33% marks required

🔵 UPSC CSE Main Examination Syllabus 2026

The Main Examination consists of 9 descriptive papers, out of which 7 papers are counted for merit.

📘 Qualifying Papers (Not Counted for Merit)

📝 Paper A – Indian Language (300 Marks)

  • One Indian language from the Eighth Schedule

  • Comprehension

  • Precis writing

  • Translation (English ↔ Indian language)

  • Grammar & vocabulary

Exempted for candidates from certain states as per UPSC rules.

📝 Paper B – English (300 Marks)

  • Comprehension of passages

  • Precis writing

  • Usage and vocabulary

  • Short essays

📗 Merit Papers (Counted for Ranking)

📝 Paper I – Essay (250 Marks)

  • Candidates must write two essays

  • Topics may be philosophical, social, political, or economic

  • Tests clarity of thought, coherence, and expression

📝 Paper II – General Studies I (250 Marks)

Indian Heritage & Culture

  • Art forms, literature, architecture

History

  • Modern Indian history (18th century onwards)

  • World history (18th century events, industrial revolution, world wars)

Society

  • Indian society, diversity, social issues

  • Role of women, population, urbanization

Geography

  • Physical geography of India & World

  • Natural resources, earthquakes, climate

📝 Paper III – General Studies II (250 Marks)

Polity

  • Constitution, amendments, governance

  • Parliament, judiciary, federal structure

Governance

  • Transparency, accountability, e-governance

  • NGOs, SHGs, pressure groups

Social Justice

  • Health, education, human resources

  • Welfare schemes

International Relations

  • India’s relations with neighbors and global groupings

  • International institutions

📝 Paper IV – General Studies III (250 Marks)

Economy

  • Indian economy, planning, growth

  • Inclusive growth, budgeting

Agriculture

  • Cropping patterns, irrigation, food security

Science & Technology

  • Developments in IT, space, biotechnology

  • Awareness of achievements (no technical depth)

Environment

  • Conservation, climate change, disaster management

Internal Security

  • Terrorism, cyber security, border management

📝 Paper V – General Studies IV (Ethics) (250 Marks)

Ethics & Integrity

  • Ethics in public administration

  • Emotional intelligence

Attitude

  • Moral values, social influence

Aptitude

  • Civil service values

  • Case studies on ethical dilemmas

📙 Optional Subject Papers (Paper VI & VII – 250 Marks Each)

  • Candidates must choose ONE optional subject

  • Two papers (Paper I & Paper II)

📌 List of Optional Subjects:

  • Anthropology

  • Geography

  • History

  • Political Science & International Relations

  • Public Administration

  • Sociology

  • Psychology

  • Philosophy

  • Economics

  • Commerce & Accountancy

  • Mathematics

  • Physics

  • Chemistry

  • Botany

  • Zoology

  • Statistics

  • Agriculture

  • Law

  • Management

  • Medical Science

  • Civil Engineering

  • Electrical Engineering

  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Literature subjects (various languages)

🟣 UPSC Personality Test / Interview (275 Marks)

  • Tests personality traits, not academic knowledge

  • Includes:

    • Mental alertness

    • Leadership qualities

    • Ethical integrity

    • Social awareness

    • Communication skills

No minimum qualifying marks in Interview.

🧮 UPSC CSE 2026 Marks Distribution

Stage Marks
Prelims Qualifying only
Mains Written 1750
Interview 275
Total 2025 Marks

UPSC - CSE 2026 Notification

✅ Final Note

The UPSC CSE 2026 syllabus is designed to test a candidate’s conceptual clarity, analytical ability, ethical reasoning, and administrative aptitude. A focused, syllabus-aligned preparation strategy is essential to succeed in this multi-stage examination.