UPSC Syllabus 2026: Comprehensive IAS Prelims & Mains Syllabus PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit candidates for the All India Services and Central Civil Services (Group A and B). Comprising three rigorous stages—the Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and the Personality Test—the UPSC CSE is widely considered India's most challenging competitive examination. Success requires a deep understanding of the extensive syllabus and exam pattern. This guide provides a detailed overview of the UPSC IAS syllabus for both prelims and mains, including marking schemes and effective preparation insights.

UPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

The UPSC CSE Preliminary stage includes 2 objective-type papers, while the Mains examination consists of 9 descriptive-type papers. The syllabus and exam pattern remain consistent across all services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). To secure a position in the coveted Grade A vacancies, candidates must successfully clear all three stages of the 2026 examination cycle. The detailed structure of the UPSC IAS exam is outlined below.

UPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
Particulars	Prelims	Mains
No. of Papers	Two	Nine
Types of Questions	Objective Type	Descriptive Type
Duration of Exam	2 hours each	3 hours each
Total Marks	400	1750
Medium of Exam	English & Hindi	English & Hindi (except language paper)
Negative Marking	⅓rd mark	No negative marking
Marks Counted in Merit	No	Yes

UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 Released - Download Now

UPSC IAS Syllabus 2026

The UPSC Prelims exam serves as the initial qualifying stage, designed to shortlist candidates for the Mains. To qualify, candidates must score at least 33% in the aptitude paper and clear the category-specific cut-off marks set by the commission. The UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 for the Prelims is bifurcated into two papers: General Studies (GS) and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT).

UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern

Before diving into the extensive UPSC syllabus, candidates should thoroughly analyze the exam pattern and marking scheme to align their study plan with the commission's requirements.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper	Subjects	Marks	No. of Question	Duration
I	General Studies (GS)	200	100	2 hours (9:30 AM to 11:30 AM)
II	CSAT	200	80	2 hours (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)

Important Points:

1. For every incorrect answer, 1/3rd mark of the total mark will be deducted.
2. For the blank answers, no marks will be deducted.
3. In General Studies (Paper I), each question is of 2 marks and there is a negative marking of 0.66 marks
4. In CSAT (Paper-II), each question is of 2.5 marks and a negative marking of 0.833 marks for each wrong answer marked.
5. The prelims marks will not be included in the final result (merit list).
6. Paper II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

The UPSC Prelims syllabus comprises two mandatory papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (CSAT). GS Paper-I assesses knowledge in History, Geography, Economics, Polity, Environment, Science, and current national/international events. The CSAT paper focuses on analytical reasoning, logical ability, and numerical aptitude.

UPSC IAS Prelims GS Paper 1 Syllabus

1. Current Affairs (Events) of national and international importance.
2. History of India and Indian National Movement.
3. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
4. Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
5. Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
6. General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change: that do not require subject specialization.
7. General Science

UPSC IAS Prelims CSAT Syllabus

The second component of the UPSC Prelims, GS Paper-II, is better known as the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). As this paper is qualifying in nature, all 2026 aspirants must review the official CSAT syllabus provided below to ensure they meet the minimum criteria.

1. Comprehension
2. Interpersonal skills including communication skills
3. Logical reasoning and analytical ability
4. Decision-making and problem-solving
5. General mental ability
6. Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. – Class X level).

Given the vastness of the UPSC syllabus and the highly competitive nature of the exam, having a clear roadmap is essential. You can access the detailed Prelims Syllabus 2026 via the link provided below.

View Detailed UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026

Qualifying the Prelims allows candidates to progress to the Mains exam. This is the scoring and merit-determining phase of the selection process. The Mains exam evaluates a candidate’s academic depth, analytical ability, and capacity to present coherent, time-bound solutions to complex questions. The comprehensive UPSC Mains syllabus for 2026 is outlined below. 

UPSC IAS Mains Exam Pattern

The UPSC Mains exam consists of 9 papers. While 2 papers are qualifying, the remaining 7 contribute significantly to the final merit list. Language papers test fundamental linguistic proficiency, whereas the remaining papers assess core subject knowledge.

UPSC Mains 2026 Exam Pattern
Qualifying Papers		Marks
Paper-A	Any Indian Language	300
Paper-B	English	300
Papers Counted for Merit
Paper-I	Essay	250
Paper-II	General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society)	250
Paper-III	General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations)	250
Paper-IV	Genera Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management)	250
Paper-V	General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude)	250
Paper-VI	Optional Subject – Paper 1	250
Paper-VII	Optional Subject – Paper 2	250
Sub Total (Written Test)		1750
Personality Test		275
Grand Total		2025

Important Points:

1. There are two qualifying papers in the mains exam, Namely "Paper A" and "Paper B" of 300 marks each.
2. Two Qualifying Papers are "Any Indian Language from Eight Schedule " and "English Language Paper".
3. Candidates need to score 25% in both qualifying papers i.e, 75 marks each.
4. All other seven papers are scoring in nature their marks will be included in the final merit list.
5. Candidates can answer all the scoring subjects in English or any of the eight scheduled languages.
6. Candidates have to select any one subject from the table as their Optional subject for Paper VI and Paper VII.

UPSC Optional Subjects List for Mains Exam
Agriculture	Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science	Anthropology	Botany	Chemistry
Civil Engineering	Commerce and Accountancy	Economics	Electrical Engineering	Geography
Statistics	Sociology	Physics	Philosophy	Medical Science
Political Science and International Relations	Public Administration	Psychology	Mechanical Engineering	Mathematics
Zoology	Geology	History	Management	Law
Literature of any one of the following languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi,Nepali,Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu,Urdu and English.

Structure of the Language Papers

The table below details the format for Paper A and Paper B. Candidates must select a language from the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, while Paper B is a mandatory English language test. All answers must be written in the specified script. Note: For the Santhali language, the question paper is provided in the Devanagari script.

Languages And Script
Language	Script	Language	Script
Assamese	Assamese	Bengali	Bengali
Gujarati	Gujarati	Hindi	Devanagari
Kannada	Kannada	Kashmiri	Persian
Bodo	Devanagari	Konkani	Devanagari
Malayalam	Malayalam	Manipuri	Bengali
Marathi	Devanagari	Nepali	Devanagari
Odia	Odia	Punjabi	Gurumukhi
Sanskrit	Devanagari	Tamil	Tamil
Sindhi	Devanagari or Arabic	Telugu	Telugu
Urdu	Persian	Maithilli	Devanagari
Santhali	Devanagari or Olchiki	Dogri	Devanagari

Structure of UPSC Language Papers:

1. Essay – 100 marks
2. Reading comprehension – 60 marks
3. Precis Writing – 60 marks
4. Translation: (a) English to compulsory language (e.g. Hindi) – 20 marks
   (b) Compulsory language to English – 20 marks
5. Grammar and basic language usage – 40 marks

Candidates should carefully review the General Studies syllabus for each paper to streamline their study efforts. With each of the four GS papers carrying 250 marks (totaling 1000 marks), mastery of these topics is critical for securing a top rank in the final merit list.

UPSC Mains Essay Paper Syllabus 

The Essay paper evaluates a candidate's ability to articulate ideas clearly, maintain focus on the subject, and present arguments concisely and effectively. Precision and structured writing are key to scoring well in this section.

UPSC Mains GS 1 Syllabus

General Studies Paper I focuses on History, Heritage, Geography, and World Society. You can review the key syllabus highlights for GS Paper I as prescribed by the UPSC below.

Topics: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.

1. Indian culture covers the salient features of Literature, Art Forms, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
2. Modern Indian history include the significant events, personalities, issues during the middle of the eighteenth century until the present.
3. Various stages and important contributors and contributions from different parts of the country in ‘The Freedom Struggle’.
4. Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
5. History of the world includes events, forms and effects on the society from the 18th century like world wars, the industrial revolution, colonization, redraw of national boundaries, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.
6. Salient aspects of Diversity of India and Indian Society
7. Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and remedie
8. Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism
9. Distribution of key natural resources across the world including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent; factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world including India
10. Effects of globalization on Indian society
11. Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes
12. Salient features of world’s physical geography.

UPSC Mains GS 2 Syllabus

The Mains GS II paper covers Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. Review the detailed syllabus requirements below.

Topics: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

1. Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
2. Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein
3. Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries
4. Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
5. Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these
6. Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies
7. Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity
8. Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
9. Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
10. Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
11. Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
12. Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
13. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
14. Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures
15. Issues relating to poverty and hunger
16. Role of civil services in a democracy
17. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
18. India and its neighborhood- relations
19. Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate
20. Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

UPSC Mains GS 3 Syllabus

UPSC Mains GS III encompasses Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. This paper is dynamic and often requires an understanding of contemporary developments across these sectors.

Topics: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management.

1. Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
2. Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management.
3. Government Budgeting.
4. Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
5. Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
6. Economics of animal-rearing.
7. Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
8. Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions
9. Land reforms in India.
10. Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
11. Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
12. Investment models.
13. Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life Achievements of Indians in science and technology;
14. Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology.
15. Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
16. Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
17. Disaster and disaster management.
18. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
19. Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
20. Challenges to internal security through communication networks, the role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention
21. Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate
22. Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

UPSC Mains GS 4 Syllabus

Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude: This paper assesses a candidate's ethical approach toward issues of probity in public life and their problem-solving ability when faced with societal conflicts. Case studies are frequently utilized to evaluate these critical attributes.

1. Ethics and Human Interface- Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
2. Human Values- lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values
3. Attitude- content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion
4. Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections
5. Emotional intelligence concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance
6. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
7. Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration- Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
8. Probity in Governance- Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information; sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption
9. Case Studies on the above issues.

UPSC Syllabus 2024 PDF Download

To assist your preparation, we have compiled the official UPSC syllabus PDFs for both Prelims and Mains. These resources are essential for understanding the specific topics required for each stage. Click the links below to download your copies.

Download UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF

Download UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF

UPSC Syllabus for Optional Subjects

Candidates can also access the UPSC 2026 syllabus for Optional Subjects via the official documents linked within this article.

Optional Subject	UPSC Syllabus
Sociology	UPSC Sociology Syllabus
Geography	UPSC Geography Syllabus
Economics	UPSC Economics Syllabus
Anthropology	UPSC Anthropology Syllabus
Agriculture	UPSC Agriculture Syllabus
Animal Husbandry	UPSC Animal Husbandary Syllabus

UPSC IAS Interview Test

Candidates who successfully clear the UPSC Mains examination will be invited for the final stage: the Personality Test (Interview), conducted by a board appointed by the UPSC.

1. The candidate will be interviewed by a board who will have a record of his/her career and interests filled by him/her in the Detailed Application Form (DAF).
2. The objective of the interview is to check the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in civil services by a board of competent and unbiased observers.
3. In the personality test, candidates must be aware of affairs happening both within and outside their state or country, in addition to their academic study.
4. The interview is more of a purposive conversation intended to explore the mental qualities and analytical ability of the candidate.
5. The Interview test will be 275 marks and the total marks for the written examination is 1750. This sums up to a Grand Total of 2025 Marks based on which the final merit list will be prepared.