UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for UPSC Prelims is provided in the table below:

Exam Pattern & Syllabus For UPSC Prelims

Two Compulsory Papers
  1. General Studies Paper – I (GS)
  2. General Studies Paper – II (CSAT)
Number of Questions (GS Paper – I) 100
Number of Questions (CSAT) 80
Total Number of Marks

Total – 400 (200 each paper)

  1. GS Paper 1 – 200 Marks
  2. CSAT Paper 2- 200 Marks
Negative Marking 1/3 of the total marks allotted to the question will be deducted for every wrong answer
Duration of Exam Two hours for each exam: 
GS Paper 1 – 2hrs
CSAT paper 2 – 2hrs
Note:- 20 minutes per hour extra time for blind candidates & candidates with Locomotor Disability & Cerebral Palsy [minimum 40% impairment]
Type of Questions Objective (MCQ) type
Medium of Exam Bilingual (Hindi & English)

UPSC Syllabus 2024 : IAS Prelims & Mains Syllabus PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s prestigious and toughest examination which selects candidates for different civil services. The UPSC Syllabus 2024 acts as a roadmap for candidates who are preparing for UPSC Prelims or UPSC Mains.

In this article, we will delve into the structure of the UPSC Syllabus and shed light on the important areas that candidates must concentrate on during their preparation including UPSC Mains, UPSC Prelims, and Personality Test(Interview). You need to familiarise yourself with the exam pattern and then start preparing for the exams.

Read: UPSC Revised Syllabus

Table of Content

  • UPSC Complete Syllabus 2024
  • UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024
  • UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern
  • UPSC Prelims Examination Syllabus
  • Download PDF – UPSC Syllabus Prelims and Mains
  • UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2024
  • UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
  • UPSC Mains Examination Syllabus
  • UPSC Optional Subjects List
  • UPSC (List of Literature Optional Subject)
  • UPSC Personality Test (Final Interview)

Similar Reads

UPSC Complete Syllabus 2024

Here is the complete syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service Examination 2024 and it mainly consists of three stages:...

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024

The Preliminary Examination acts as a screening test and it comprises two papers:...

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for UPSC Prelims is provided in the table below:...

UPSC Prelims Examination Syllabus

1. General Studies Paper-I Syllabus...

Download PDF – UPSC Syllabus Prelims and Mains

Download UPSC Full Syllabus PDF Download PDF Here Download UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF Download PDF Here Download UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF Download PDF Here...

UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2024

The Main Examination is the most crucial stage and tests candidates’ in-depth knowledge of various subjects. It consists of nine papers, which can be categorized as follows:...

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern

Paper Subject Marks Paper – I Essay 250 Paper – II General Studies – I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) 250 Paper – III General Studies – II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) 250 Paper – IV General Studies – III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management) 250 Paper – V General Studies – IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) 250 Paper – VI Optional Subject – Paper I 250 Paper- VIII Optional Subject – Paper II 250...

UPSC Mains Examination Syllabus

Qualifying Papers on Indian Languages and English...

UPSC Optional Subjects List

The list provided in the table below shows the optional subjects for UPSC:...

UPSC (List of Literature Optional Subject)

UPSC (List of Literature Optional Subject ) Assamese(Literature) Oriya(Literature) Bengali(Literature) Punjabi(Literature) Bodo(Literature) Sanskrit(Literature) Dogri(Literature) Santhali(Literature) Gujarati(Literature) Sindhi(Literature) Hindi(Literature) Tamil(Literature) Kannada(Literature) Telugu(Literature) Kashmiri(Literature) Urdu(Literature) Konkani(Literature) English(Literature) Maithili(Literature) Marathi(Literature) Nepali(Literature)...

UPSC Personality Test (Final Interview)

The final stage, the Personality Test which is also known as Interview, assesses the candidate’s suitability for a career in civil services. It is conducted to check the suitability of the candidate for a career in civil services....

Conclusion – UPSC Syllabus 2024 : IAS Prelims & Mains Syllabus

In Conclusion, UPSC syllabus is a comprehensive and challenging set of topics that covers a wide range of subjects. It is important to have a strong understanding of all the topics in the syllabus in order to be successful in the UPSC exam. The syllabus is divided into 7 papers, each with its own focus. Candidates are required to start studying early, make a study plan, take practice tests, find a study partner or group, and stay positive....

UPSC Syllabus 2024 : IAS Prelims & Mains Syllabus – FAQs

1. Is the UPSC Syllabus the same for Prelims and Mains?...