The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission conducts the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2026 to recruit candidates for prestigious administrative posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, Block Development Officer, Assistant Commissioner, District Officers, and many other Group A & B services.
This article provides the latest UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026, updated exam pattern, marking scheme, subject-wise topics, and selection process in an easy-to-understand format.
UPPSC PCS Selection Process 2026
The selection process consists of three stages:
| Stage | Exam Type | Qualifying Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Preliminary Examination | Screening Test |
| Stage 2 | Main Written Examination | Merit Deciding |
| Stage 3 | Interview (Personality Test) | Final Merit |
UPPSC PCS Exam Pattern 2026
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective papers.
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies-I | 150 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II (CSAT) | General Studies-II | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Important Points
- Both papers are Objective (MCQ)
- Paper-II (CSAT) is Qualifying only
- Minimum qualifying marks in Paper-II: 33%
- Final Prelims merit is prepared only from Paper-I marks
- It is mandatory to appear in both papers
- Negative Marking: 0.33 marks deducted for every wrong answer
- No negative marking for unanswered questions
UPPSC PCS Prelims Syllabus 2026
Paper-I: General Studies-I
UPPSC PCS Prelims Paper-I Syllabus 2026 (Topic-wise)
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| 1. Current Affairs | National Current Affairs, International Current Affairs, Government Schemes, Important Reports, Awards & Honours, Sports, Science Updates, Appointments, Economy Updates, Summits & Conferences |
| 2. History of India | Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, Indian National Movement, Freedom Struggle, Social & Religious Reform Movements, Important Personalities |
| 3. Indian & World Geography | Physical Geography, Indian Geography, World Geography, Rivers, Mountains, Climate, Agriculture, Resources, Industries, Population, Urbanization |
| 4. Indian Polity & Governance | Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), Parliament, President, Prime Minister, Governor, Chief Minister, Judiciary, Panchayati Raj, Local Bodies, Constitutional Bodies, Governance, Public Policy |
| 5. Economic & Social Development | Indian Economy, Sustainable Development, Poverty, Unemployment, Inflation, Demographics, Social Sector, Inclusive Growth, Government Welfare Schemes |
| 6. Environment & Ecology | Biodiversity, Climate Change, Pollution, Wildlife Conservation, Ecosystem, Environmental Issues |
| 7. General Science | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Everyday Science, Scientific Developments |
| 8. Uttar Pradesh Special | Uttar Pradesh History, Uttar Pradesh Geography, Uttar Pradesh Economy, Uttar Pradesh Culture, Government Schemes of Uttar Pradesh, Current Affairs related to Uttar Pradesh |
Paper-II (CSAT) Syllabus
This paper is qualifying only (33%).
UPPSC PCS Prelims Paper-II (CSAT) Syllabus 2026
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| 1. Reading & Communication Skills | Reading Comprehension, Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills |
| 2. Reasoning & Mental Ability | Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Decision Making, Problem Solving, General Mental Ability |
| 3. Mathematics (Class 10 Level) | Arithmetic: Number System, HCF & LCM, Average, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Time & Work, Speed, Time & Distance.Algebra: Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Polynomial, Remainder Theorem, Sets, Venn Diagram.Geometry: Triangle, Rectangle, Square, Circle, Trapezium, Mensuration, Surface Area, Volume.Statistics: Data Collection, Frequency Distribution, Bar Graph, Histogram, Pie Chart, Mean, Median, Mode. |
| 4. General English (Class 10 Level) | Comprehension, Parts of Speech, Active & Passive Voice, Direct & Indirect Speech, Sentence Transformation, Punctuation, Vocabulary, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases, Fill in the Blanks |
| 5. General Hindi (Class 10 Level) | Grammar, Vocabulary, Sentence Formation, Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms, Proverbs, Spelling, Comprehension |
UPPSC PCS Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Only candidates qualifying the Preliminary Examination are eligible for the Mains Examination.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Hindi | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 2 | Essay | 150 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 3 | General Studies-I | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 4 | General Studies-II | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 5 | General Studies-III | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 6 | General Studies-IV | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 7 | General Studies-V (Uttar Pradesh Special) | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Paper 8 | General Studies-VI (Uttar Pradesh Special) | 200 | 3 Hours |
Total Written Marks: 1,500
UPPSC PCS Mains Syllabus 2026
UPPSC PCS Mains Syllabus 2026 (Paper-wise)
| Paper | Marks | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | 150 | Comprehension, Precis Writing, Official Letter Writing, Office Orders, Notifications, Circulars, Prefix & Suffix, Synonyms, Antonyms, One Word Substitution, Sentence Correction, Idioms & Proverbs |
| Essay | 150 | Candidates must write three essays (approximately 700 words each), one from each section.Section A: Literature, Culture, Society, Politics.Section B: Science, Environment, Technology, Economy, Agriculture, Industry, Trade.Section C: National Issues, International Issues, Natural Disasters, Government Development Programmes. |
| General Studies-I | 200 | Indian Heritage, Art & Culture, Architecture, Modern Indian History, Freedom Movement, World History, Indian Society, Women Issues, Globalization, Urbanization, Geography, Natural Resources, Physical Geography, Population, Migration |
| General Studies-II | 200 | Constitution, Governance, Parliament, Judiciary, Executive, Federal System, Finance Commission, Public Policy, NGOs, SHGs, Welfare Schemes, Health, Education, Civil Services, International Relations, Neighboring Countries, International Organizations |
| General Studies-III | 200 | Indian Economy, Budget, NITI Aayog, Agriculture, Minimum Support Price (MSP), Food Processing, Infrastructure, Science & Technology, ICT, Space Technology, Biotechnology, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Disaster Management, Cyber Security, Internal Security, Terrorism, Agriculture & Animal Husbandry |
| General Studies-IV | 200 | Ethics, Human Values, Integrity, Aptitude, Emotional Intelligence, Public Administration Ethics, Accountability, Transparency, Right to Information (RTI), Citizen Charter, Probity in Governance, Corruption, Case Studies |
| General Studies-V (Uttar Pradesh Special) | 200 | History of Uttar Pradesh, Culture, Ancient Cities, Architecture, Museums, Freedom Movement in UP, Important Personalities, Rural Society, Urban Issues, Tribal Society, Languages, Political System, Local Government, Law & Order, Cyber Security, Education, Tourism, Jal Shakti Mission, NGOs, Current Affairs of Uttar Pradesh |
| General Studies-VI (Uttar Pradesh Special) | 200 | Uttar Pradesh Economy, State Budget, Industries, Trade & Commerce, Government Schemes, Skill Development, Investment, Fiscal Policy, One District One Product (ODOP), Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, Geography of UP, Transport, Infrastructure, Pollution, Climate Change, Biodiversity, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Science & Technology, Public Private Partnership (PPP) |
Interview (Personality Test)
| Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Interview | 100 |
The interview evaluates:
- Personality
- Communication Skills
- Leadership
- Decision-Making Ability
- Administrative Aptitude
- Presence of Mind
- General Awareness
- Confidence
- Overall Suitability for Civil Services
UPPSC PCS 2026 Marking Scheme
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Paper-I | Merit Deciding |
| Preliminary Paper-II | Qualifying (33%) |
| Negative Marking | 0.33 marks per wrong answer |
| Mains | Merit Deciding |
| Interview | 100 Marks |
| Final Merit | Mains + Interview |
Preparation Tips
- Focus primarily on Prelims Paper-I, as it determines qualification for the Mains.
- Treat CSAT seriously and consistently practice comprehension, reasoning, and Class 10 mathematics to comfortably clear the 33% qualifying requirement.
- Build a strong foundation in Indian Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Environment, and Current Affairs.
- Give special attention to Uttar Pradesh-specific topics, as they carry significant weight in the Mains (GS-V & GS-VI).
- Practice answer writing regularly for the descriptive papers and revise current affairs with an emphasis on Uttar Pradesh government initiatives and developments.