UPSC Syllabus 2026 – IAS Syllabus for Prelims, Mains & Optional
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 is designed to assess a candidate’s overall personality, breadth of knowledge, analytical skills and decision-making ability. The exam is conducted in three successive stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Objective-type screening test
- Main Examination (Mains) – Descriptive written examination
- Personality Test / Interview – Final stage of assessment
A clear understanding of the UPSC Syllabus 2026 is essential for serious and systematic preparation.
Table of Contents
- Overview of UPSC Syllabus 2026 PDF
- UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026 – At a Glance
- UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims
- UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026 – Mains
- UPSC Syllabus 2026 for Prelims
- UPSC Syllabus 2026 for Mains
- GS Paper I Syllabus (2026)
- GS Paper II Syllabus (2026)
- GS Paper III Syllabus (2026)
- UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – Optional Subjects
- UPSC Interview / Personality Test 2026
UPSC Syllabus 2026 – PDF Overview
The UPSC Syllabus 2026 PDF generally includes:
- Complete syllabus for the Prelims – General Studies (GS) and CSAT
- Detailed Mains syllabus – Essay, four General Studies papers and one Optional Subject
- Coverage of major themes like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, Society, Ethics and more
Aspirants are advised to keep a printable PDF or soft copy of the syllabus and align their daily study plan with the official UPSC CSE Syllabus 2026.
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026 – At a Glance
The pattern of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 can be summarised as:
| Stage | Type of Exam | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Objective-type (MCQs) | Screening test for Mains |
| Main Examination | Descriptive / Written | Merit-determining written exam |
| Personality Test / Interview | Oral interview | Final assessment of personality & suitability |
Only candidates who qualify the Prelims cutoff appear for Mains, and only those who clear Mains are called for the Interview. In the final ranking, marks of Mains + Interview are combined.
UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims
Structure of UPSC Prelims 2026
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Negative Marking | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (GS) | 100 | 200 | 1/3 of marks per question | 2 hours | Counts for Prelims cutoff and Mains qualification |
| Paper II | CSAT (Aptitude Test) | 80 | 200 | 1/3 of marks per question | 2 hours | Qualifying – 33% required |
Note: GS Paper I determines qualification for the Mains, while CSAT is a qualifying paper, for which candidates must secure at least 33%.
UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 – Mains
Qualifying Papers (Not Counted for Merit)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | One Indian Language (Eighth Schedule) | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B | English | 300 | Qualifying |
Both papers are of matriculation level and qualifying in character. Marks obtained in these papers are not added to the final merit.
Papers Counted for Merit
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I – Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II – Polity, Governance, Social Justice & International Relations | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III – Economy, Technology, Environment, Security & Disaster Management | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV – Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Total (Written Mains) | 1,750 | |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | |
| Grand Total | 2,025 | |
UPSC Syllabus 2026 for Prelims
The Prelims Syllabus 2026 is designed to test a candidate’s:
- Awareness of current events
- Understanding of India and the World
- Analytical ability, reasoning and aptitude
The examination consists of two objective-type papers conducted on the same day.
General Studies Paper I – Prelims Syllabus (200 marks)
Broad areas covered:
- Events of current national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives
- Environment, Ecology & Climate Change – General issues on biodiversity, ecology and climate change (no deep specialization required)
- General Science
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking | Duration | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | 100 | 200 | 1/3 per wrong answer | 2 hours | Counts for Prelims merit / cutoff |
General Studies Paper II – CSAT Syllabus (200 marks)
The CSAT paper evaluates aptitude, reasoning, and decision-making. It includes:
- Reading comprehension
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (numbers, relations, orders of magnitude – Class X level)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency – Class X level)
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSAT (GS Paper II) | 80 | 200 | 1/3 per wrong answer | 2 hours | Qualifying – 33% (66 marks) required |
CSAT is usually held in the second session on the same day as GS Paper I.
UPSC Syllabus 2026 for Mains
The UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 focuses on descriptive assessment and evaluates:
- Depth of knowledge
- Conceptual clarity
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Ability to express ideas logically in written form
It comprises a total of 9 papers – Essay, four General Studies papers, two Optional Subject papers and two qualifying language papers.
UPSC Mains Syllabus – Qualifying Language Papers
These papers test:
- Comprehension of passages
- Precis writing
- Usage and vocabulary
- Short essays
- Translation (English to Indian language and vice versa)
Both the Indian Language (Paper A) and English (Paper B) are of matriculation or equivalent standard and are qualifying in nature. Answers must be written in the respective language (except in translation questions).
UPSC Mains Essay Syllabus 2026
The Essay Paper (Paper I) carries 250 marks. Candidates have to write two essays on given topics, usually drawn from areas such as:
- Society and social issues
- Politics and governance
- Economy and development
- Philosophy and ethics
- Environment, sustainability and global issues
- Contemporary affairs and public policy
Evaluation focuses on:
- Clarity of thought
- Logical organisation of ideas
- Depth of understanding
- Originality and balance of views
- Quality and precision of expression
Candidates are expected to remain on topic, present ideas coherently, and write effective, structured essays.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – GS Paper I
Paper II: General Studies I – Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
Key areas include:
- Indian Culture: Art forms, literature, architecture from ancient to modern times.
- Modern Indian History: From the mid-18th century to the present – important events, personalities and issues.
- Freedom Struggle: Various stages, major movements, contributions from different regions of the country.
- Post-Independence India: Consolidation, reorganization and nation-building processes.
- World History: Events from the 18th century such as the Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, and major political ideologies (socialism, capitalism, communism) and their impact on society.
- Indian Society: Salient features, diversity, role of women and women’s organisations, population issues, poverty, urbanisation and associated challenges.
- Globalization: Its impact on Indian society.
- Social Issues: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism.
- World’s Physical Geography: Salient features of physical geography of the world.
- Distribution of Key Natural Resources: Across the world and factors influencing location of industries.
- Geophysical Phenomena: Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones; changes in geographical features, flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – GS Paper II
Paper III: General Studies II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
Key areas include:
- Indian Constitution: Historical background, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
- Union and State Governments: Functions, responsibilities, issues in federalism, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels.
- Separation of Powers: Between various organs and related mechanisms and institutions.
- Comparative Constitutional Studies: Comparison of the Indian constitutional framework with that of other countries.
- Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers, privileges and issues arising out of these.
- Executive & Judiciary: Structure, organisation and functioning; Ministries and Departments; role of pressure groups and associations.
- Representation of People’s Act: Salient features.
- Constitutional Posts: Appointment, powers and functions of key constitutional bodies.
- Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies.
- Government Policies & Interventions: Design, implementation issues and impact.
- Development Processes: Role of NGOs, self-help groups, civil society, charitable and multilateral organisations.
- Welfare Schemes: For vulnerable sections; performance and related mechanisms.
- Social Sector & Services: Health, education and human resources.
- Poverty & Hunger: Issues and responses.
- Governance, Transparency & Accountability: e-governance, citizen charters, RTI, institutional mechanisms.
- Role of Civil Services: In a democracy.
- India and its Neighbourhood: Relations and strategic interests.
- Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings: And their impact on India’s interests.
- Foreign Policy: Effects of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India; Indian diaspora.
- International Institutions & Fora: Structures and mandates (e.g., UN, IMF, World Bank, etc.).
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – GS Paper III
Paper IV: General Studies III – Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Key areas include:
- Indian Economy: Planning, resource mobilization, growth, development and employment.
- Inclusive Growth: And issues arising from it.
- Government Budgeting.
- Agriculture: Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, storage, marketing, PDS, MSP, subsidies, e-technology, animal husbandry.
- Food Processing: Scope, importance, location, supply chain management.
- Land Reforms in India.
- Liberalization & Economic Reforms: Industrial policy changes and their impact.
- Infrastructure: Energy, ports, roads, airports, railways, etc.
- Investment Models: Public, private, PPP.
- Science & Technology: Developments, applications and impact in everyday life.
- Achievements of Indians in S&T: Indigenization and development of new technology.
- Awareness in IT, Space, Robotics, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and issues related to intellectual property rights (IPR).
- Environment & Ecology: Conservation, pollution, degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Disaster Management: Concepts, institutional mechanisms.
- Linkages between Development & Extremism.
- Internal Security Challenges: Role of external and non-state actors.
- Cyber Security, Money Laundering, Social Media & Internal Security.
- Border Management: Security challenges and linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
- Security Forces & Agencies: And their mandate.
UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – Optional Subjects
The Optional Subject contributes 500 marks in the Mains (Paper VI and Paper VII – 250 marks each). Choosing the right optional is a strategic decision.
List of Optional Subjects for UPSC Mains 2026
| Optional Subject | Optional Subject |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science |
| Anthropology | Botany |
| Chemistry | Civil Engineering |
| Commerce & Accountancy | Economics |
| Electrical Engineering | Geography |
| Geology | History |
| Law | Management |
| Mathematics | Mechanical Engineering |
| Medical Science | Philosophy |
| Physics | Political Science & International Relations (PSIR) |
| Psychology | Public Administration |
| Sociology (highly popular and well-supported at IAS Gurukul) | Statistics |
| Zoology | Literature of one of the listed languages |
Literature Optionals
Candidates may also opt for Literature of 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, English.
How to Choose an Optional Subject?
- Choose a subject that genuinely interests you or matches your academic background.
- Assess syllabus length, conceptual difficulty and alignment with your strengths.
- Analyse previous years’ question papers and marking trends.
- Consider overlap with GS papers and Essay to save time.
- Ensure availability of quality books, notes and mentorship.
IAS Gurukul provides specialised classes, updated notes and a dedicated test series for Sociology Optional.
UPSC Interview / Personality Test 2026
The UPSC Interview, also known as the Personality Test, is the final stage of the Civil Services Examination and carries 275 marks.
- Conducted by a Board of experienced members appointed by UPSC.
- Based on the candidate’s DAF (Detailed Application Form), educational background, hobbies, service preferences, etc.
- Questions cover current affairs, governance, ethics, decision-making and hypothetical situations.
The interview aims to evaluate:
- Communication skills and articulation
- Clarity and balance of judgment
- Leadership, integrity and emotional maturity
- Attitude towards public service
- Overall suitability for a career in the Civil Services
Marks obtained in the interview are added to the Mains written marks (1,750) to form the final merit list out of 2,025.
Related UPSC 2026 Resources
You can create internal links on IAS Gurukul such as:
- UPSC Syllabus 2026 (this page)
- UPSC Exam Pattern 2026
- UPSC Age Limit & Attempt Limit
- IAS Salary & Career Growth
- UPSC Prelims 2026 Guide
- UPSC Mains 2026 Strategy
- UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus 2026
- UPSC Previous Year Papers & Answer Keys