📅 Updated: April 2026 | Union Public Service Commission
📚 UPSC Syllabus 2026 – Complete Guide
IAS Prelims + Mains + Interview | Topic Wise | PDF Download
🔴 Prelims Exam: 24 May 2026 | Only 35 Days Left! | upsc.gov.in
- ✅ Prelims Date: 24 May 2026 — 35 days left!
- ✅ Mains Date: 21 August 2026
- ✅ Total Vacancies: 933 posts (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS)
- ✅ Syllabus Status: No major changes in 2026
- 🔗 Official PDF: upsc.gov.in
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 is India's most prestigious exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and 18 other services. Understanding the UPSC Syllabus 2026 is the most important first step for every aspirant. This complete guide covers the entire syllabus for Prelims, Mains and Interview with topic-wise details to help you plan your preparation effectively. Prelims is just 35 days away — 24 May 2026!
📝 UPSC CSE 2026 – Exam Structure Overview
| Stage | Papers | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | GS Paper 1 + CSAT | 200+200 = 400 | Objective MCQ |
| Mains | 9 Papers (Essay+GS1-4+Optional+Language) | 1750 (merit) | Descriptive |
| Interview | Personality Test | 275 | Face to Face |
| Final Merit | Mains + Interview | 2025 Marks |
📄 UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 – Paper 1 (General Studies)
100 Questions | 200 Marks | 2 Hours | Negative Marking: 1/3
1. Current Events — National & International
- Important government schemes and policies
- Major national and international events
- India's relations with other countries
- Important appointments, awards, sports
- Important books and authors
2. History of India & Indian National Movement
- Ancient India — Indus Valley, Vedic Period, Mauryan, Gupta Empire
- Medieval India — Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Bhakti Movement
- Modern India — British rule, Freedom struggle, Important leaders
- Indian National Movement — Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose
- Art & Culture — Architecture, Dance, Music, Painting, Sculpture
3. Indian & World Geography
- Physical Geography — Mountains, Rivers, Plains, Plateaus
- Climatology — Monsoon, Climate zones, Weather patterns
- Indian Geography — States, Union Territories, Rivers, Forests
- World Geography — Continents, Oceans, Countries, Trade routes
- Economic Geography — Resources, Agriculture, Industries
4. Indian Polity & Governance
- Indian Constitution — Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSP
- Parliament — Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative process
- Executive — President, PM, Council of Ministers, Governor
- Judiciary — Supreme Court, High Courts, Judicial review
- Federalism — Centre-State relations, Finance Commission
- Local Government — Panchayati Raj, Urban Local Bodies
- Constitutional Bodies — Election Commission, CAG, UPSC
5. Economic & Social Development
- Indian Economy — GDP, Inflation, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy
- Planning — Five Year Plans, NITI Aayog
- Banking — RBI, Nationalized Banks, Financial Inclusion
- Agriculture — Green Revolution, Food Security, MSP
- Poverty & Unemployment — Schemes, Programs
- Social Sector — Health, Education, Women empowerment
- Sustainable Development — SDGs, Poverty reduction
6. Environment, Ecology & Climate Change
- Biodiversity — Flora, Fauna, Endangered species
- Climate Change — Global warming, Paris Agreement, Carbon credits
- Ecology — Ecosystems, Food chains, Conservation
- Environmental Laws — Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Act
- Pollution — Air, Water, Soil, Noise pollution
- National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
7. General Science
- Physics — Laws of motion, Light, Sound, Electricity, Nuclear
- Chemistry — Elements, Compounds, Acids, Metals, Polymers
- Biology — Human body, Diseases, Vaccines, Cell biology
- Science & Technology — Space, Defence, Biotechnology, AI, IT
- Health & Medicine — Diseases, Nutrition, AYUSH
📄 UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 – Paper 2 (CSAT)
80 Questions | 200 Marks | 2 Hours | Qualifying — Minimum 33% required
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | English passages — questions on understanding, inference, vocabulary |
| Logical Reasoning | Syllogisms, Analogies, Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood relations |
| Analytical Ability | Pattern recognition, Problem solving, Critical thinking |
| Decision Making | Situational questions, Administrative problems |
| Basic Numeracy | Numbers, Percentage, Ratio, Profit-Loss, Time-Speed (Class 10 level) |
| Data Interpretation | Charts, Graphs, Tables, Data sufficiency (Class 10 level) |
| English Comprehension | Basic English understanding, Vocabulary, Sentence completion |
📚 UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026 – Complete Overview
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language (any from 8th Schedule) | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B | English Language | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 2 | General Studies 1 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 3 | General Studies 2 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 4 | General Studies 3 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 5 | General Studies 4 (Ethics) | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 6 | Optional Subject Paper 1 | 250 | Merit |
| Paper 7 | Optional Subject Paper 2 | 250 | Merit |
| Total Mains Merit Marks | 1750 | ||
📚 GS Paper 1 Syllabus – 250 Marks
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Indian Heritage & Culture | Art forms, Literature, Architecture from ancient to modern times |
| Modern Indian History | 18th century to present, Freedom struggle, Significant personalities |
| World History | Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Colonization, Decolonization |
| Indian Society | Diversity, Women issues, Poverty, Urbanization, Globalization |
| World Geography | Physical geography, Resources distribution, Climate, Disaster |
📚 GS Paper 2 Syllabus – 250 Marks
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Indian Constitution | Historical background, Features, Amendments, Basic Structure |
| Governance | Parliament, Executives, Ministries, E-governance, Transparency |
| Social Justice | Welfare schemes, Health, Education, Poverty, Vulnerable sections |
| International Relations | India's foreign policy, Bilateral relations, International organizations |
📚 GS Paper 3 Syllabus – 250 Marks
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Indian Economy | Planning, Growth, Development, Employment, Inclusive growth |
| Agriculture | Cropping patterns, Irrigation, Transport, Marketing, Subsidies |
| Science & Technology | Developments, Applications, Indigenization, IP rights, Space, Defence |
| Environment | Conservation, Pollution, Disaster management, Environmental impact |
| Internal Security | Challenges, Terrorism, Cybersecurity, Money laundering, Border issues |
📚 GS Paper 4 Syllabus – Ethics – 250 Marks
| Topic | Subtopics |
|---|---|
| Ethics & Human Interface | Essence, Determinants, Consequences of ethics in human actions |
| Attitude | Content, Structure, Function, Influence on thought and behaviour |
| Aptitude & Foundational Values | Integrity, Impartiality, Non-partisanship, Objectivity, Dedication |
| Emotional Intelligence | Concepts, utilities, applications in administration |
| Public Administration Ethics | Corruption, Codes of conduct, Citizen's Charter, RTI |
| Case Studies | Ethical dilemmas, Decision making in government |
📚 UPSC Optional Subjects List 2026
Candidates must choose ONE optional subject from the list below. It has 2 papers of 250 marks each (total 500 marks):
| Popular Optional Subjects | Why Popular |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | High overlap with GS, Good scoring |
| Sociology | Overlap with GS Paper 1, Static syllabus |
| Political Science & IR | Overlap with GS Paper 2, Good scoring |
| Geography | Overlap with GS Paper 1 & 3 |
| Anthropology | Short syllabus, High scoring |
| History | Overlap with GS Paper 1, Good resources |
| Economics | Overlap with GS Paper 3, Good for commerce graduates |
| Law | Good for law graduates |
📚 Other Optional Subjects: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce, Electrical Engineering, Geology, Hindi Literature, Mathematics, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Statistics, Zoology and Indian Languages literature.
🏆 UPSC Interview / Personality Test 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Marks | 275 Marks |
| Duration | 20-30 minutes |
| Conducted by | UPSC Board Members |
| Expected Date | February-March 2027 |
🗣 Interview tests your mental alertness, critical thinking, leadership qualities, social skills, ethical integrity and interest in current affairs. There is no fixed syllabus — questions are based on your background, DAF (Detailed Application Form), academics and general awareness.
📚 Best Books for UPSC CSE 2026
| Subject | Best Book |
|---|---|
| History | Spectrum — Modern History | NCERT Old 11th |
| Geography | Certificate Physical & Human Geography — GC Leong | NCERT 11th-12th |
| Polity | Indian Polity — M. Laxmikant (Most Important!) |
| Economy | Indian Economy — Ramesh Singh | Economic Survey |
| Environment | Environment — Shankar IAS | NCERT Biology |
| Science | NCERT Science 6th-10th | Science Reporter |
| Current Affairs | The Hindu / Indian Express (Daily) | Vision IAS Monthly |
| CSAT | CSAT Paper 2 — Arihant | Previous Year Papers |
| Ethics GS4 | Ethics — Lexicon | G Subba Rao |
❓ UPSC Syllabus 2026 – FAQ
⏳ UPSC Prelims — 24 May 2026 — Only 35 Days Left!
Start your preparation today! Download official syllabus PDF from upsc.gov.in! Share with all UPSC aspirants! 🙏
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Disclaimer: All syllabus information is based on official UPSC notification 2026 at upsc.gov.in. Sarkarinokrii.com is not affiliated with UPSC.
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