UPSC Syllabus 2026 – IAS Prelims & Mains Syllabus PDF Download

UPSC Syllabus 2026 is designed to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude, knowledge, and analytical ability across various subjects. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit officers for Group A and Group B services, including the IAS, IPS, and IFS. Known as one of the toughest competitive exams in India, it attracts thousands of aspirants annually, but only a few make it to the final merit list. The exam follows a three-stage process — Prelims, Mains, and Interview — testing conceptual clarity, reasoning skills, and decision-making ability. If you’re preparing for the UPSC CSE 2026, understanding the detailed UPSC Syllabus and Exam Pattern is the first step toward effective preparation and success.

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UPSC Syllabus 2026

UPSC Syllabus 2026 serves as the complete guide for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). It includes detailed topics for both Prelims and Mains, covering subjects like Polity, History, Economy, Environment, and Ethics. This page provides the full IAS Syllabus 2026 PDF, exam pattern, and optional subjects to help you plan your preparation effectively.'

UPSC Syllabus 2026- Overview

The IAS Syllabus 2026 acts as a complete guide for candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026. It provides a clear roadmap of all subjects, topics, and subtopics designed to test a candidate’s knowledge, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills. The exam is divided into two key stages — the UPSC Prelims and Mains Syllabus — followed by the Interview. Downloading and understanding the detailed UPSC Syllabus 2026 PDF helps aspirants plan their preparation effectively and stay focused throughout the UPSC journey.

How to Download UPSC Syllabus 2026 PDF

• Visit upsc.gov.in
• Go to the “Examinations” → “Syllabus” section.
• Select Civil Services Examination from the list.
• Click on the Download PDF button.
• Save the file and print it for quick revision.

UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026

Best Books for UPSC Preparation

UPSC CSE 2026 General Studies Paper 1 Syllabus 

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
• Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science

UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026

• Comprehension;
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills;
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability;
• Decision making and problem solving;
• General mental ability;
• Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. — Class X level)

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UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026

UPSC Mains Qualifying Paper

Paper A English

Paper B Indian Languages

UPSC Essay Syllabus 2026

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UPSC CSE General Studies Papers I to IV Syllabus

IAS Syllabus for Mains General Studies 1

• Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature, and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present, significant events, personalities, issues.
• The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
• Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country
• History of the world will include events from 18th century such as the industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
• Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
• Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
• Effects of globalization on Indian society.
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
• Salient features of world’s physical geography.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
• Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc.,
• geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

IAS Syllabus for Mains General Studies 2 

• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
• Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
• Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
• Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
• Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
• Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
• Role of civil services in a democracy.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

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IAS Syllabus for Mains General Studies 3

• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
• Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
• Government Budgeting.
• Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
• Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal rearing.
• Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
• Land reforms in India.
• Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Investment models.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Disaster and disaster management.
• Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
• Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
• Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
• Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
• Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

IAS Syllabus for Mains General Studies 4

• This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.
• The following broad areas will be covered : Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
• Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
• Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
• Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
• Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
• Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
• Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
• Case Studies on above issues.

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UPSC Optional Syllabus 2026

1. Agriculture
2. Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
3. Anthropology
4. Botany
5. Chemistry
6. Commerce and Accountancy
7. Civil Engineering
8. Economics
9. Electrical Engineering
10. Geology
11. Geography
12. History
13. Philosophy
14. Public Administration
15. Political Science and International Relations
16. Psychology
17. Physics
18. Sociology
19. Law
20. Mathematics
21. Management
22. Medical Science
23. Mechanical Engineering
24. Statistics
25. Zoology

UPSC Literature Syllabus 2026

1. Assamese
2. Bodo
3. Bengali
4. Dogri
5. English 
6. Gujarati
7. Hindi
8. Kannada
9. Kashmiri
10. Konkani
11. Malayalam
12. Maithili
13. Marathi 
14. Manipuri
15. Nepali 
16. Odia 
17. Punjabi 
18. Sindhi
19. Sanskrit 
20. Santhali
21. Tamil
22. Telugu 
23. Urdu

UPSC Interview Syllabus 2026

UPSC Exam Pattern 2026

The UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages: the Prelims, the Mains, and the Interview. The Prelims include two objective-type papers, General Studies Paper I and CSAT. The Mains involve nine descriptive papers, including Essay, General Studies I-IV, Optional Papers I & II, and Language Papers. Finally, the Interview stage worth 275 marks assesses the personality of the candidates. Here is the UPSC Exam Pattern 2026: