The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 is conducted in three distinct stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test. The Prelims are objective-type, while the Mains are descriptive, leading to a final merit list based on 2025 marks from Mains and Interview.
UPSC CSE 2026 Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is a screening test consisting of two objective-type papers. Marks from this stage are not counted in the final merit list, but candidates must qualify to proceed to the Mains.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 | 120 |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 120 |
Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to the question for incorrect answers in both papers. General Studies Paper I is merit-based, while General Studies Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying with a minimum of 33% marks required.
UPSC CSE 2026 Main Examination
The Main Examination is a descriptive written test comprising nine papers. Two papers are qualifying, and seven papers are merit-based, contributing significantly to the final score.
| Subject | Marks | Duration (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Language (Paper A) | 300 | 180 |
| English (Paper B) | 300 | 180 |
| Essay (Paper I) | 250 | 180 |
| General Studies I (Paper II) | 250 | 180 |
| General Studies II (Paper III) | 250 | 180 |
| General Studies III (Paper IV) | 250 | 180 |
| General Studies IV (Paper V) | 250 | 180 |
| Optional Subject Paper I (Paper VI) | 250 | 180 |
| Optional Subject Paper II (Paper VII) | 250 | 180 |
Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in the Main Examination. Papers A and B are qualifying, requiring a minimum of 25% marks. Papers I-VII are merit-based and contribute to the final score.
UPSC CSE 2026 Personality Test (Interview)
The Personality Test evaluates a candidate's mental aptitude, critical thinking, social graces, and suitability for a career in public service. This stage carries 275 marks.
Marking & Normalization
The final merit list for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 is computed based on the aggregate marks obtained in the seven merit-based papers of the Mains Examination (1750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks), totaling 2025 marks. Normalization is not applied for the Prelims as it is a single-shift, single-question paper per session exam. In case of a tie in aggregate marks, the candidate with higher marks in the compulsory papers (Essay and General Studies Papers I-IV) and Personality Test combined is ranked higher. If marks are still equal, the older candidate is ranked higher.
Pattern FAQs
Q1: What are the main stages of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026?
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 has three main stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test (Interview).
Q2: Is there negative marking in the UPSC CSE Prelims?
Yes, there is negative marking in the Prelims. 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
Q3: How is the final merit list calculated for UPSC CSE 2026?
The final merit list is based on the marks obtained in the seven merit-based papers of the Main Examination (1750 marks) and the Personality Test (275 marks), summing up to a total of 2025 marks.
Q4: Are all papers in the Mains Examination considered for the final merit?
No, only seven out of the nine papers in the Mains Examination are considered for the final merit list. The Indian Language (Paper A) and English (Paper B) are qualifying papers, and candidates must score a minimum of 25% in each to pass.