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UPSC CSAT 2026 is the qualifying Paper-II of the Civil Services Prelims, testing candidates’ reasoning, comprehension, numeracy, and decision-making skills. It includes 80 MCQs for 200 marks, with 33% as the qualifying score. Though not counted in the final merit, it’s crucial for clearing Prelims. Understanding the UPSC CSAT 2026 syllabus, exam pattern, and solving PYQs is key to success.
UPSC CSAT 2026 is an important part of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. The UPSC CSAT examination is conducted to assess the candidates’ analytical ability, reasoning skills, and decision-making capabilities. The examination is qualifying in nature, but at the same time, it plays an important role in advancing to Mains.
UPSC CSAT 2026 will follow in the established format, which will require a strategic approach to cover topics such as comprehension, logical reasoning, numerical aptitude, and data interpretation. Understanding the exam pattern, syllabus, and qualifying criteria is crucial for effective preparation. Therefore, here we cover all the details related to UPSC CSAT 2026, including its dates, syllabus, pattern, preparations, and more.
UPSC CSAT 2026 forms Paper-II of the Preliminary Examination. Although qualifying, it demands consistent preparation. The paper tests comprehension, reasoning, numeracy, and problem-solving skills in a two-hour period. Scoring well ensures eligibility for the Mains exam. Below is an overview of key exam details.
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC CSAT 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Paper Type | Qualifying (Prelims Paper-II) |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Marks | 200 |
| Minimum Qualifying | 33% |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-Paper) |
Covered here is the UPSC CSAT 2026 Date, which will help guide students through their planning for strategies. Below is the tentative schedule based on the trends that UPSC has been following.
| UPSC CSAT 2026 Date | |
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
| Notification Release | 14 January 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 14 January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 3 February 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| CSAT Paper-II Date | Same as Prelims Paper-I |
| Result Announcement | June 2026 |
CSAT in UPSC refers to the Civil Services Aptitude Test, which forms Paper-II of the Preliminary Examination. This helps in analyzing candidates’ skills such as reading comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, and quantitative aptitude. While it is qualifying in nature, its role is vital as failing to secure the qualifying marks results in disqualification from the Mains stage.
CSAT Full Form in UPSC is Civil Services Aptitude Test. This examination was introduced in 2011. The purpose behind conducting this examination was to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude and suitability for civil services beyond subject knowledge.
UPSC CSAT 2026 follows a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format. Each question carries equal marks, and there is a penalty for incorrect answers. Provided here is the UPSC CSAT Pattern 2026 that candidates can refer to:
| UPSC CSAT Pattern 2026 | |
| Feature | Details |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice |
| Total Questions | 80 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Marks per Question | 2.5 |
| Negative Marking | 0.83 per wrong answer |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Minimum Qualifying | 33% |
Mentioned here is the UPSC CSAT Weightage topic-wise wise which is based on the analysis of the previous years’ paper. Check the table below to know about the UPSC CSAT Weightage Topic-wise:
| UPSC CSAT Weightage Topic Wise | |
| Topic | Average No. of Questions |
| Comprehension | 25–30 |
| Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability | 12–15 |
| Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation | 10–12 |
| Decision-Making (rare in recent years) | 0–2 |
| Interpersonal Skills | 1–2 |
| General Mental Ability | 15–18 |
UPSC CSAT 2026 candidates must secure at least 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify. The marks obtained in CSAT are not counted in the final merit for Prelims. However, failing to meet the qualifying score disqualifies the candidate from Mains. Here is the table that covers the CSAT Qualifying Marks 2026:
| CSAT Qualifying Marks 2026 | |
| Parameters | Details |
| CSAT Full Form | Civil Services Aptitude Test |
| Also Known as | UPSC Prelims GS Paper 2 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Number of Questions | 80 |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 66.6 Marks |
| Negative Marking in CSAT | 1/3rd |
CSAT Syllabus 2026 covers comprehension, logical reasoning, basic numeracy, and other aspects. The syllabus has been designed carefully to allow candidates to prepare effectively for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Here’s the table on the CSAT Syllabus 2026 that candidates can refer to:
| CSAT Syllabus 2026 | |
| Area | Sub-Topics |
| Comprehension | Reading passages, answering questions based on them |
| Interpersonal Skills | Communication, teamwork, empathy |
| Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability | Puzzles, syllogisms, arrangements |
| Decision Making & Problem Solving | Case studies and situational analysis |
| General Mental Ability | Numerical aptitude, algebra, geometry |
| Basic Numeracy | Numbers, percentages, ratios, time & work |
| Data Interpretation | Charts, graphs, tables |
Preparing for UPSC 2026 requires the right study material. Mentioned here are some of the popular CSAT Books for UPSC 2026 that one can refer to for their preparations.
UPSC CSAT Formula Book PDF Download
| CSAT Books for UPSC 2026 | ||
| CSAT Book / Course | Author / Publisher | Brief Description |
| PWONLYIAS CSAT Combo Set of 3 | Physics Wallah | Three-book set covering Logical Reasoning & DI, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability. Structured theory, chapter-wise questions, recent PYQs (last 10 years), high-quality practice material. |
| Comprehensive Guide for UPSC CSAT | Physics Wallah | CSAT guide covering aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, and practice sets.) |
| UPSC Prelims PYQ 15 Years (English) | Physics Wallah | Compiles solved previous year questions (2011-2025) in English for Prelims CSAT practice. |
| UPSC CSAT Prelims PYQ 15 Years | Physics Wallah | Similar PYQ compilation, possibly bilingual or Hindi–English variant. |
Mentioned here are the CSAT PYQs from the last 5 Years’ question papers. The previous year’s question papers are provided to build a clear understanding of the exam trends among the students. Through these papers, one can understand the question difficulty and important topics for effective UPSC preparation. Provided here is the table from where candidates can get CSAT PYQs Last 5 Years:
|
CSAT PYQs Last 5 Years |
|
| CSAT PYQs 2025 | CSAT PYQs 2024 |
| CSAT PYQs 2023 | CSAT PYQs 2022 |
| CSAT PYQs 2021 | |
Ready to boost your UPSC 2026 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
The full form of CSAT in UPSC is Civil Services Aptitude Test.
To prepare for CSAT in UPSC, practice previous year papers and focus on improving reasoning, comprehension, and numeracy skills.
Yes, CSAT is a qualifying paper in UPSC, requiring candidates to score at least 33% marks.
CSAT was introduced in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2011.
No, calculators are not permitted in the UPSC CSAT exam.
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