UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2026: Schedule, Result, Syllabus, Eligibility and Cut- off

The UPSC Prelims is the initial, objective-based first stage for India's civil services exam (CSE). UPSC CSE prelims have two papers: General Studies (GS) Paper-1 (merit-based) and CSAT (Paper-2) (qualifying, 33% needed), testing current events, history, geography, polity, economics, and aptitude, with negative marking. Candidates need a bachelor's degree and face limits on the number of attempts, varying by category, to progress to the Mains (written) and Interview stages.

The exam for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 is scheduled on May 24th, 2026. This is the first stage in the selection procedure for some of the most esteemed civil services posts in India, like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Central Services. It has two major segments: General Studies and the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT). The syllabus for General Studies encompasses a plethora of topics like Indian History and Geography, as well as Polity, Economy, and even Science and Technology. The CSAT determines the ability of a candidate in reasoning, comprehension and the level of decision making.

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026: An Overview

The UPSC CSE prelims exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on 24th May 2026. The UPSC prelims is the first stage of the selection process for the civil services exam in India. The registration process for the UPSC prelims exam will begin from 14 January 2026, and the last date of UPSC prelims registration is 3 February 2026. The examination is conducted by the UPSC every year in various cities, based on the location preferences of the aspirants, which they can state while filling out the registration form.

During the registration, the union public service commission provides a fixed list of UPSC prelims exam centres from which aspirants may choose their preferred exam centre. The UPSC prelims admit card can be downloaded from the official UPSC website. To appear for the UPSC prelims exam, aspirants must be citizens of India/ Nepal/Bhutan, be at least 21 years old, and hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.

UPSC Prelims Schedule 2026

The UPSC prelims exam consists of two papers, General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). The UPSC prelims exam is scheduled on 24th May 2026. Both papers will be conducted on the same day in two separate sessions. Each paper is of two hours duration, with a three-hours break. The UPSC prelims GS Paper-I will be held in the morning from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, while the General Studies Paper II (CSAT) starts in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

The UPSC Prelims syllabus has two objective-type papers: GS Paper I, covering current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment, and science (merit-determining); and CSAT (Paper II), focusing on comprehension, reasoning, decision-making, numeracy, and data interpretation (qualifying, 33% required). Both papers test a broad range of general knowledge and aptitude, acting as a filter for the Mains examination. Following is the UPSC Prelims 2026 syllabus.

Paper I – General Studies Paper 1 (200 marks)

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, 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 specialisation.
• General Science

Paper II- CSAT (200 marks)

• 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)

UPSC Prelims Eligibility Criteria

A candidate must meet the following eligibility criteria to appear for the UPSC Prelims examination:

• Nationality: Either an Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal / Bhutan.
• Age: As on 1st August of the examination year, applicants must be greater than or equal to 21 years and lesser than or equal to 32 years old for General category. There are also some upper limit age relaxations for applicants from reserved categories.
• Educational Qualification(s): A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the Indian government. Students in their final year of the bachelor’s degree course are also eligible for UPSC CSE prelims, provided they show proof of passing the examination before the Mains Exam.

UPSC Prelims 2026: Last Date to Apply

For UPSC CSE Prelims 2026, the official notification is expected on January 14, 2026. The last date to apply for the UPSC prelims exam is February 3rd, 2026, and the UPSC prelims exam is scheduled for May 24, 2026, according to official sources, though official dates are confirmed by UPSC.

How to Apply for UPSC CSE Prelims?

To apply for the UPSC CSE Prelims exam, visit the official UPSC website to complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) for your profile, then log in to fill out Part I (basic details) and Part II (application form), upload your scanned photograph/signature, pay the fee, and submit before the deadline. You must register, provide personal and educational info, upload documents (photo/signature), and pay the fee online. Here’s how to apply for the UPSC CSE Prelims in 2026:

• Go to the official website of the UPSC at https://upsc.gov.in/.
• Select “Apply Online” from the menu.
• Then click on the “Civil Services Part-I registration”.
• Read all the instructions on the application form and select “Yes”.
• Complete all basic info in the Part I application form, such as your full name, DOB, Caste, Gender, Email address, Phone number, Address, Marital status, Guardian’s name, Community, and educational qualification.
• Once step 1 is complete, click on “Continue”.
• Next, you will be taken to the Part II application form.
• Complete all the mandatory fields in the Part II application form.
• Review your application and submit it.

Exam Fee for UPSC Prelims 2026

The exam fee for UPSC prelims is ₹100 for male candidates from General, EWS, and OBC categories; however, all female candidates (all categories), and SC/ST/PwBD candidates are exempt from paying any fee. Fees can typically be paid online (Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI) or offline (SBI Challan). After submitting your application, a confirmation email will be sent to you. It is important to keep this email because it contains your application number and exam center which are vital details. The UPSC Prelims fees are as follows:

General and OBC candidates: Rs 100
SC/ST candidates: NIL
Women candidates of all categories: NIL

UPSC Prelims Exam Date & Timings for 2026

The UPSC CSE prelims exam 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24th, 2026, with Paper I (General Studies) from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM and GS Paper II (CSAT) from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, with strict reporting times of 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM respectively, ensuring candidates reach well before the gates close 30 minutes prior to each session. Below is the expected UPSC prelims exam 2026-time duration for GS Paper-1 and GS Paper-2 (CSAT Paper)

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern & Marks 2026

UPSC prelims exam is the first stage of the civil services examination. The questions in the UPSC prelims exams are objective based and are divided into two papers. Both the papers are allotted 200 marks respectively. It is mandatory for aspirants to appear for both papers in order to qualify for the next examination stages.

The UPSC prelims exam has two papers, each paper worth 200 marks, for a total of 400 marks, but only GS Paper 1 counts for merit, while GS Paper 2 (CSAT) is qualifying, requiring 33% (66 marks) to pass; So, while total marks are 400, your performance in GS-1 determines your rank, with negative marking for wrong answers in both.

Category-wise UPSC Prelims Cut-off Last 5 Years

The UPSC Prelims cut-off changes every year depending on factors like the difficulty level of the paper, the number of vacancies and the cut-off marks for Prelims 2025 will be released after the complete UPSC examination cycle. For the General category, the UPSC prelims cut-off usually stays between 80 and 100 marks out of 200. In recent years, it has been around 87.98 in 2024, 75.41 in 2023, 88.22 in 2022, and 87.54 in 2021. In earlier years, like 2019, it went as high as 98. Cut-offs for reserved categories such as EWS, OBC, SC, and ST are lower, and UPSC releases separate cut-off marks for each category every year. It is important to remember that GS Paper II (CSAT) is only qualifying, requiring 33% marks, while the final Prelims cut-off is decided based on GS Paper-I scores only. Let’s take a look at the category-wise UPSC prelims cut-off marks from the last 5 years.

UPSC Prelims Exam Centres List {2026 Updated}

Each individual’s designated exam center information will be incorporated in the upcoming admit card for UPSC CSE prelims 2026. The UPSC prelims admit cards can be downloaded from the official UPSC website. All candidates must present a copy of their admit card and an identity card with a photograph affixed for examination at the center. The UPSC Prelims exam will be conducted in almost 80 cities across the country. Here is the updated list of UPSC prelims exam centres below in a table

Best Books for UPSC Prelims Preparation

For UPSC CSE Prelims, focus on NCERTs (6-12) for foundational knowledge, then standard books like m laxmikant polity, Shankar IAS for environment), Geography by Majid Husain, and Bipan Chandra/Spectrum (History), supplemented by newspapers (The Hindu/Indian Express) and monthly magazines (Yojana and Kurukshetra) for current affairs and CSAT manuals.

• NCERT Textbooks for all subjects (Class 6-12)
• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
• Modern India by Bipin Chandra
• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
• Geography of India by Majid Husain
• Environment and Ecology by Majid Husain
• CSAT Paper 2 by Arihant Publications
• Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
• Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
• Newspapers and Magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan, Yojana, and Kurukshetra

Download UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper PDF

UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Paper PDFs are a valuable resource for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination. These papers help candidates understand the exam pattern, syllabus coverage, and the type of questions asked over the years. Regular practice with UPSC prelims previous year papers improves conceptual clarity, enhances problem-solving skills, and builds confidence. It also helps in identifying important topics and analyzing recurring trends in questions. Solving these papers under timed conditions strengthens time management and accuracy, making them an essential part of an effective UPSC Prelims preparation strategy. Download UPSC Prelims Previous Year Question Papers PDF

UPSC Prelims Answer Key

The Union Public Service Commission will publish the UPSC Prelims answer key 2025-26 after the examination is conducted. As with previous years' exams, the answer key of UPSC Prelims answer key 2026 will also be posted on the UPSC website and will be accessible to all the candidates who took the exam. The UPSC Prelims answer key will provide accurate solutions to all examination questions. Applicants can evaluate their probable marks using the answer key and also ascertain the parts in which they require further refinement.

UPSC Prelims Result 2025 Date- Officially Out!

The Union Public Service Commission has officially declared the UPSC Prelims exam 2025 Result Date. The UPSC Prelims Result 2025 has been officially announced on 11th June 2025 on the UPSC official website. You can check the results by downloading the PDF file containing names and roll numbers from the UPSC website. The result is based on the performance of candidates in General Studies Paper I in combination with the vacancy ratio, while the CSAT paper is considered qualifying in nature with a cutoff of 33%. A UPSC prelims result PDF containing selected candidates' names and roll numbers is published on the official UPSC website.

Download Roll Number-Wise UPSC Prelims Result PDF 2025

The result for Prelims 2025 has been published, and candidates are listed in a roll number-wise format. Only those who passed the Preliminary examination are mentioned. Being listed assures the candidate that he or she is eligible to sit for UPSC Mains Exam 2025.

Download Name-Wise UPSC Prelims Result PDF 2025

Based on the order of roll numbers, the UPSC Prelims Result 2025 Name Wise List has been published. This document contains the names as well as roll numbers of the candidates who have cleared the exam.

How to Download UPSC CSE Prelims Result 2025?

To download the UPSC Prelims 2025 Result, visit the official UPSC website (or upsc.gov.in), find the link under "Written Results" or "What's New", click the "Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 Result" PDF link, then use Ctrl + F to search for your Roll Number within the opened PDF document to see if you've qualified for Mains.

1. Visit the Official UPSC website: Open your browser and visit to www.upsc.gov.in
2. Find the Result Link: On the homepage, look for the "Examinations" tab or "What's New" section and click on "Written Results.
3. Locate the Relevant Link: Click the link that says "Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2025.
4. Open the UPSC Prelims Result PDF: A PDF document will open, listing the roll numbers of successful candidates.
5. Search for Your Roll Number: Press Ctrl + F and type in your roll number.
6. Check & Download: If your roll number appears, you've qualified for the Mains exam. You can then download and save the PDF for your records.