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UPSC Prelims 2026 serves as the gateway to the Civil Services Mains. Learn about the UPSC Prelims Exam Its pattern and syllabus is vital for success in UPSC Prelims 2026.
UPSC Prelims 2026 is one of the first and most important stages of the Civil Services Examination, which is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, which is often abbreviated as UPSC. Every year, in this examination, over lakhs of candidates appear for the UPSC Prelims to qualify for the Mains Examination. The UPSC Prelims test basic understanding and awareness of multiple subjects. Therefore, candidates preparing for UPSC Prelims 2026 will get detailed information related to the UPSC Prelims Syllabus, eligibility, exam pattern, and other important information.
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 | 14th January 2026 |
| UPSC 2025 Calendar | Click here |
| Application Start Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 3rd 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 will be conducted as per the latest exam calendar released by the commission. As per the official notification released by the conducting body, the exam is scheduled to be held on May 24, 2026. Candidates are therefore advised to regularly check the UPSC official website or refer to the details provided here for any latest updates.
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 | 14th January 2026 |
| Application Start Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Last Date for Application | 3rd February 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21st August 2026 |
UPSC Prelims 2026 notification was released on January 10, 2026, along with the application form. Detailed information regarding the UPSC prelims 2026 exam, including pattern, syllabus, eligibility, and exam guidelines, will be mentioned in the notification. Candidates must fulfill the requirements criteria in order to apply for the UPSC 2026 exam.
Candidates can fill out the UPSC Prelims 2026 application form once it’s officially out. While filling out the form, candidates must make sure to fill out the correct personal, educational, and communication details. Once the application form is filled, upload all the scanned copies of documents and pay the prescribed fee before the last date of the examination.
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 Eligibility Criteria 2025
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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 and beyond will need to refer to certain books in order to complete the syllabus. The detailed book list for UPSC prelims 2025 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 2025 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 notification will be released on 10th January 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.
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