UPSC Civil Services Prelims Syllabus & Exam Pattern
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Prelims has two objective papers of 200 marks each; Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying with a 33% pass mark.
At a glance
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Status | Current |
| Paper I | 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours |
| Paper II (CSAT) | 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, qualifying at 33% |
| Negative marking | 1/3 of the question mark |
Details
Paper I (General Studies) has 100 questions and decides the cut-off. It covers history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science and current events. Paper II (CSAT) has 80 questions and covers comprehension, logical reasoning and basic numeracy; you only need to score 33%.
Each paper is two hours long and wrong answers carry a one-third negative mark. Check the latest notice for any change.
How to use this
- Read NCERTs first, then standard books.
- Solve previous year papers.
- Revise current affairs monthly.
Books for this exam
Choose a book for the topics you need to strengthen. Buying a book is optional; you can continue using our free practice resources.
Affiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Indian Polity
By M. Laxmikanth
A commonly used reference for Polity. Check it against your syllabus and the editions your institution prescribes before buying.
Find on Amazon ↗Indian Economy
By Ramesh Singh
A commonly used reference for Indian economy. Check it against your syllabus and the editions your institution prescribes before buying.
Find on Amazon ↗India's Struggle for Independence
By Bipan Chandra
A commonly used reference for Modern Indian history. Check it against your syllabus and the editions your institution prescribes before buying.
Find on Amazon ↗Certificate Physical and Human Geography
By G. C. Leong
A commonly used reference for Geography. Check it against your syllabus and the editions your institution prescribes before buying.
Find on Amazon ↗Environment
By Shankar IAS Academy
A commonly used reference for Environment. Check it against your syllabus and the editions your institution prescribes before buying.
Find on Amazon ↗Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
By R. S. Aggarwal
An option for additional numeracy exercises. Select topics from the CSAT syllabus and practise comprehension and reasoning separately.
Find on Amazon ↗Links open Amazon search results in a new tab. Check the edition, language, seller, price and delivery details on Amazon before ordering.
This post is a plain-language summary prepared by Pratiyogita Kosh from public information. We are not the conducting body. Please verify all dates, eligibility and fees on the official website before you apply.