UPPSC Syllabus & Exam Pattern · Guide 3 of 7
UPPSC Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Dates, vacancies and fees can change. Always confirm on the official UPPSC website before you apply.
UP PCS has three stages. The prelims screens candidates, the mains decides most of your rank and the interview completes it. Since the PCS 2024 cycle the mains has a new pattern without optional subjects and with two General Studies papers dedicated to Uttar Pradesh.
Prelims exam pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I – General Studies | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | Counts for the prelims cut-off |
| Paper II – CSAT | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying – minimum 33% |
- Objective multiple-choice questions on an OMR sheet, in Hindi and English.
- Negative marking: one-third of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer. No deduction for unanswered questions.
Prelims syllabus
Paper I – General Studies
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and world geography – physical, social and economic
- Indian polity and governance – Constitution, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
- Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives
- Environment and ecology, biodiversity and climate change (general issues, no specialisation needed)
- General science
Paper II – CSAT
- Comprehension, interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability, decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Elementary mathematics up to Class 10 – arithmetic, algebra, geometry and statistics
- General English up to Class 10 and General Hindi up to Class 10
Mains exam pattern (revised)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Hindi | 150 | 3 hours |
| II | Essay | 150 | 3 hours |
| III | General Studies I – history, culture, society, geography | 200 | 3 hours |
| IV | General Studies II – polity, governance, social justice, international relations | 200 | 3 hours |
| V | General Studies III – economy, agriculture, science & technology, environment, security, disaster management | 200 | 3 hours |
| VI | General Studies IV – ethics, integrity and aptitude | 200 | 3 hours |
| VII | General Studies V – Uttar Pradesh: history, culture, polity, governance, social issues | 200 | 3 hours |
| VIII | General Studies VI – Uttar Pradesh: economy, geography, agriculture, industry, schemes, law and order | 200 | 3 hours |
| Total | 1,500 | ||
All mains papers are descriptive. Add the 100-mark interview and the final merit is out of 1,600.
What the UP-specific papers (GS V and GS VI) cover
| GS V – UP history, culture & polity | GS VI – UP economy & geography |
|---|---|
| History, civilisation and culture of UP; freedom struggle in UP | Economy of UP: state budget, planning, GSDP, major sectors |
| Art, architecture, music, dance, festivals and fairs (Kumbh, Magh Mela) | Geography: rivers, soils, climate, forests, minerals |
| Literature and languages; social customs | Agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry and food processing |
| Political system: Governor, Legislature, High Court, Panchayati Raj and urban bodies | Industry, MSMEs, One District One Product (ODOP), infrastructure, expressways |
| Social justice, welfare schemes and public services in UP | Law and order, internal security, disaster management in UP |
Marks distribution summary
| Stage | Marks | Counts for final merit? |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims (GS I + CSAT) | 200 + 200 | No – screening only |
| Mains | 1,500 | Yes |
| Interview | 100 | Yes |
Download the official syllabus from the PCS notification on uppsc.up.nic.in and keep it next to your study table. Tick each line as you finish it – it is the best checklist you will ever have.