UPSC Question Papers 2026 - Download IAS Prelims Exam Question Paper PDFs
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The Union Public Service commission releases the official UPSC IAS question paper 2026 on their website. Candidates can download the IAS prelims 2026 question paper for prelims at upsc.gov.in. The IAS question paper can be downloaded in PDF format. To improve their preparation for the IAS exam, candidates can refer to previous years' IAS question papers with answers. They can download the previous years' IAS question papers in this article in the form of PDF.
This Story also Contains
- UPSC IAS Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC IAS Syllabus 2026
- Best Books for UPSC IAS 2026
By solving UPSC CSE question papers and sample papers, aspirants can give an extra boost to their preparation. They can also get direct links to download the last 10 years of UPSC question papers with answers pdf here. To know more about the UPSC IAS prelims question paper, read the article below.
UPSC IAS Question Paper 2026 - Prelims
Subject | Official Question Paper |
UPSC CSE Paper 1 - General Studies | Download here |
UPSC CSE Paper 2 - General Studies | Click here |
UPSC IAS Previous Year Question Papers
Applicants appearing for the UPSC IAS 2026 exam can download the previous year question papers here for prelims exam. Check the tables below for direct links to previous years' IAS exam question papers.
UPSC IAS Prelims Question Paper - Past year's
The table below shows the last year's question papers of UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026.
UPSC IAS Previous Year's Question Papers
Year | UPSC IAS Question Paper (GS Paper 1) | CSE Question Paper (GS Paper 2) |
| 2024 | Download link | Download link |
2023 | ||
2022 | ||
2021 | ||
2020 | ||
2019 | ||
2018 | ||
2017 | ||
2016 |
What are the 9 papers in the IAS exam?
The nine papers in the IAS mains exam are Compulsory Indian language, English, Essay, General Studies 1, 2, 3 & 4, Optional 1 & 2. Each IAS paper is for 250 marks. The total mark for the IAS Mains exam is 1750 marks.
Solved IAS Previous Question Papers
Candidates who are preparing for the UPSC Civil Services exam can make use the previous year's solved IAS question papers PDF from the table below.
IAS Previous Question Papers with Solution
Year | Links |
2017 | |
2018 | |
2019 | |
2020 |
UPSC IAS Question Paper - Benefits of Solving Previous Year UPSC Question Papers
There are many other advantages of solving UPSC Prelims Question Papers as these papers are prepared directly by the Commission. Some of the advantages of solving the UPSC IAS question paper are mentioned below
UPSC previous year question paper helps applicants to get an idea of the UPSC exam pattern, types of questions asked, marking criteria and difficulty level of the questions asked in the exam.
Candidates can evaluate their progress and preparation level for the IAS 2026 exam by solving the previous year question papers and sample papers.
The concentration and accuracy level of candidates is increased by solving IAS questions and sample papers.
Previous year's IAS question papers also help aspirants to learn about time management during the UPSC IAS exam.
To predict possible areas where questions can be asked
It helps to know about which topics are frequently asked.
It also helps us in time management while solving UPSC's previous year question papers.
List of Other Government Exams
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookHow to Download the Official IAS Question Papers?
Follow the below-mentioned steps to download the IAS 2026 question papers.
Step 1: Visit the official website - upsc.gov.in.
Step 2: Click on the “Examinations” tab on the homepage.
Step 3: Select “Previous Year Question Papers” from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Search UPSC previous year question papers.
Step 5: Click on the UPSC prelims 2026 or mains question paper PDF.
Step 6: Download UPSC previous year's question papers PDF for future reference.
UPSC IAS Syllabus 2026
The Union Public Service Commission mentioned the UPSC syllabus for both prelims and mains exam in the official notification. The topics for all the subjects like history, geography, economy, current affairs, optional subjects and more, is prescribed in the UPSC IAS 2026 syllabus. For more detailed information on the UPSC IAS 2026 syllabus applicants check the official notification.
Quick links:
Best Books for UPSC IAS 2026
Applicants preparing for the exam must refer to the UPSC IAS 2026 best books for exam preparation. Check the table below to learn about the most preferred and the best books for the UPSC prelims 2026 and mains exam preparation.
Best books for UPSC IAS exam
Sr. No. | Books |
1 | India’s Struggle for Independence – Bipan Chandra Modern India – Spectrum |
2 | NCERT 6th to 12th (Geography/ History/ Economics/ Environment, etc.) |
3 | Indian Polity – M Laxmikanth |
4 | Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh Economic Development & Policies in India – Jain & Ohri |
5 | Current Affairs |
6 | Tata McGraw Hill CSAT Manual CSAT – Arihant |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many stages are there in the UPSC IAS selection process?
A:
UPSC IAS 2026 selection process has three stages. They are Prelims, Mains and Interview.
Q: Is the UPSC IAS exam conducted online or offline?
A:
UPSC IAS prelims and mains exam is conducted in offline mode.
Q: Does UPSC release the UPSC IAS question paper?
A:
Yes, UPSC releases the UPSC IAS question paper after the conclusion of the exam.
Q: When is the UPSC IAS 2026 prelims exam to be conducted?
A:
The UPSC prelims 2026 scheduled to be conducted on May 24, 2026.
Q: What is the upper age limit to apply for the UPSC IAS exam?
A:
The upper age limit to apply for the UPSC IAS exam is 32 years for General category applicants.
Q: Which book is best to prepare Indian Polity from?
A:
M Laxmikanth - Indian Polity is the best book to prepare Indian polity for prelims and mains.
Q: Which newspapers should one refer to for the UPSC IAS exam?
A:
The Hindu and Indian Express are both good newspapers, candidates can refer to either one of them.
Q: When is the UPSC IAS 2026 mains exam scheduled to be conducted?
A:
The UPSC IAS 2026 mains exam dates are not yet announced.
Q: What is the last date to apply for the UPSC IAS 2026 exam?
A:
The last date to apply for the UPSC IAS 2026 exam will be mentioned on the official website.
Q: What questions are asked in IAS interview?
A:
UPSC IAS interview questions will be asked from a wide range of topics such as current affairs, governance, national and international issues, ethics, problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, personal background and more.
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Questions related to UPSC CSE
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
Hello Aspirant
As your question is not clear, you are asking how to become an IAS, which course or degree you should pursue, and all the related details regarding the IAS. So, I can suggest you choosing the right stream in Intermediate is important.
The Arts/Humanities stream is most helpful
Hello Aspirant
All colleges are the best, and selection mainly depends on you and your consistency. But I can help you regarding this :
After the 10th, you can join PU (11–12th) colleges that offer strong academics and an early IAS foundation.
Some good options are Delhi’s Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya
Hello
If you want to become an IAS officer, you can choose any group CEC, MPC, or BiPC as IAS does not require a specific subject stream.
However, many students prefer CEC (Commerce, Economics, Civics) or MPC (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) because they help build analytical and general knowledge skills useful
Hello, it’s wonderful to see such clarity at such a young age. Becoming an IAS officer requires consistent preparation, strong general knowledge, and excellent analytical skills. Right now, your main focus should be building a strong base in academics, especially in subjects like History, Geography, and Economics. Start reading NCERT
The choice of your graduation path – integrated BSc BEd (Zoology), BTech CS, or integrated BS-MS at IISER Thiruvananthapuram – to pursue the dream of becoming an IAS officer requires careful consideration.
A Bachelor of Arts degree, particularly in subjects like Political Science, History, or Economics, is often considered the
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