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UPPSC PCS 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

India · 5 subjects · 48 topics · Updated 2026-04-06

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.

Live status

Verified 2026-04-24
Year
2026
Subjects
5
Topics
48

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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

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPPSC PCS

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

What is UPPSC and how does it differ from UPSC?
UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) is the state-level civil services exam for the state of Uttar Pradesh, conducted separately from UPSC (which recruits for All-India Services). UPPSC recruits for Uttar Pradesh Administrative Service (APS), Provincial Civil Service (PCS), Deputy Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other state-level Group A and B posts. While the exam pattern is similar to UPSC (Prelims, Mains, Interview), the competition is specific to Uttar Pradesh and covers state-specific topics like UP-specific history, geography, and culture in the Mains exam.
What is the UPPSC exam pattern?
UPPSC Prelims consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I (200 marks, 200 questions on History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Environment, and Current Affairs) and General Studies Paper II (200 marks, 200 questions on Reasoning, Decision Making, Mathematics, and English/Hindi comprehension) — popularly called CSAT. Only those who qualify Prelims appear for Mains, which has 7 conventional papers: Hindi, Hindi Essay, General Studies I (Indian History, World History, Geography), General Studies II (Polity, Governance, Social Justice), General Studies III (Economy, Science, Technology), General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude), and an Optional Subject Paper. The Interview is 100 marks.
What posts does UPPSC recruit for?
UPPSC recruits for approximately 400+ posts per year including: Provincial Civil Service (PCS) — District Magistrate, Block Development Officer, City Deputy Superintendent of Police; Uttar Pradesh Administrative Service (APS) — faster career progression within the UP state bureaucracy; Food & Civil Supplies Officer, Labour Commissioner, Transport Commissioner, and various other Group A and B posts. Selected candidates are appointed as probationers and trained at the Uttar Pradesh Academy of Administration in Lucknow.

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Exam Name UPPSC PCS
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economics, General Science
Total Topics 48
Official Source https://example.com
Last Updated 2026-04-06