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UPSC Prelims 2026 is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination. This article covers exam dates, notification status, syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility criteria, and preparation tips. Candidates should track official UPSC updates for any schedule changes.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially set the stage for one of India’s most prestigious recruitment drives with the release of the UPSC 2026 Notification on February 4, 2026. With 933 vacancies announced across elite services like the IAS, IPS, and IFS, the competition is expected to be as rigorous as ever. Aspirants must mark May 24, 2026, on their calendars as the definitive date for the Preliminary Examination, while the application window remains active until February 24. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the updated syllabus, critical eligibility benchmarks, and the essential timelines you need to master the three-tier selection process.
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 is the critical first stage of the Civil Services selection process, scheduled to take place on May 24, 2026. This screening test consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies (GS) Paper I, which covers subjects like History, Geography, and Current Affairs, and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II, which is qualifying in nature requiring a 33% score. With 933 vacancies up for grabs this year, the competition is fierce, as only those who clear the cut-off in GS Paper I and qualify for CSAT will progress to the Mains examination. Candidates must navigate a rigorous negative marking system where one-third of the marks are deducted for every incorrect answer, making accuracy as vital as knowledge.
UPSC Prelims is a screening examination to select candidates for the Mains stage of the Civil Services Examination. It consists of two objective-type papers, the first one is General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2. It is from the scores of the General Studies Paper 1 that decides candidates’ qualification for the Mains, while CSAT is a qualifying test in nature. Check out the UPSC Prelims 2025 Overview here:
| UPSC Prelims 2026 Overview | |
| Name of Exam | UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam 2026 |
| Date of Notification | 4 February 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 4 February 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 24 February 2026 |
| Date of Exam | 24th May 2026 |
| Nature of Exam | MCQ |
| Total Papers | Two, GS and CSAT |
| Total Marks | 200/Each |
| Duration | 2 Hours/Each |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date was released in the UPSC 2026 calendar. The UPSC prelims exam is supposed to be conducted on May 24, 2026, in two shifts. The schedule for the IAS prelims 2026 is as follows:
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 | |
| Event | Date |
| UPSC Prelims 2025 | 24th May 2026 |
| Morning Shift (Paper I) | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Afternoon Shift (Paper II) | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
UPSC Prelims 2026 Calendar outlines all important dates, including notification release, application deadlines, and exam schedule. Referring to the calendar helps aspirants stay informed and avoid any last-minute confusion. It is important to follow this timeline to ensure smooth participation in the examination process.
| UPSC Prelims 2026 Calendar | |
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | 4 February 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 4 February 2026 |
| Last Date for Application | 24 February 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21st August 2026 |
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification on February 4, 2026, inviting applications for 933 vacancies across prestigious services like the IAS, IPS, and IFS. Aspirants can submit their online applications through the official portal, until the deadline on February 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This notification serves as the definitive guide for this year’s cycle, detailing critical updates to the eligibility criteria, the list of examination centers, and the reservation breakdown, including 33 seats for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Candidates are advised to complete their One-Time Registration (OTR)early to avoid last-minute technical delays and ensure their participation in the preliminary stage scheduled for May.
The UPSC Prelims 2026 application process officially commenced on February 4, 2026, following the release of the comprehensive notification. Aspirants must complete their registration through the One Time Registration (OTR)platform on the official website before the deadline on February 24, 2026 (6:00 PM). The application is divided into two parts: Part-I involves filling in personal and educational details, while Part-II requires the selection of examination centers, payment of the ₹100 fee (exempted for females and reserved categories), and the uploading of scanned documents. It is crucial to ensure that the photograph and signature meet the specific dimensions and that the Photo ID provided matches the one to be carried on the exam day, May 24, 2026.
UPSC Prelims 2026 has been held in MCQ format, consisting of two papers: General Studies and CSAT Exam pattern includes the number of questions, marks, cutoff, etc. Check out the complete UPSC prelims 2026 exam pattern:
| Particulars | General Studies (Paper 1) | CSAT (Paper 2) |
| Mode of Examination | Pen and Paper | Pen and Paper |
| Nature of Questions | MCQ | MCQ |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Medium of Examination | English and Hindi | English and Hindi |
| Session | Morning (9.30 to 11.30) | Afternoon (2.30 to 5.30) |
| Number of Questions | 100 | 80 |
| Total Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Marks for Correct Answer | +2 | +2.5 |
| Marks for Negative Answer | -0.66 | -0.83 |
| Marks for No Response | 0 | 0 |
| Qualifying Marks | Varies according to Category | 66.67 |
UPSC Prelims 2026 Marking Scheme explains how marks are awarded or deducted in each paper. It includes details about positive marks for correct answers and penalties for wrong answers. Knowing the marking scheme is crucial to develop strategies that avoid unnecessary negative marking.
| UPSC Prelims 2026 Marking Scheme | |||
| Paper | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Negative Marking |
| General Studies | 100 | 2 | -0.66 |
| CSAT | 80 | 2.5 | -0.83 |
A candidate who wants to apply for UPSC prelims has to fulfill certain criteria in terms of age, education, and attempts. The details of the criteria are given below.
UPSC Prelims Qualification refers to the minimum educational requirements needed to appear for the exam. Candidates must hold a graduate degree from a recognized university. Those in the final year of graduation may also apply, provided they submit proof of passing before Mains Examination.
The age criteria for UPSC prelims 2026 for candidates belonging to the General category are 21 to 32 years.
However, there is are age limit relaxation for candidates belonging to certain categories:
| Category of Candidates | Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes | 5 years |
| Other Backwards Classes (OBC) | 3 years |
| Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations | 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen (Commissioned Officers, Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers) with at least five years of service | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
(a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and low hearing; (c) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; (d) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness |
10 years |
A candidate from a certain category has a distinct number of attempts for the exam. To apply for UPSC prelims 2026, the attempt criteria must be fulfilled.
| Attempts Criteria for UPSC Prelims 2025 | ||
| Category | Number of Attempts | Maximum Age (Years) |
| General and EWS | 6 | 32 |
| OBC | 9 | 35 |
| PwBD | 9 | 42 |
| SC and ST | Unlimited | 37 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 9 | 37 |
| Disabled Defence Services Personnel | 9 | 35 |
| General/OBC/EWS PwBD candidates | 9 | See below Description |
| SC/ST categories PwBD candidates | Unlimited | See below Description |
Age Relaxation for PWD CandidateThe prescribed upper age limit of an examination (wherever applicable) is relaxable up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of candidates belonging to PwBD categories as below (a) low vision and blindness; (b) deaf and hard of hearing; (c) Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; (e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (e) including deaf, blindness. PwBD candidates, who also belong to either SC or ST or OBC or Ex-servicemen, are eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both categories. |
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UPSC Prelims Age Relaxation provisions allow certain categories of candidates to apply beyond the usual age limit. Reserved category candidates like OBC, SC/ST, and PwBD get additional years as relaxation. Verifying your category-specific relaxation helps you take advantage of the permissible benefits.
The syllabus of UPSC prelims 2025 is divided into two parts based on the two papers. The marks scored in General Studies will determine if a candidate qualifies for the mains exam. The cutoff mark for the CSAT paper is 33% out of 200 marks, which is approximately 66 marks.
The GS syllabus will include core subjects such as polity, geography, etc. The CSAT paper will include reasoning, comprehension etc. The details of the syllabus are given below.
The UPSC prelims 2025 syllabus for the General Studies paper is given here.
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The UPSC prelims 2026 syllabus for the CSAT paper is given here.
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Preparing for UPSC Prelims 2026 requires a structured study along with a proper plan, consistency, and practice. Candidates should use standard books, refer to previous year question papers, and attempt mock tests. To provide guidance, listed below are some of the tips to prepare effectively.
UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026 offers significant insights into trends in the exam, difficulty levels of questions, and distribution of topics. Working through previous exam papers is a highly effective method to evaluate your readiness and enhance your speed, precision, and self-assurance prior to the test.
High-quality study resources are essential for UPSC Prelims preparation. Applicants should gather genuine books, NCERT materials, reference guides, and up-to-date current affairs publications. Trustworthy study resources guarantee clear understanding and enhance memory, both vital for achieving high scores in the exam
Candidates preparing for UPSC prelims 2026 and beyond will need to refer to certain books in order to complete the syllabus. The detailed book list for UPSC prelims 2026 is provided below.
| Subject | Books |
| Polity |
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| History |
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| Geography |
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| Environment and Ecology |
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| International Relation |
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| Science and Technology |
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| Economy |
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| Art and Culture |
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| CSAT (Complete Syllabus) |
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| Current Affairs | All Relevant Topics frequently in News |
Candidates who have cleared the UPSC Prelims 2026 should begin their Mains preparation immediately after the results are declared. If you have already prepared for the Mains, you should start revising your GS static notes as well as your optional subject notes.
Candidates must not restrict their mains preparation to just revision. They must practice answer writing daily to prepare for the rigours of writing mains papers. Before the actual examination, candidates must enroll in any good test series, such as Physics Wallah Mains Test Series to have a very good chance of clearing mains.
Get a curated plan to clear UPSC prelims 2026 by enrolling in top courses from Physics Wallah. Begin your journey now!
UPSC Prelims 2026 is scheduled for 24th May 2026
The UPSC IFoS 2026 notification has been released on 4 Feb 2026.
There are two papers: General Studies and CSAT.
Paper 1 has 100 questions, and Paper 2 (CSAT) has 80 questions.
Multiple subjects are covered, including History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Reasoning.
Books
Udaan (Prelims Wallah)
Prahaar (Mains Wallah)
Q&A Bank (Prelims & Mains)
Budget & Economic Survey
NCERT Wallah
Marks Booster
हिंदी माध्यम विशेष शृंखला
Current Affairs
Monthly Current Wallah
Subject Wise Current Affairs
Editorial Analysis
Editorial PDFs
News of The Day
Download Our App
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GS Foundation
Optional Course
Combo Courses
Degree Program
