What Do You Need for UPSC Prelims?
UPSC Prelims at a Glance
The Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination. It screens candidates for the Mains.
Based on the UPSC CSE 2026 notification. Always confirm in the current notification on upsc.gov.in. For eligibility, Mains and the Interview, see the UPSC Civil Services page.
Prelims Pattern and Marking
Both papers are held on the same day. The cut-off is based on GS Paper I only; CSAT must be cleared with 33%.
| Paper | Qs | Marks | Per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I Decides the cut-off | 100 | 200 | +2 / −0.66 |
| CSAT Paper II Qualifying 33% (66 marks) needed | 80 | 200 | +2.5 / −0.83 |
| Total | 180 | 400 | 2 hrs each |
Example: GS Paper I
80 attempted, 60 correct, 20 wrong:60 × 2 − 20 × 0.66 = 120 − 13.2 = 106.8 marks.
Example: CSAT
Minimum to qualify is 66 marks — for example 30 correct and 8 wrong:30 × 2.5 − 8 × 0.83 = 75 − 6.64 = 68.36 ✓
Rules to remember
No penalty for a blank answer. Marking two options counts as wrong. Use a black ballpoint pen on the OMR sheet.
Prelims Syllabus, Subject by Subject
The official GS syllabus is short; these are the areas questions usually come from. Tap a subject to see its topics.
History and Art & CultureGS Paper I
- Ancient India
- Medieval India
- Modern India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian art, architecture, literature and culture
GeographyGS Paper I
- Physical geography of India and the world
- Indian geography — rivers, climate, soils, resources
- Economic and social geography
- Maps and places in the news
Polity and GovernanceGS Paper I
- The Constitution — features, amendments, basic structure
- Parliament, executive, judiciary
- Federalism, Panchayati Raj and local bodies
- Constitutional and statutory bodies; rights issues; public policy
Economy and Social DevelopmentGS Paper I
- Basic economic concepts, GDP, inflation
- Money, banking and the budget
- Poverty, inclusion, demographics
- Government schemes and social sector initiatives
Environment and EcologyGS Paper I
- Ecology and ecosystems
- Biodiversity and conservation
- Climate change and international agreements
- Protected areas and environmental laws
General Science and TechnologyGS Paper I
- Physics, chemistry and biology basics
- Health, diseases and biotechnology
- Space, defence and IT
- New technologies in the news
Current AffairsGS Paper I
- National events of importance
- International relations and organisations
- Reports, indices and summits
- Linking news to the static syllabus
CSAT — Paper IIQualifying paper
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (Class X level)
- Data interpretation — charts, graphs, tables (Class X level)
The official syllabus text is in the notification on upsc.gov.in.
Free Prelims Study Material
Short, revision-friendly material for each GS subject and CSAT.
These resources are being added topic by topic. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
NCERT Notes
Basics for history, geography, polity, economy and science.
Coming soon →Daily Current Affairs
News linked to the Prelims syllabus.
Read today →Fact Sheets
Quick tables for polity articles, schemes, parks and indices.
Coming soon →Map Practice
Places, rivers and protected areas in the news.
Coming soon →CSAT Basics
Comprehension, reasoning and maths, step by step.
Coming soon →Prelims Tests
Timed tests in the real format, with negative marking and explanations.
Test engine under development. The tests below are planned and will open here when ready.
GS Paper I Full Test
CSAT Full Test
Subject-wise Test
Monthly Current Affairs Test
Previous-Year Prelims Papers
GS Paper I and CSAT with answer keys and explanations, arranged by year.
Coming soon. UPSC publishes official question papers, and answer keys after the final result, on upsc.gov.in.
How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims
Prelims rewards wide coverage, repeated revision and careful attempts.
Finish the basics
Complete NCERTs and one standard book per subject before moving to extra material.
Cover current affairs
Read the news daily and revise monthly; link each event to the static syllabus.
Solve past papers early
Use UPSC’s own papers to learn the level and the kind of statements asked.
Take tests and analyse
Sit full GS tests weekly in the final months and study every mistake.
Don’t ignore CSAT
Check your level with a past paper; if you are near 66 marks, practise regularly.
Attempt smartly
Use elimination; skip blind guesses — each wrong answer costs a third of a question.
Prelims Date and Notification
UPSC’s annual calendar lists CSE 2027 Prelims on 23 May 2027. Dates can change — always check upsc.gov.in. We will post verified updates here.
UPSC Prelims FAQs
Are Prelims marks added to the final result?
No. Prelims is a screening test. It decides who qualifies for Mains; the final merit uses only Mains and the Interview.
How is the Prelims cut-off decided?
The cut-off is based only on GS Paper I marks, separately for each category. You must also score at least 33% in CSAT. UPSC usually shortlists about 12 to 13 times the number of vacancies for Mains.
How does negative marking work?
For every wrong answer, one-third of the question’s marks is deducted: 0.66 marks in GS Paper I (2 marks per question) and 0.83 marks in CSAT (2.5 marks per question). Marking more than one answer counts as wrong. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Do I have to appear in both papers?
Yes. Candidates must appear in both GS Paper I and CSAT to be evaluated. Both are held on the same day.
Does appearing in Prelims count as an attempt?
Yes. Appearing in even one Prelims paper counts as an attempt. Applying without appearing does not.
In which languages is the paper set?
The question papers are in English and Hindi.
How important are past papers?
Very. UPSC’s style — statement-based questions, close options and themes that repeat — is best learned by solving its own papers, which it publishes on its website.