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UPSC Civil Services 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

India · 4 subjects · 16 topics · Updated 2026-04-06

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is India's most prestigious competitive exam for recruiting officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services. Conducted in three stages: Preliminary (objective MCQs), Main (nine descriptive papers), and Interview. Over 10 lakh candidates appear annually for ~1,000 vacancies.

Live status

Verified 2026-04-24

Year: 2026
Subjects: 4
Topics: 16

Freshness tracked daily from https://upsc.gov.in. See 2026 calendar →

dates eligibility syllabus pattern strategy

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📋 Exam Pattern

Preliminary: 2 papers (GS I + CSAT), 200 marks each, 2 hours each. Main: 9 papers (Essay, GS I-IV, Optional I-II, Language), 250-300 marks each, 3 hours each. Interview: 275 marks.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Indian citizen, age 21-32 (relaxation for OBC/SC/ST), minimum educational qualification: bachelor's degree in any discipline.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 16 topics across 4 subjects

GS1 (History/Geography/Polity)

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10 topics · World History· Indian History· Post-Independence + more

GS2 (Governance/IR)

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4 topics · Governance· International Relations· Polity + more

Essay Writing

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1 topics · Essay Writing

Optional Subject

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1 topics · General Studies

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Civil Services

Everything you need to know about UPSC Civil Services. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

What is the eligibility for UPSC Civil Services Examination?

Candidates must hold a degree (graduation in any discipline) from a recognised university. Age limit: 21 to 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year for the general category. Attempts allowed: 6 for general category; 9 for OBC; unlimited for SC/ST (until the age limit is reached. PwD candidates get additional attempts based on their category.

What are the stages of the UPSC exam?

The UPSC Civil Services Examination has three stages: (1) Preliminary Examination (Objective MCQs — General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II), (2) Mains Examination (Conventional/Descriptive — 9 papers including an Essay, four General Studies, two optional papers, and two language papers), and (3) Personality Test/Interview (275 marks). The final merit list is based on Mains + Interview.

What is the exam pattern for UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I (200 marks, 80 questions on history, geography, polity, economy, science, environment, and current affairs) and CSAT Paper II (200 marks, 80 questions on comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical ability). CSAT is qualifying in nature (33% threshold). Both papers are of 2 hours each. Negative marking applies: 0.66 marks deducted for each wrong answer.

What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2026?

The age limit for UPSC CSE 2026 is 21 to 32 years as of August 1, 2026 for the general category. Age relaxation: 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST. Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CSE 2026?

General category: 6 attempts; OBC: 9 attempts; SC/ST: unlimited until age limit. The exam has three stages — Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive), and Interview — and a candidate typically needs 2–3 attempts to clear all stages.

What is the expected UPSC CSE 2026 notification date?

The UPSC CSE 2026 Civil Services Examination notification is expected to be published in February 2026 on upsc.gov.in. The Prelims is likely to be held in May–June 2026. The exam calendar published by UPSC at the beginning of each year gives exact dates.

What is the difference between UPSC Prelims and Mains?

Prelims: Two objective papers (GS Paper I + CSAT), 200 marks each, 2 hours each, negative marking of 0.66 per wrong answer. Mains: Nine descriptive papers (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I–II, Language I–II), each 250–300 marks. Only candidates who clear Prelims (cutoff varies 90–98 out of 400) appear for Mains.

upsc 2026 notification date

The UPSC CSE 2026 Civil Services Examination notification is expected to be published in February 2026 on the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in). The notification details include: exam dates, eligibility criteria, number of attempts, age limit relaxation rules, examination centres, and the online application link. Candidates should regularly check upsc.gov.in for updates. The notification is typically released in the first week of February each year.

upsc 2026 prelims date

UPSC CSE 2026 Preliminary Examination is expected to be held in May–June 2026 (typically the last Sunday of May or first Sunday of June). The exact date is announced in the official notification published in February 2026. UPSC Prelims consists of two papers: General Studies Paper I (200 marks) and CSAT Paper II (200 marks, qualifying). Both papers are objective MCQ format with negative marking for wrong answers.

upsc 2026 syllabus changed

No major syllabus changes have been announced for UPSC CSE 2026. ThePrelims and Mains syllabus remains the same as in previous years. The Prelims syllabus covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, science & environment, and ethics. The Mains syllabus includes Essay, General Studies I–IV, Optional papers, and language papers. UPSC occasionally makes minor changes to the exam pattern or marking scheme — candidates should check the 2026 notification for any updates.

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Exam Name	UPSC Civil Services
Country	🇮🇳 India
Subjects	GS1 (History/Geography/Polity), GS2 (Governance/IR), Essay Writing, Optional Subject
Total Topics	16
Official Source	https://upsc.gov.in
Last Updated	2026-04-06