UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 - Topic-Wise Breakdown

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Preliminary Examination as the first stage of the IAS, IPS, IFS and other Civil Services recruitment process. The UPSC Prelims 2026 consists of two compulsory objective-type papers; General Studies Paper I and CSAT (Paper II). Candidates must qualify both papers to move to the Mains examination.

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

• Paper I (General Studies): 200 marks
• Paper II (CSAT): 200 marks
• Negative Marking: Yes (1/3rd marks deducted for wrong answers)
• CSAT Qualifying: Minimum 33% required
• Duration: 2 hours per paper

General Studies Paper I - Topic-Wise Syllabus

1. Current Events of National and International Importance

• National news and developments
• International relations and global events
• Government schemes and policies
• Reports and indices released by national and international organisations
• Environmental, economic and social issues in news

2. History of India and Indian National Movement

• Ancient Indian history (culture, civilization)
• Medieval Indian history
• Modern Indian history (from 18th century onwards)
• Indian National Movement:
• Freedom struggle
• Key movements, leaders and events

3. Indian and World Geography

• Physical geography of India and the world
• Indian rivers, mountains, climate and soil
• World physical features
• Human geography (population, settlements)
• Economic geography of India
• Natural resources and their distribution

4. Indian Polity and Governance

• Constitution of India
• Political system and governance
• Panchayati Raj and local governance
• Fundamental Rights, Duties and DPSPs
• Parliament and State Legislatures
• Executive, Judiciary
• Constitutional bodies and statutory bodies
• Public policy and governance mechanisms

5. Economic and Social Development

• Indian economy basics
• Economic planning and reforms
• Sustainable development
• Poverty, inclusion and social sector initiatives
• Demographics and population issues
• Employment and skill development
• Social justice and welfare schemes

6. Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change

• Ecosystems and ecology basics
• Biodiversity and conservation
• Protected areas and wildlife
• Environmental pollution
• Climate change and global conventions
• Environmental laws and organisations

7. General Science

• Physics, Chemistry and Biology (basic concepts)
• Science and technology developments
• Applications of science in daily life
• Biotechnology, space, defence and health-related developments

CSAT (Paper II) - Topic-Wise Syllabus

1. Comprehension

• Reading comprehension passages
• Understanding arguments and viewpoints

2. Interpersonal Skills

• Communication skills
• Logical reasoning based on situations

3. Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

• Number and letter series
• Statements and conclusions
• Syllogisms
• Coding-decoding
• Puzzles and arrangements

4. Decision Making and Problem Solving

• Situational judgement questions
• Ethical and administrative decision-making scenarios

5. General Mental Ability

• Basic numerical ability
• Data interpretation
• Percentages, ratios, averages
• Time, speed and distance

Important Points for UPSC Prelims 2026 Aspirants

• CSAT is qualifying, but should not be ignored
• Prelims questions are increasingly conceptual and current-affairs oriented
• Static subjects must be linked with current events
• UPSC does not prescribe any specific textbook

What's Next After Prelims?
Candidates who clear the UPSC Prelims 2026 will be eligible to appear for:

• UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2026
• Followed by the Personality Test (Interview)

Understanding the UPSC Prelims syllabus 2026 topic-wise is the foundation of effective preparation. Aspirants are advised to build strong conceptual clarity, follow current affairs consistently, and practise mock tests aligned with the official syllabus.