UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 & 2 - Download PDF here

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 & 2 - Download PDF here

Deshamena RachanaUpdated on 18 Sep 2025, 04:11 PM IST

The Commission mentioned the UPSC IAS 2026 prelims syllabus in the official notification. The IAS preliminary exam syllabus can be downloaded from the upsc.gov.in. Candidates preparing for the UPSC IAS exam must check the detailed prelims syllabus. With the help of the UPSC IAS 2026 exam syllabus, candidates can make an effective preparation strategy for the exam.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 for Paper 1 & 2 - Download PDF here
UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

Applicants can also check important topics and chapters from where the questions will be asked in the UPSC IAS prelims exam. Along with the syllabus, candidates can also check the previous year's UPSC question papers for their preparation. The IAS prelims syllabus pdf comprises topics asked in GS paper 1 and GS paper 2. Applicants can also download the UPSC prelims syllabus in Hindi here.

The UPSC IAS 2026 prelims exam will be conducted in offline mode. For more details about the UPSC IAS prelims syllabus, candidates can check the article given below.

Also read: Information about category-wise career exams

UPSC Prelims Syllabus for Papers 1 & 2

Paper

UPSC syllabus

General Studies Paper 1

  • Current events of national and international importance

  • History of India and the Indian National Movement

  • Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, and Economic Geography of India and the World

  • Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

  • Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

  • General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization

  • General Science.

CSAT Paper 2

  • Comprehension

  • Interpersonal skills including communication skills;

  • Logical reasoning and analytical ability;

  • Decision-making and problem-solving;

  • General mental ability;

  • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level);

Related Articles

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 EBook

UPSC IAS Exam Pattern 2026

Union Public Service Commission released the IAS 2026 exam pattern in the official notification. Along with the exam pattern, candidates must also check the UPSC prelims IAS syllabus for their preparations. With the help of the UPSC 2026 prelims syllabus, candidates can make their preparation strategy to score well in the exam. For more details, candidates can check the tale below.

IAS Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern

Paper

Number of questions

Maximum marks

Duration

GS Paper (Prelims Paper 1)

100

200

2 hours

CSAT Paper (Prelims Paper 2)

80

200

2 hours

Also read: UPSC Mock Tests Series for UPSC

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 - Important Points

  • Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.

  • The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type in both papers

  • It is compulsory to appear for both UPSC IAS prelims GS papers.

UPSC Prelims Preparation Tips 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the selection process of IAS 2026?
A:

The IAS selection 2026 process comprises the prelims exam, mains exam and personal interview.

Q: What are the details required to download the admit card of IAS 2026?
A:

Candidates can download UPSC IAS 2026 admit card through their registration number and date of birth.

Q: How will UPSC result 2026 be released?
A:

The UPSC IAS result 2026 will be released in PDF form having details of all the qualified candidates.

Q: Can I challenge the UPSC IAS answer key 2026?
A:

No, candidates are not allowed to challenge UPSC IAS answer key 2026.

Q: What are the 7 papers of UPSC 2026?
A:

There are 9 papers in UPSC out of which 2 papers are qualifying in nature. The IAS 2026 Prelims exam consists of GS 1 and GS 2. The UPSC Mains 2026 paper consists of Paper A – Compulsory Indian Language Paper , Paper B – English Language Paper , Paper I – Essay , Paper II - Paper V – General Studies, Paper VI – Paper VII – Optional Paper II.


Articles
|
Upcoming Competition Exams
Ongoing Dates
Bihar Police SI Application Date

26 Sep'25 - 26 Oct'25 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Access to Justice
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Online Course of Indian Constitution
Via NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
Online BA Punjabi
Via Guru Nanak Dev University Directorate of Online Studies
Constitution Law and Public Administration in India
Via National Law School of India University, Bangalore
Sociology in India
Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Online MA English
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Bangalore University
Swayam
 220 courses
Edx
 201 courses
LawSikho
 127 courses
NPTEL
 92 courses
Futurelearn
 89 courses
Coursera
 76 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to UPSC CSE

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?

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 for the IAS exam.
CEC helps with subjects like economics and polity, which are important for the IAS syllabus.
MPC develops problem-solving skills and logical thinking, also useful for the exam. BiPC (Biology group) is less common for IAS aspirants, but still possible if you prefer life sciences.

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 textbooks from class 6 to 12 for these subjects. Make it a habit to read a good newspaper like The Hindu or Indian Express daily to improve your current affairs knowledge. Practice writing short essays on important topics it will help you in the Mains stage later. Participate in debates, quizzes, and discussions to improve your speaking and thinking skills. After 12th, choose a graduation subject that you enjoy but also overlaps with UPSC syllabus. Most importantly, stay consistent and avoid distractions. You have plenty of time to prepare, so start slowly and build steadily.

Wishing you success in your IAS dream, and thank you for sharing.


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 most aligned with the CSE syllabus, covering crucial topics relevant to General Studies papers.

However, a science background, especially with a BTech CS degree, develops analytical and logical reasoning skills beneficial for the CSAT paper and could be advantageous for certain optional subjects like Mathematics or potentially Engineering disciplines.

Even if you choose a science or engineering stream, you can still select humanities-based optional subjects that overlap with the General Studies papers like Anthropology, Sociology, or Public Administration, which many engineers have successfully opted for.The integrated BSc BEd (Zoology) offers a strong foundation in science and a backup career in teaching, but the primary focus of the BEd component may not be directly relevant to the UPSC syllabus. The integrated BS-MS at IISER offers a strong research focus and academic excellence, potentially leading to diverse career paths in science, academia, industry, or even government agencies But still it is not connected with your ias dream.

Among all b.tech is best as many successful candidates from engineering backgrounds, have utilized their analytical skills and knowledge to crack the exam.

Hello

This is the typical schedule of the IAS Exam (UPSC CSE):

Notification Release: February
Online Application Window: February to early March
Prelims Exam: May or June
Mains Exam: September/October

As for 2025, the registration date is already gone, so you have to see for 2026 now. The registration will open most probably in February 2026 so stay tuned.

To know more about the IAS Exam: UPSC CSE

Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!

A candidate who has undergone heart surgery can be eligible for the IAS post if they are medically fit and can perform the required duties without any serious health problems The UPSC allows candidates to appear for the exam if they meet the general physical and mental fitness criteria After clearing the main examination and interview all selected candidates must undergo a detailed medical examination by a government medical board If the candidate has recovered well from heart surgery and there are no complications they can be declared fit for service However if the surgery has caused any permanent disability and if it is certified under the benchmark disability rules then the candidate may be eligible for reservation under the persons with disabilities category Final eligibility depends on the report given by the medical board during the selection process