The UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 is an essential part of the overall UPSC Syllabus for the Civil Services Examination. The prelims stage has two papers – General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). Paper I covers History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs. Paper II tests comprehension, logical reasoning, and numeracy. A clear understanding of the UPSC syllabus for prelims helps aspirants plan better, focus on key topics, and boost their exam performance.
UPSC Prelims Syllabus PDF Download - Access for Free
Students can access the complete UPSC Prelims syllabus PDF for free through the following link. We have also provided a separate PDF links for Prelims GS Paper and CSAT Paper. This is a must-have PDF for every UPSC aspirant.
IAS Prelims Syllabus 2026
The UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus is designed to check a candidate's overall knowledge across different academic fields and their awareness of recent events. The two papers are:
- General Studies Paper I
- General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
The Prelims exam consists of two objective-type papers. Remember, there's a penalty for wrong answers; one-third of the marks for a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Paper | Exam Type | No. of Questions | Marks | Exam Duration |
Paper I - General Studies | Objective | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Paper II - (CSAT) | Objective | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Paper I is the General Studies paper and tests a candidate's knowledge of various subjects. Paper II, or the CSAT syllabus, is a qualifying paper that checks a candidate's aptitude and thinking skills. It is important to have a clear idea about the UPSC prelims syllabus 2025 to start your preparation effectively.
Also, check out UPSC Interview Questions with Answers on the linked article.
What is the UPSC Prelims Syllabus for GS Paper 1?
The UPSC prelims syllabus for Paper 1 covers topics from History, Geography, Economy, Polity & Governance, General Science, and Current Affairs.
- Current events of national and international importance.
- Indian History and the Indian National Movement.
- Indian and World Geography—Physical, Social, and Economic Geography.
- Indian Polity and Governance.
- Economic and Social Development, including things like Sustainable Development, Poverty, and Demographics.
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change—topics that don't require deep subject knowledge.
- General Science.
History of India and Indian National Movement
As per the syllabus of UPSC prelims, the history section focuses on "Indian History & Indian National Movement." Here is a breakdown of the detailed topics you need to cover.
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Ancient India | Prehistoric Age | Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Iron Age) |
Town planning, economy, art, religion, decline | ||
Rigvedic & Later Vedic society, polity, economy, religion | ||
Religious Movements | Buddhism & Jainism – doctrines, councils, spread | |
Empires | Mauryan (administration, Ashoka’s Dhamma), Post-Mauryan (Indo-Greeks, Kushanas, Satavahanas), Gupta (Golden Age, decline) | |
Medieval India | Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi dynasties – administration, culture | |
Regional Kingdoms | Vijayanagar, Bahmani, Rajputs | |
Administration, Mansabdari, revenue, culture, decline | ||
Shivaji, administration, military system | ||
Major saints, philosophy, literature, social impact | ||
Modern India | Portuguese, Dutch, French, English | |
British Expansion | Policies – land revenue, education, social reforms | |
Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Aligarh, Theosophical Society, Ramakrishna Mission | ||
Causes, leaders, consequences | ||
Freedom Struggle | Moderates, Extremists, split at Surat | |
Mass Movements | Swadeshi, Home Rule, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India | |
Bhagat Singh, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Chittagong uprising | ||
Leaders | Subhash Chandra Bose & INA | |
Constitutional Developments | Acts of 1909, 1919, 1935; Cripps Mission; Cabinet Mission; Partition; Independence |
Indian Polity and Governance
The UPSC prelims syllabus for Polity and Governance is a crucial area. It focuses on the Constitution, the political system, and public policy. Here is a detailed list of topics to prepare.
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Constitutional Framework | Constituent Assembly, influences, Preamble | |
Features | Basic features, federalism, parliamentary system, secularism | |
Fundamental Concepts | Articles 12–35, restrictions, writs | |
Categories, significance, relation with F.R. | ||
Importance, Sardar Swaran Singh Committee | ||
Union Government | Powers, election, impeachment | |
Powers, functions | ||
Role, responsibility, collective responsibility | ||
Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, privileges, procedures, committees | ||
Supreme Court, High Courts, judicial review, PILs | ||
State Government | Powers, role, controversies | |
Role in states | ||
Unicameral & bicameral, powers, procedures | ||
Local Government | 73rd Amendment, Gram Sabha, finances | |
74th Amendment, Municipalities | ||
Other Institutions | Structure, powers, reforms | |
CAG, UPSC, Finance Commission, NITI Aayog | Roles and powers | |
Current Affairs | Recent laws, amendments, constitutional developments | E.g. GST, Citizenship Act, Constitutional amendments |
Geography of India and the World
The prelims syllabus UPSC for Geography covers the physical, social, and economic aspects of both India and the world. To prepare well, you should know the following detailed topics.
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Physical Geography | Earth structure, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, landforms | |
Atmosphere, winds, monsoons, cyclones, El Niño | ||
Ocean currents, tides, coral reefs | ||
Indian Geography | Physiography | Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, Islands |
Climate | Monsoon, rainfall distribution, climatic regions | |
Resources | Coal, oil, natural gas, minerals, power resources | |
Agriculture | Cropping patterns, irrigation, Green Revolution, challenges | |
Industries | Location factors, major industries (iron & steel, textiles, IT, etc.) | |
Transport & Communication | Roads, railways, ports, waterways | |
World Geography | Continents & Countries | Important physical features, rivers, mountains, climatic zones |
Geographical Phenomena | Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, global warming |
Indian Economy and Social Development
The UPSC syllabus for Economy and Social Development is very important. It covers topics like growth, poverty, and government initiatives. Here are the detailed topics.
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Basic Concepts | Economy | Growth vs Development, National Income, Inflation, Deflation |
RBI, monetary policy, types of banks | ||
Public Finance | Fiscal policy, budget, deficits | |
Indian Economy | Planning | NITI Aayog, Five Year Plans, Planning Commission (legacy) |
Agriculture | Role, problems, subsidies, MSP, crop insurance | |
Industry | Sectors, MSMEs, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat | |
Services | IT, banking, tourism | |
External Sector | Balance of Payments, exports-imports, WTO, FDI | |
Infrastructure | Energy, transport, communication | |
Social Development | Poverty & Unemployment | Types, causes, schemes |
Census, population policy | ||
Education | RTE Act, NEP 2020 | |
Health | National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat | |
SCs, STs, OBCs, women empowerment schemes | ||
MGNREGA, PM-KISAN, Jan Dhan, etc. |
Environment and Ecology
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Basics | Components, food chains, biodiversity | |
Functions | Energy flow, biogeochemical cycles | |
Flora & Fauna | Endangered species, biodiversity hotspots | |
Conservation | Protected areas – national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves | |
International Efforts | CBD, CITES, Ramsar Convention, Paris Agreement | |
Environment Issues | Pollution | Air, water, soil, noise, e-waste |
Climate Change | Global warming, ozone depletion | |
Earthquakes, floods, cyclones, mitigation | ||
India’s Initiatives | Laws | Environment Protection Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Act |
Missions | National Action Plan on Climate Change, Renewable Energy | |
Institutions | MoEFCC, Pollution Control Boards |
General Science & Science & Technology
For General Science, the UPSC prelims syllabus mostly covers topics from current events and their practical applications. You don't need to be an expert in any of these fields. Here are the broad areas to focus on.
Subject | Topic | Sub-Topic |
Basics | Physics | Mechanics, optics, electricity, magnetism |
Chemistry | Atoms, molecules, acids-bases, organic chemistry basics | |
Biology | Human body, genetics, diseases, vaccines | |
Applied Science | Space | ISRO missions, satellites, Gaganyaan |
Defence | Missiles, nuclear tech, DRDO | |
GM crops, cloning, stem cells | ||
Internet, 5G, AI, robotics, blockchain | ||
Health | Vaccines, COVID-19 tech, AYUSH | |
Current Affairs | Nobel Prizes, recent discoveries, Indian innovations | New technologies in news |
What is the UPSC Prelims Syllabus for CSAT?
The UPSC Prelims GS Paper 2 is also known as UPSC CSAT. It is a qualifying paper, meaning you only need to score a minimum of 33% to pass. However, many aspirants fail this paper, so it's essential to prepare for it. The UPSC syllabus for CSAT includes various aptitude questions.
Subject / Section | Topics & Subtopics |
Comprehension |
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Interpersonal Skills |
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Logical Reasoning |
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Analytical Ability |
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Decision Making & Problem Solving |
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General Mental Ability |
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Basic Numeracy |
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Data Interpretation (DI) |
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Importance of UPSC Syllabus
The UPSC syllabus is officially released by the Union Public Service Commission every year. It includes detailed subjects and topics for all three stages of the Civil Services Examination – Preliminary, Mains, and the Personality Test (Interview).
Breakdown of the UPSC Examination At a Glance
Stage | Papers | Marks | Nature |
Prelims | General Studies I & CSAT | 400 | Objective (MCQs) |
Mains | 9 papers (2 qualifying + 7 rank papers) | 1750 | Descriptive |
Interview | Personality Test | 275 | Face-to-face |
How to Use the UPSC Syllabus Smartly
Knowing the UPSC syllabus importance is not enough. You must know how to use it every day.
Practical Tips
- Print the syllabus and keep it on your desk
- Make micro-lists: Break down each line of the syllabus into sub-topics
- Align your notes and book chapters as per syllabus points
- Mark completed topics and tracked progress
- Use it for self-assessment before mock tests
- For current affairs, ask: “Which part of the syllabus does this news relate to?”
Strategy for Beginners
- Start with NCERTs and standard books matched to the syllabus
- Follow a monthly plan: Prelims + Mains syllabus together
- Do topic-wise previous year paper analysis
UPSC Interview and Syllabus Connection
Though there is no formal syllabus for the Personality Test (Interview), the Mains syllabus gives a strong base.
How Syllabus Prepares You for an Interview
- Ethical topics from GS Paper IV help build moral reasoning
- Governance and International Relations help answer real-life application questions
- Optional subject gives in-depth talking points
- Essay preparation helps improve articulation and confidence
Indirect Syllabus Relevance
- Your DAF (Detailed Application Form) questions are often connected to your graduation subject, home state, hobbies – all of which can be linked with syllabus topics.
- If you're from Economics, you must know key topics like inflation, GDP, and Budget (Economy from GS III)
We hope this article on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus helps clear all your doubts related to the curriculum of the Prelims exam stage. You can also download our Testbook App and get expert guidance, study materials, access to mock tests, and much more.
