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India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30
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UPPSC PCS 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

UPPSC PCS (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission — Provincial Civil Services) is a prestigious state-level examination for recruitment to various administrative posts in the Uttar Pradesh government. The exam has three stages: Prelims (screening test), Mains (written examination), and Interview/Personality Test. The Prelims consists of two objective papers — General Studies I (focusing on History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, General Science, and Environment) and General Studies II (covering Logic, Reasoning, Current Affairs, and Governance). The Mains exam has eight papers including General Hindi (Paper 1), Essay (Paper 2), and GS Papers I-IV covering History, Geography, Polity, Economy, General Science, and International Relations. A strong focus on Uttar Pradesh-specific topics — its history, culture, administrative structure, and regional geography — gives UP PCS a distinct state-centric preparation approach unlike other state PSC exams.

Year
2026
Subjects
5
Topics
48
Cost
Free

Tracked daily from https://uppsc.up.nic.in/. See 2026 calendar →

dateseligibilitysyllabuspatternstrategy
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📋 Exam Pattern

Preliminary Examination consists of two objective papers of 200 marks each (General Studies I and II) with 1/3 negative marking. Candidates must appear for both papers. Mains Examination has eight conventional (descriptive) papers: General Hindi (Paper 1, 150 marks), Essay (Paper 2, 150 marks), General Studies I (Paper 3, 200 marks — History, Geography), General Studies II (Paper 4, 200 marks — Indian Polity, Governance), General Studies III (Paper 5, 200 marks — Economy, Science, Technology), General Studies IV (Paper 6, 200 marks — Logical Reasoning, Decision Making), and two optional subject papers (Paper 7 and 8, 200 marks each). The Interview/Personality Test carries 100 marks. Final selection is based on Mains and Interview combined.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must be Indian citizens aged between 21-40 years for general category with educational relaxation for SC/ST/OBC. Educational qualification is a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Knowledge of Hindi language is essential. Candidates must be domiciled in Uttar Pradesh for certain posts. Final year students can apply provisionally. Physical fitness is required for certain positions including DSP. Age relaxation: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 48 topics across 5 subjects

History

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10 topics · Ancient Indian History· Medieval Indian History· Modern Indian History + more

Geography

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10 topics · Physical Geography of India· Rajasthan Geography· Indian Climate and Monsoon + more

Indian Polity

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10 topics · Making of the Constitution· Fundamental Rights and Duties· Directive Principles + more

Economics

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10 topics · Introduction to Economics· Demand and Supply· Elasticity + more

General Science

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8 topics · Banking Awareness - RBI and Monetary Policy· Chemical Reactions — Acids, Bases and Salts· Laws of Motion and Friction + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPPSC PCS

Everything you need to know about UPPSC PCS. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

How many stages does the UPPSC 2026 Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services exam contain, and what is the nature of each stage?
The UPPSC 2026 examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (screening), Main (written), and Interview (personality test). The Prelims consists of two compulsory objective-type papers of 200 marks each, held on a single day. The Main examination uses conventional (descriptive) answer type, where answers are evaluated for content accuracy, depth, and presentation. The Interview stage carries 100 marks and tests communication skills, leadership traits, and overall personality. Only candidates clearing each stage in sequence are included in the final merit list, which is prepared by aggregating Main and Interview scores. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in
What topics does UPPSC Prelims General Studies Paper I cover in 2026, and which areas carry the highest weightage?
UPPSC Prelims General Studies Paper I covers Indian History including ancient, medieval, and modern periods, Indian Polity covering the Constitution and governance structure, Geography of India and the world including physical and economic geography, and General Science encompassing physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science. According to the 2026 syllabus notified on uppsc.up.nic.in, this paper tests conceptual understanding and factual recall. A common trap is confusing medieval history dates with modern events — aspirants should use separate revision timelines for each sub-topic. The syllabus does not include current affairs as a separate paper in Prelims, though static knowledge is frequently tested through contemporary contexts. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in
What is the application fee for UPPSC 2026 for General, OBC, SC, and ST categories, and what is the age relaxation for OBC candidates?
The application fee for General category candidates is Rs. 80/- for online submission through the official portal. OBC and SC candidates typically enjoy reduced fees, while ST candidates and persons with disabilities are exempted from fee payment under government welfare provisions. The upper age limit for General category is 21 to 42 years, with OBC candidates receiving a 3-year relaxation and SC/ST candidates receiving a 5-year relaxation from the upper age ceiling. PwD candidates from any category receive up to 10 years relaxation. All fee payments must be completed before the deadline specified in the 2026 notification, and no offline fee submissions are accepted. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in
What is the negative marking scheme in UPPSC Prelims 2026, and what qualifying score is needed to clear each paper?
For every wrong answer in UPPSC Prelims 2026, 0.33 marks are deducted as negative marking, calculated on a total of 200 marks per paper. Candidates must score a minimum of 33% in each paper independently to qualify for the Mains examination. Since both papers are compulsory and carry equal weight, a candidate scoring 40% in Paper I but only 28% in Paper II will be disqualified despite an aggregate above the cut-off. The Prelims is purely a screening stage and its marks are not added to the final merit. Aspirants should avoid attempting questions where they cannot eliminate at least two options, as random guessing yields an expected negative score. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in
What is the exam calendar timeline for UPPSC 2026 Prelims and Main, and when is the official notification expected?
UPPSC releases its annual examination calendar on the official website at uppsc.up.nic.in with tentative schedules for each stage. The 2026 Prelims is typically held between August and October, with the official online application window opening in January or February of the examination year. The Main examination follows approximately 3-4 months after the Prelims result declaration, usually scheduled between December and March. Candidates must regularly check uppsc.up.nic.in/Default.aspx for exact date announcements, as postponements have occurred due to administrative or pandemic-related disruptions. No other platform is authorised to release the official schedule, so aspirants should bookmark the homepage and activate SMS/email alerts through the portal to avoid missing critical deadlines. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in

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Exam Name UPPSC PCS
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, General Science
Total Topics 48
Official Source https://uppsc.up.nic.in/
Last Updated 2026-05-30