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UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination Online Test Series

Complete preparation for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Chapter-wise practice tests, mock papers and previous year questions for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination are being added here. Register free to access the full test series as soon as the content goes live.

Exam Pattern Based Up-to-date Questions Detailed Solutions
Dedicated UPSC Prelims Preparation Hub

Master UPSC Prelims 2026–2027: 9 Subject-Wise Modules, CSAT & Full CBT Simulators

Prepare with authentic, high-standard UPSC questions designed across official archetypes (multi-statement, pair-matching, conceptual application). Practice dedicated topic tests, subject tests, CSAT reasoning/comprehension, and full 2-shift simulations with in-depth statement-by-statement solutions.

9 GS Paper I Subjects CSAT 33% Qualifying Track Full 100Q & 80Q Mocks
Start UPSC Prelims Preparation

Preliminary Examination

Official paper structure and available practice sets.
General Studies Paper-I100 questions • 200 marks • 120 minutes CSAT Paper-II (Aptitude)80 questions • 200 marks • 120 minutes
180 Questions • 400 Marks • 240 Minutes (2 Hours per Paper • 2 Shifts) Open Practice Portal
Verified against Official UPSC Civil Services Examination Scheme

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination Anatomy & Key Highlights

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Group A/B Central Services. Selection is a rigorous three-stage process: Stage-I Preliminary Examination (Objective: GS Paper I & CSAT Paper II), Stage-II Main Examination (Written: 9 descriptive papers totaling 1750 marks), and Stage-III Personality Test / Interview (275 marks). Final ranking is calculated out of 2025 marks.

Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Dholpur House, New Delhi
Exam Frequency Annual (Single examination cycle per calendar year)
Total Questions & Marks GS Paper I: 100 MCQs (200 Marks) • GS Paper II (CSAT): 80 MCQs (200 Marks) — Total: 180 MCQs (400 Marks)
Exam Duration Combined 240 Minutes (2 Hours per Paper • 2 Separate Shifts: Morning GS-I & Afternoon CSAT)
Marking Scheme GS Paper I: +2.0 Marks per correct answer, -0.66 (1/3rd) Negative Marking • CSAT Paper II: +2.5 Marks per correct answer, -0.83 (1/3rd) Negative Marking
Cutoff / Standards CSAT is strictly qualifying (33% minimum / 66.0 Marks) • Preliminary merit for Mains qualification is determined solely on GS Paper I marks
Score Validity Valid strictly for the respective Civil Services Examination year
Attempt Limit General / EWS: 6 Attempts (up to 32 yrs) • OBC: 9 Attempts (up to 35 yrs) • SC / ST: Unlimited attempts (up to 37 yrs) • PwBD: 9 Attempts for Gen/OBC, Unlimited for SC/ST (up to 42 yrs)
Minimum Educational Qualifications & Eligibility Norms

UPSC Civil Services Examination Official Eligibility Criteria & Age Limits

Candidates applying for UPSC CSE must satisfy the following statutory conditions regarding educational qualifications, age limits, and permissible attempts prescribed in the official UPSC Information Gazette:

Educational Qualification

Graduation / Bachelor's Degree

  • A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India, or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament, or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
  • Candidates appearing in their final year / semester of graduation are eligible to apply for the Preliminary Examination, provided they submit proof of passing the degree examination while applying for the Main Examination (DAF-I).
  • No minimum percentage of marks in graduation is prescribed by UPSC; passing the recognized degree is sufficient.
Age Bracket & Statutory Relaxations

Age Boundary (21 to 32 Years)

  • Minimum Age: 21 Years • Maximum Age: 32 Years as on 1st August of the examination year.
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years Upper Age Relaxation (up to 35 years).
  • SC / ST Candidates: 5 Years Upper Age Relaxation (up to 37 years).
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 Years Upper Age Relaxation (up to 42 years).
  • Defence Services personnel disabled in operations / Ex-Servicemen / ECOs / SSCOs: Up to 5 years relaxation as per official rules.
Category-Wise Attempts Allowed

Permissible Attempts Matrix

  • General Category / EWS: Maximum 6 Attempts.
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC): Maximum 9 Attempts.
  • SC / ST Candidates: Unlimited Attempts up to the permissible age limit (37 years).
  • PwBD Candidates: 9 Attempts for General / EWS / OBC, and Unlimited Attempts for SC / ST.
  • An attempt in the Preliminary Examination is deemed to be an attempt at the examination (appearing in even one paper counts as an attempt).
Nationality & Service Specifics

Nationality & Character Standards

  • For the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS), the candidate must be a citizen of India.
  • For other Group A & B services, candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.
  • Candidates must meet the requisite medical and physical standards specified in the Civil Services Examination rules.
Important: Application Fee: Rs. 100 for General/OBC male candidates. All female candidates and candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwBD categories are completely exempted from payment of fee.
Official Exam Structure & Marking Scheme

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination Paper Structure & Marks Distribution

Section-by-section breakdown of total questions, maximum marks, and time duration verified against the official UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination scheme.

Preliminary Examination

Subject / Section Questions Marks Duration
General Studies Paper-I 100 MCQs 200 Marks 120 Minutes
CSAT Paper-II (Aptitude) 80 MCQs 200 Marks 120 Minutes
Total (Preliminary Examination) 180 Questions 400 Marks 240 Minutes
Step-by-Step Preparation Roadmap

UPSC CSE Prelims High-Yield Preparation Strategy & Booklist

UPSC Civil Services Prelims demands a balanced synergy between conceptual static knowledge and contemporary analytical awareness. Follow this verified multi-tier framework:

1
Core Foundation & NCERT Texts (Months 1–3)

Master foundational Old & New NCERTs (Classes 6 to 12) for History, Geography, Polity, and Economics. Establish strong thematic clarity before advancing to standard reference books.

2
Standard Reference Textbooks Mastery (Months 4–7)

Study core reference texts: M. Laxmikanth (Polity), Rajiv Ahir Spectrum (Modern History), Nitin Singhania (Art & Culture), PMF IAS / Shankar (Environment), Ramesh Singh / Mrunal (Economy), and GC Leong (Physical Geography).

3
Contemporary Affairs & Static Theory Synthesis (Daily)

Read The Hindu or Indian Express daily with focus on editorial reasoning, Supreme Court constitutional benches, government flagship schemes, PIB releases, Economic Survey, and Union Budget.

4
Rigorous CSAT Paper II Practice (Last 4 Months)

Dedicate regular time to CSAT Reading Comprehension inferences, syllogisms, and quantitative aptitude. Target scoring 90+ marks in mock tests to safely clear the 33% (66.0 marks) qualifying cutoff.

5
10-Year PYQ Dissection & Full-Length Simulation (Last 60 Days)

Solve 10 years of official UPSC PYQs (2015–2026) to decode statement construction, pair-matching traps, and elimination techniques. Practice complete 2-shift full mocks under strict real-time exam conditions.

Official Clarifications & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions on UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination

What is the complete selection process for UPSC Civil Services Examination?

UPSC CSE comprises three successive stages: (1) Preliminary Examination: Two objective papers (GS Paper I - 200 Marks & CSAT Paper II - 200 Marks qualifying) to shortlist candidates for Mains; (2) Main Examination: 9 written descriptive papers totaling 1750 marks (Essay, GS I, II, III, IV, and Optional Subject Papers 1 & 2, plus qualifying English & Indian Language); (3) Personality Test / Interview carrying 275 marks. The final All India Rank (AIR) is determined on the aggregate of Mains Written (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 Marks.

What is the negative marking scheme in UPSC CSE Prelims?

In GS Paper I, each question carries 2 marks and 1/3rd of the marks (0.66 marks) is deducted for each incorrect answer. In CSAT Paper II, each question carries 2.5 marks and 1/3rd (0.83 marks) is deducted for each incorrect response. Unattempted questions carry zero penalty.

What are the qualifying marks for CSAT Paper II?

As per official UPSC rules, CSAT Paper II is strictly qualifying in nature with a minimum benchmark of 33% (i.e. 66.0 marks out of 200). A candidate's GS Paper I is evaluated for Preliminary merit only if they secure 33% or more in CSAT.

How many attempts are allowed for UPSC Civil Services Examination?

General / EWS candidates have a maximum of 6 attempts up to age 32. OBC candidates have 9 attempts up to age 35. SC / ST candidates have unlimited attempts up to age 37. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) have 9 attempts for General/OBC and unlimited for SC/ST up to age 42.

Do I need to select an Optional Subject for UPSC Prelims?

No. The Preliminary Examination consists only of General Studies Paper I and CSAT Paper II. You choose your Optional Subject during the application for the Main Examination (Detailed Application Form - DAF).

Can final year college students appear for UPSC Prelims?

Yes. Candidates who have appeared or are appearing at qualifying degree examinations and are awaiting results are eligible to appear for the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of having passed the requisite degree examination when submitting the DAF for the Main Examination.

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