The UPSC Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE 2026) is India’s most prestigious exam conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and 20+ Group A & B central services.

Known for its depth, rigor, and competitiveness, UPSC CSE evaluates candidates across knowledge, decision-making, ethics, and personality traits essential for top administrative roles.

🧭 1. UPSC CSE 2026 Selection Process

The Civil Services selection process has three stages:

Preliminary Examination (Objective) – Qualifying
Mains Examination (Descriptive) – Merit Ranking
Personality Test / Interview

Final merit is based only on Mains (1750 marks) + Interview (275 marks).

📝 2. UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern

🟦 Stage 1: UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern (Objective)

Paper	Subject	Marks	Questions	Duration
Paper I	General Studies (GS)	200	100	2 Hours
Paper II	CSAT (Aptitude Test)	200	80	2 Hours

Important Rules

GS Paper 1 marks decide Prelims merit.
CSAT is qualifying with 33% minimum.
Negative Marking:
- 1/3rd marks deduction per wrong answer.

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be held around May–June (official dates via notification).

🟨 Stage 2: UPSC Mains Exam Pattern (Descriptive)

Total Papers: 9 (7 for merit + 2 qualifying)

Paper	Subject	Marks	Type
Paper A	Indian Language	300	Qualifying
Paper B	English	300	Qualifying
Paper I	Essay	250	Merit
Paper II	GS I	250	Merit
Paper III	GS II	250	Merit
Paper IV	GS III	250	Merit
Paper V	GS IV	250	Merit
Paper VI	Optional Paper 1	250	Merit
Paper VII	Optional Paper 2	250	Merit

Total Mains Marks for Merit: 1750

🟩 Stage 3: UPSC Interview (Personality Test)

Marks: 275
Carried out at UPSC Dholpur House, New Delhi.
Evaluates:
- Clarity of expression
- Decision-making
- Moral integrity
- Leadership
- Social awareness
- Emotional intelligence

📘 3. Detailed UPSC CSE 2026 Syllabus (Complete)

📌 UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

🟦 General Studies Paper 1

Current Events (National & International)
Indian History & Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography
Indian Polity & Governance
Economic & Social Development
Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
General Science

🟩 CSAT (Paper 2)

Comprehension
Logical reasoning
Analytical ability
Decision-making
Basic numeracy
Data interpretation
Problem-solving
Interpersonal skills

📚 UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 (Paper-wise)

📝 Paper I – Essay

Write two essays
Topics from society, politics, economy, ethics, philosophy
Structure, coherence, and originality tested

📜 Paper II – General Studies 1

Indian Heritage & Culture
Modern Indian History
World History
Indian Society, Women & Social Issues
Geography of India & World

⚖️ Paper III – General Studies 2 (Polity & Governance)

Indian Constitution
Parliament & State Legislatures
Government Policies
Judiciary
NGOs, SHGs
International Relations
Governance & Public Administration

💹 Paper IV – General Studies 3 (Economy & Technology)

Indian Economy
Agriculture
Science & Technology
Environment
Disaster Management
Internal Security
Cyber Security

🧭 Paper V – General Studies 4 (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)

Ethics theories
Emotional intelligence
Public service values
Attitude
Probity in governance
Case studies

📘 Optional Subject Papers (VI & VII)

Choose one optional subject from 48+ options such as:

Public Administration
Geography
History
Sociology
PSIR (Political Science & International Relations)
Anthropology
Literature subjects (Hindi, English, Tamil, etc.)

Each optional includes Paper 1 + Paper 2 (250 marks each).

🏆 4. UPSC Final Selection Process & Marks Weightage

Component	Marks
Mains (7 papers)	1750
Interview (PT)	275
Total Marks for Rank	2025

Only Mains + Interview marks count for final merit.
Higher-ranking candidates get IAS → IPS → IFS → IRS as per preference & rank.

🚀 5. Practical Preparation Tips for UPSC 2026

Start with NCERTs (Class 6–12) for strong fundamentals.
Read The Hindu / Indian Express daily.
Follow PIB, Yojana, Kurukshetra, and government schemes.
Practice answer writing daily for Mains.
Solve UPSC previous year papers (10–15 years).
Take mock tests for Prelims and Mains regularly.
Build conceptual clarity over rote learning.
Maintain notes and revise consistently.
Keep physical and mental health balanced.

🔗 6. Useful Official Resources

UPSC Official Website: https://upsc.gov.in
UPSC CSE Notification 2026 PDF: available on UPSC → Examinations → Notifications
UPSC Syllabus PDF: https://upsc.gov.in/exams/syllabus
UPSC Previous Year Papers: https://upsc.gov.in/exams/question-papers

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