The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 is a three-stage examination: Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview). The Prelims is qualifying, while Mains and Interview marks determine the final merit list.
UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers (General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II - CSAT). Both papers are 200 marks each, with a duration of 2 hours for each paper. The Prelims stage is qualifying in nature, meaning its marks are not counted for the final merit list, but candidates must clear it to appear for Mains.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours |
The Prelims primarily tests a candidate's general awareness, analytical ability, and comprehension skills. CSAT (Paper II) is a qualifying paper where candidates need to score a minimum of 33%.
Negative Marking: For every incorrect answer in both Prelims papers, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
UPSC CSE Mains Exam Pattern
The Main Examination consists of nine papers, all descriptive in nature. Seven papers are counted for merit, totaling 1750 marks. Two papers (Indian Language and English) are qualifying. Each paper is 250 marks, with a duration of 3 hours.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A | One Indian Language (chosen by candidate) | 300 | 3 hours | Qualifying |
| Paper B | English | 300 | 3 hours | Qualifying |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society) | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice & International Relations) | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security & Disaster Management) | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude) | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject. Paper 1 | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject. Paper 2 | 250 | 3 hours | Merit |
The Mains examination assesses a candidate's academic talent, ability to present knowledge clearly and coherently, and depth of understanding across a wide range of subjects relevant to public service. The two qualifying language papers require a minimum of 25% marks each.
Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in the UPSC CSE Main Examination as it consists of descriptive papers.
UPSC CSE Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for a Personality Test (Interview). This stage carries 275 marks. The total marks for the final merit list are 2025 (1750 from Mains + 275 from Interview).
The interview is conducted by a Board that assesses the candidate's mental caliber, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
Marking & Normalization
The UPSC does not explicitly state a normalization process for the Mains examination. However, the final merit list is prepared based on the total marks obtained in the Main Examination (written part) and the Personality Test. The qualifying papers in Mains (Indian Language and English) are not counted for the final merit ranking.
Pattern FAQs
Q1: Is there negative marking in UPSC CSE Prelims?
Yes, there is negative marking in the Prelims. For every incorrect answer, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
Q2: How many stages are there in the UPSC CSE?
The UPSC CSE has three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test (Interview).
Q3: Are the Prelims marks counted for the final merit list?
No, the Prelims examination is only qualifying in nature. Its marks are not counted towards the final merit list.
Q4: What is the total marks for the UPSC CSE final merit list?
The final merit list is based on a total of 2025 marks, comprising 1750 marks from the Main Examination (seven merit-counted papers) and 275 marks from the Personality Test (Interview).