The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A and Group B central services. It’s one of the most competitive exams in India, and Previous Year Questions (PYQs) are the most reliable guide to what it actually tests.
Always check the official UPSC notification for the current year’s dates, vacancies and any changes to the rules.
UPSC CSE exam pattern
| Stage | Type | Papers | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Objective (MCQ) | GS Paper I + CSAT (Paper II) | 200 + 200 (CSAT qualifying) |
| Main Examination | Descriptive | 9 papers (2 qualifying + 7 counted) | 1750 |
| Personality Test | Interview | — | 275 |
The final merit list is based on 2025 marks (Mains 1750 + Interview 275).
Prelims
- GS Paper I – 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours. This paper decides the Prelims cut-off.
- CSAT (Paper II) – 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours. Qualifying: you need 33%.
- Negative marking – one-third of the question’s marks for each wrong answer.
Mains
- Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks, qualifying)
- Paper B – English (300 marks, qualifying)
- Paper I – Essay (250 marks)
- Papers II–V – General Studies I to IV (250 marks each)
- Papers VI–VII – Optional Subject Paper 1 and 2 (250 marks each)
UPSC Prelims syllabus (GS Paper I)
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography – physical, social and economic
- Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
- Economic and Social Development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
- General Science
CSAT syllabus (Paper II)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (Class X level) and data interpretation
Eligibility at a glance
- Education: a graduate degree from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply for Prelims.
- Age: 21–32 years for the general category, with relaxation for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and other notified categories.
- Attempts: 6 for the general category, 9 for OBC, and unlimited (within the age limit) for SC/ST.
How to prepare for UPSC with PYQs on ExamPlanner
- Start with PYQs, not books. Solve topic-wise PYQs to see which areas UPSC returns to year after year.
- Analyse trends. ExamPlanner breaks 25+ years of questions down by subject and topic, so you can see how the pattern has shifted.
- Connect static with current. Use daily current affairs to link news with the static topics PYQs keep testing.
- Practise under exam conditions. Take full-length and sectional mock tests with UPSC’s marking scheme, including negative marking.
- Fix mistakes, don’t repeat them. Track accuracy, attempt patterns and weak topics, then let the study planner schedule your revision.