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View practice details ↗200 questions across configured sections. Read the instructions before starting.
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Explore subject ↗2026 official source located
Source document: UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 notification
Preliminary examination overview only. The official notification is the source for General Studies I and General Studies II (CSAT); mains and optional papers are separate.
Check original source ↗UPSC · Civil Services Examination 2026 notice and scheme · Source year 2026 · Document date 2026-02-04 · Last reviewed 2026-09-28
Two objective papers of two hours each. UPSC does not prescribe a fixed question count in the linked scheme. Paper II (CSAT) requires at least 33% and preliminary marks do not count toward final merit.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Minutes | Paper language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | — | 200 | 120 | English and Hindi |
| General Studies Paper II · CSAT | — | 200 | 120 | English and Hindi |
| Total | — | 400 | 240 | — |
These descriptive papers are qualifying, with 25% required in each, and their marks are excluded from merit. The notice lists exemptions from Paper A for specified candidates.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Minutes | Paper language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper A · one Indian language | — | 300 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper B · English | — | 300 | 180 | English |
| Total | — | 600 | 360 | — |
Seven descriptive papers, three hours each. The optional subject has two papers; candidates choose it from the notice's permitted list. The scheme gives no fixed question counts.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Minutes | Paper language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I · Essay | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper II · General Studies I | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper III · General Studies II | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper IV · General Studies III | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper V · General Studies IV | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper VI · Optional subject I | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Paper VII · Optional subject II | — | 250 | 180 | Selected official medium |
| Total | — | 1750 | 1260 | — |
| Section | Questions | Marks | Minutes | Paper language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | — | 275 | — | Selected official medium |
UPSC · Civil Services Examination 2025 cut-off marks · Exam cycle 2025 · Source published 2026-03-09
Historical 2025 examination results, published in 2026. Prelims cut-offs use GS Paper I only; GS Paper II (CSAT) requires 33%. Mains cut-offs require at least 10% in each of seven competitive papers. These are not 2026 exam cut-offs.
| Category | Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 92.66 |
| EWS | 89.34 |
| OBC | 92 |
| SC | 84 |
| ST | 82.66 |
| PwBD-1 | 76.66 |
| PwBD-2 | 54.66 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.66 |
| PwBD-5 | 40.66 |
| Category | Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 739 |
| EWS | 706 |
| OBC | 717 |
| SC | 700 |
| ST | 694 |
| PwBD-1 | 703 |
| PwBD-2 | 708 |
| PwBD-3 | 536 |
| PwBD-5 | 451 |
| Category | Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 963 |
| EWS | 926 |
| OBC | 931 |
| SC | 905 |
| ST | 902 |
| PwBD-1 | 917 |
| PwBD-2 | 944 |
| PwBD-3 | 804 |
| PwBD-5 | 631 |
These settings describe the practice tests available here, not the official exam paper.
Prelims · General Studies Paper I · up to 200 questions · reference duration 120 minutes
Sections: General Studies (100) · CSAT (100)
View source reference ↗30 questions · 30 minutes
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