What Do You Need for UPSC Mains?
UPSC Mains at a Glance
The Main Examination is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination. Its marks, with the Interview, decide your final rank and service.
Based on the UPSC CSE 2026 notification. Always confirm in the current notification on upsc.gov.in. See also UPSC Civil Services and UPSC Prelims.
The Nine Mains Papers
Two qualifying language papers and seven papers that count for merit.
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| Paper A Indian language Qualifying | 300 |
| Paper B English Qualifying | 300 |
| Paper I Essay | 250 |
| Paper II General Studies I | 250 |
| Paper III General Studies II | 250 |
| Paper IV General Studies III | 250 |
| Paper V General Studies IV (Ethics) | 250 |
| Paper VI Optional subject — Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper VII Optional subject — Paper 2 | 250 |
| Merit total (Papers I–VII) | 1,750 |
Mains merit
Essay + 4 GS + 2 optional papers.
Interview
Personality Test after Mains.
Final merit
Decides rank and service.
Papers A and B need 25% each (75 of 300). If you don’t reach it in both, the other papers are not evaluated.
Answer-Writing Format and Timing
The recent question format, and how to split your three hours.
| Paper | Questions | Word limit | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS I–IV | 10 × 10 marks 10 × 15 marks | 150 words 250 words | 250 |
| Essay | 2 × 125 marks | 1,000–1,200 words each | 250 |
Time per mark
180 minutes for 250 marks:180 ÷ 250 = 0.72 minutes per mark.
Per question in GS
10-mark answer: 7.2 min; 15-mark answer: 10.8 min.
10 × 7.2 + 10 × 10.8 = 180 min.
Essay
About 90 minutes per essay: roughly 15 minutes to plan and 75 minutes to write.
The format has been stable in recent years, but UPSC can change it. GS IV includes case studies.
Mains Syllabus and Optional Subjects
Main areas of each paper, and the full list of 48 optional subjects. Tap a panel to open it.
Paper I — Essay2 essays
- Two sections, each with a choice of topics
- Write one essay from each section
- Topics range from philosophy and society to economy, science and governance
- Marks for clear thinking, structure and expression
GS Paper IHeritage, history, society, geography
- Indian culture — art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
- Modern Indian history from the mid-18th century; the freedom struggle
- Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation
- World history — industrial revolution, world wars, colonisation and decolonisation
- Indian society — diversity, women, population, urbanisation, globalisation, social empowerment, communalism, regionalism, secularism
- World physical geography; distribution of key natural resources
- Geophysical phenomena — earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones
GS Paper IIPolity, governance, social justice, IR
- The Constitution — features, amendments, basic structure
- Federalism, separation of powers, Parliament and state legislatures
- Executive, judiciary, constitutional and statutory bodies
- Government policies, development processes, NGOs and self-help groups
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; health, education, human resources
- Governance, transparency, accountability, e-governance, civil services
- India and its neighbours; bilateral, regional and global groupings; international institutions
GS Paper IIIEconomy, environment, S&T, security
- Indian economy — planning, growth, inclusive growth, budgeting
- Agriculture, food processing, land reforms, infrastructure
- Effects of liberalisation; investment models
- Science and technology — developments, indigenisation, IT, space, biotechnology
- Environment — conservation, pollution, impact assessment
- Disaster management
- Internal security — extremism, border management, cyber security, money laundering, security forces
GS Paper IVEthics, integrity, aptitude
- Ethics and human interface; human values
- Attitude; aptitude and foundational values for civil service
- Emotional intelligence
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers
- Public service values and ethics in public administration
- Probity in governance; codes of conduct; citizen’s charters
- Case studies on these issues
Papers A and B — LanguagesQualifying (25% each)
- Paper A: one Indian language from the Eighth Schedule
- Paper B: English
- Comprehension, précis, usage and vocabulary, short essay, translation
- Exemption from Paper A for candidates from some north-eastern states and certain PwBD candidates, as per the notification
Optional subjects — 25 subjectsChoose one (two papers)
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
- Anthropology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Commerce and Accountancy
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- History
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Science
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Zoology
Optional — Literature (23 languages)Choose one (two papers)
- Literature of Assamese
- Literature of Bengali
- Literature of Bodo
- Literature of Dogri
- Literature of Gujarati
- Literature of Hindi
- Literature of Kannada
- Literature of Kashmiri
- Literature of Konkani
- Literature of Maithili
- Literature of Malayalam
- Literature of Manipuri
- Literature of Marathi
- Literature of Nepali
- Literature of Odia
- Literature of Punjabi
- Literature of Sanskrit
- Literature of Santhali
- Literature of Sindhi
- Literature of Tamil
- Literature of Telugu
- Literature of Urdu
- Literature of English
The detailed syllabus for every paper and optional is in the notification on upsc.gov.in.
Free Mains Study Material
Notes and examples built for writing, not just reading.
These resources are being added topic by topic. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
GS Mains Notes
Paper-wise notes with data, examples and reports.
Coming soon →Model Answers
Answers to past questions with structure explained.
Coming soon →Essay Bank
Essay outlines, quotes and solved essays.
Coming soon →Ethics Case Studies
Solved GS IV case studies with a simple framework.
Coming soon →Current Affairs for Mains
News analysis linked to GS paper topics.
Read today →Mains Answer-Writing Practice
Write in exam conditions, then compare with model answers.
Under development. The practice sets below are planned and will open here when ready.
GS Full Paper (I–IV)
Essay Paper
Ethics Case Studies
Daily Answer Writing
Previous-Year Mains Papers
Essay, GS I–IV and optional papers, with model answers, arranged by year.
Coming soon. UPSC publishes official Mains question papers on upsc.gov.in.
How to Prepare for UPSC Mains
Mains rewards understanding, structure and practice in writing.
Start writing early
Write answers from the first month; reading alone does not prepare you for Mains.
Use a simple structure
Introduction, a body with clear points or headings, and a balanced conclusion.
Add value
Use examples, data, reports, case laws, diagrams and maps where they fit.
Master time
Practise full 3-hour papers so that you attempt all 20 questions.
Give the optional its due
It carries 500 marks — study it in depth and practise its answers too.
Revise and review
Compare your answers with model answers and keep improving weak areas.
Mains Date
UPSC’s annual calendar lists CSE 2027 Mains starting on 20 August 2027. Dates can change — always check upsc.gov.in. We will post verified updates here.
UPSC Mains FAQs
Who can write Mains?
Candidates who clear the Prelims cut-off (based on GS Paper I) and score at least 33% in CSAT. They then fill in UPSC’s Detailed Application Form (DAF) for Mains.
Are the language papers counted?
No. Papers A and B are qualifying — at least 25% in each. UPSC evaluates the Essay, GS and optional papers only of candidates who reach the minimum in both language papers.
In which language can I write my answers?
In English or in any language from the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, as chosen in your application. Papers A and B are written in the language concerned, and literature optionals may be answered in that language’s script.
How many questions are there in a GS paper?
In recent years, each GS paper has had 20 compulsory questions: 10 of 10 marks (about 150 words) and 10 of 15 marks (about 250 words), for 250 marks. UPSC can change this format.
How many candidates are called for the Interview?
UPSC usually calls about twice the number of vacancies for the Personality Test, based on Mains merit marks.
How are optional subjects chosen?
Choose one subject from UPSC’s list of 48 — 25 subjects and the literature of 23 languages. Pick one you are interested in and can write well in; it carries 500 marks.
Are Mains question papers published?
Yes. UPSC publishes Mains question papers on its website after the exam.