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UPSC Preparation & Mock Tests

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination is India's premier exam for recruiting IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services.

Achieve your administrative dream with our highly detailed UPSC preparation platform. Practice with standard CSAT and General Studies mock tests, detailed answer keys, and current-affairs aligned question sets.

Exam Mode Offline Pen & Paper (Objective MCQs)
Number of Papers 2 Compulsory Papers (Paper-I: GS & Paper-II: CSAT)
Total Duration 4 Hours (2 Hours per Paper)
Total Marks 400 Marks (200 Marks per Paper)
CSAT Qualifying Rule Minimum 33% (66 Marks) to qualify
Marking Scheme 1/3rd (0.33) negative marking for incorrect answers
Detailed Syllabus
2 Papers
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  • Current events of national importance
  • Current events of international importance
  • History of India
  • Indian National Movement
  • Physical Geography of India and the World
  • Social Geography of India and the World
  • Economic Geography of India and the World
  • Constitution
  • Political System
  • Panchayati Raj
  • Public Policy
  • Rights Issues, etc.
  • Sustainable Development
  • Poverty
  • Inclusion
  • Demographics
  • Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
  • Environmental ecology
  • Bio-diversity
  • Climate Change
  • General issues that do not require subject specialization
  • General Science
  • Comprehension
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication skills
  • Logical reasoning
  • Analytical ability
  • Decision making
  • 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)
Note 1: Paper-II of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%.
Note 2: The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type.
Note 3: It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in both the Papers of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination for the purpose of evaluation. Therefore a candidate will be disqualified in case he/she does not appear in both the papers of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination.
Exam Mode Offline Written Conventional (Descriptive Essay Type)
Total Papers 9 Papers (2 Qualifying + 7 Merit Papers)
Written Merit Marks 1,750 Marks (Essay, GS I-IV & Optional Papers)
Qualifying Standard 25% in Indian Language (Paper A) & English (Paper B)
Paper Subject Duration Marks Nature
Paper A Indian Language (Any 1 from 8th Schedule) 3 Hours 300 Qualifying
Paper B English 3 Hours 300 Qualifying
Paper I Essay 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper II General Studies I (GS-I) 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper III General Studies II (GS-II) 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper IV General Studies III (GS-III) 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper V General Studies IV (GS-IV) 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper VI Optional Subject - Paper I 3 Hours 250 Merit
Paper VII Optional Subject - Paper II 3 Hours 250 Merit
Merit Total Written Examination (7 Papers) — 1750 Merit Ranking
Interview Personality Test — 275 Merit Ranking
Final Total Grand Total (Written + Personality Test) — 2025 Final AIR
Detailed Syllabus
8 Papers
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Comprehension of given passages.
Precis Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.
Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.
Aim: The aim of the paper is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in the Indian language concerned.
Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the Indian Languages paper in the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
Comprehension of given passages.
Precis Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.
Aim: The aim of the paper is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English.
Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English paper in English.
Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
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 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 sub-continent); 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.
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 neighbourhood- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science
Anthropology
Botany
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Commerce and Accountancy
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Geography
Geology
History
Law
Management
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Science
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science and International Relations
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology
Statistics
Zoology
Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and English
Exam Stages

Preliminary, Mains, and Personality Test

Prelims Marks

400 Marks (GS 200 + CSAT 200 Qualifying)

Mains & Interview

2,025 Total Marks (1750 Written + 275 Interview)

Marking Scheme

1/3rd negative marking in Prelims

How Mindyard Helps You Succeed

Mock CSAT & GS Test Series

Practice with highly realistic UPSC prelims exam formats matching the official standards.

Deep Analytical Explanations

Every question comes with detailed historical and factual references.

Topic-wise Progress Tracking

Assess your strengths in History, Polity, Geography, Economy, and Science & Tech.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The general category age limit is 21 to 32 years with age relaxations for reserved categories.

General category candidates are allowed up to 6 attempts.

Yes, candidates need to score a minimum of 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify.

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