UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026

✅ Last Updated: Apr 2026

UPSC Civil Services Syllabus 2026 covers the complete roadmap for India's most prestigious examination — the IAS/IPS/IFS exam. The exam is conducted in three stages: Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive), and Personality Test (Interview).

📊Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 — Highlights

Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Civil Services Examination 2026
Total Vacancies	1,056 Posts
Stages	Prelims → Mains → Interview
Prelims Papers	GS Paper 1 + CSAT (Paper 2)
Mains Papers	9 Papers (4 GS + 2 Optional + Essay + Languages)
Interview Marks	275 Marks
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

🗂️Exam Pattern 2026

Exam Tier / Stage	Mode	Subjects	Questions	Marks	Duration	Negative
Prelims – GS Paper 1	OMR Based	History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science	100	200	2 hrs	-0.66
Prelims – CSAT Paper 2	OMR Based	Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Maths, Decision Making	80	200	2 hrs	-0.83
Mains – GS Papers I–IV	Descriptive	Indian Heritage, Governance, International Relations, Ethics	Essay-based	1000	3 hrs each	None
Personality Test	Interview	Personality, Leadership, IQ, Current Affairs	—	275	~30 min	None

📚Subject-wise Detailed Syllabus

Click on any subject to expand and view all topics. All topics are as per the official notification.

🏺

Indian History & Heritage

Ancient, Medieval, Modern India and Art & Culture

8 Topics

▼

Ancient India – Indus Valley, Vedic Age Medieval India – Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire Modern India – British Rule, Freedom Struggle Indian Art & Culture Architecture & Sculpture Literature & Music Post-Independence India Social Reform Movements

⚖️

Indian Polity & Governance

Constitution, Political System and Public Policy

10 Topics

▼

Constitution of India Fundamental Rights & DPSP Parliament & State Legislature Executive & Judiciary Centre-State Relations Elections & Political Parties Constitutional Bodies Government Schemes Local Self Government RTI, CAG, NHRC

🗺️

Geography

Indian and World Physical & Human Geography

9 Topics

▼

Physical Geography of India Climate, Soils, Natural Vegetation Rivers & Water Bodies World Geography Economic Geography Distribution of Industries Mineral Resources Environmental Geography Disaster Management

💹

Economy

Indian Economic Development and Planning

10 Topics

▼

National Income & GDP Five Year Plans Agriculture in India Industry & Infrastructure Banking & Financial Sector Taxation System Foreign Trade & BOP Budget & Fiscal Policy Economic Reforms Poverty & Unemployment

📅Important Dates

Notification Release

Feb 2026
Application Window

Feb–Mar 2026
Prelims Exam

May 25, 2026
Prelims Result

Aug 2026
Mains Exam

Sep 2026
Final Result

Apr 2027

❓Frequently Asked Questions

How many papers are there in UPSC Mains? ▼

UPSC Mains has 9 papers: 2 language papers (qualifying), 1 essay paper, 4 General Studies papers, and 2 Optional subject papers. Only 7 papers are counted for merit.

Is CSAT Paper 2 qualifying or merit-based? ▼

CSAT (Paper 2) is qualifying in nature. Candidates must score at least 66 marks (33%) to qualify. Its marks are NOT counted for the Prelims merit list.

What is the total marks for UPSC Mains? ▼

The total marks for UPSC Mains (7 merit papers) is 1750. The Interview is 275 marks. Total marks for final merit = 2025.

📄 Download Official Syllabus PDF

Union Public Service Commission · Official PDF · Updated Apr 2026

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