Understanding the UPSC Exam Pattern and Syllabus: A Roadmap for Beginners

New to UPSC preparation? Here’s everything you need to know about the exam structure and what to study.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. If you’re a beginner, understanding the exam pattern and syllabus is the first—and most important—step in your preparation journey.

Overview of the UPSC CSE

The UPSC CSE is conducted in three stages:

• Preliminary Examination (Prelims) – Objective type (screening test)
• Main Examination (Mains) – Descriptive type
• Personality Test (Interview) – Face-to-face interaction with the UPSC board

Prelims: The Screening Stage

The Preliminary Exam consists of two papers

• Paper I: General Studies (GS) – 100 questions, 200 marks
• Paper II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – 80 questions, 200 marks (Qualifying in nature; need 33% to pass)

Key Features

• Objective type (multiple-choice)
• Negative marking: -0.66 for each wrong answer in GS Paper
• Only marks of GS Paper I count for Prelims ranking

Syllabus Highlights

• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography
• Indian Polity and Governance
• Economic and Social Development
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change
• Current Affairs