UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026: UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) is a qualifying paper in nature, as the candidate must score at least 33%. Candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Service Prelims Exam should have an idea about the UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026. The Syllabus CSAT tests the logical reasoning, general aptitude and analytical ability of the candidates. UPSC Prelims exam consists of two papers: the General Studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), also known as the GS II paper
The UPSC Prelims exam consists of two papers: the General Studies and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), also known as the GS II paper. It was introduced in 2011 in the UPSC Prelims Exam. It is mandatory to qualify the paper for the Mains exam. The UPSC Civil Services Aptitude Test syllabus for 2026 encompasses a range of topics designed to assess candidates' analytical and problem-solving abilities. Even though the CSAT paper is qualifying, candidates need to prepare well, as questions have become increasingly challenging in recent years. It includes comprehension skills, where candidates must interpret and answer questions based on passages. Find out the topic-wise UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026 here.
Candidate can download UPSC CSAT Previous Year Question PDF Here!
UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern 2026 | |
Number of Questions | 80 MCQs |
Maximum Marks | 200 |
Time allotted | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
Marking Scheme | 2.5 marks each |
Negative Marking | 1/3rd for each incorrect answer |
Negative Mark | 0.83 marks each |
Qualifying Marks | 33% or 66.67 |
The UPSC CSAT Syllabus Topic Wise 2026 PDF will help candidates understand all the important topics for the exam. The official 2026 syllabus PDF will be released by UPSC later. For now, you can refer to the previous year’s CSAT syllabus PDF as a guide to start your preparation. We have provided the link to the previous year’s syllabus PDF below for your easy reference. Once the 2026 syllabus is available, we will update the link here.