UPSC Preliminary Syllabus 2025
The Civil Services Preliminary exam comprises two compulsory papers of 200 marks each (General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II). The questions will be of multiple choice, objective type. The marks in prelims will not be counted for the final ranking, but just for qualification for the main exam.
Paper-I - General Studies:
This includes areas like; Indian National Movement, Indian Polity, Basic Economic Understanding, and Geography. While these are static parts of the syllabus, the dynamic part includes current affairs, General Knowledge and that does not proper definition, thus making the syllabus quite vast.
Paper-II - Aptitude Test:
Paper II is dynamic in nature and includes mathematics, reasoning, analytical ability, and interpersonal skills. All these areas require spot mental ability.
Paper II is now of only a qualifying nature and its mark is not counted while making the merit list. However, the candidate must score a minimum of 33 percent in this paper to qualify for the Prelims exam.
The question papers are set both in Hindi and English. Blind candidates are allowed an extra time of twenty minutes for each paper.
How to Prepare for Civil Service Prelims Examination
Syllabus Pattern for Prelims Exam
| Paper |
Syllabus |
Marks & Duration |
| Paper - I |
General Studies - This paper's marks will be counted for getting to write the Civil Services Mains exam. |
200 Marks
Two Hours |
Paper-II
(CSAT) |
Aptitude test (CSAT) - This paper is of qualifying nature, but the candidate must score at least 33% marks in this paper. However, marks of this paper are not counted for writing the Mains examination. |
200 Marks
Two Hours |
The UPSC Prelims exam is meant to serve as a screening test only. The marks of Paper 1 are alone considered for making the merit list for this exam. Only those candidates who have qualified for the Prelims can write the Mains exam. The marks scored in the Prelim exam are not counted in the final tally of the Mains exam or the Interview.
The number of candidates who qualify for the Prelims Exam is about twelve to thirteen times the total approximate number of vacancies that have to be filled in that year in the various Services and Posts.
The candidate must appear in both papers of the Prelim exam to be qualified for evaluation purposes. The candidate will be disqualified in case he or she appears in only one paper of the Prelims exam.
Negative Marking: There is a "Negative Marking" in the Prelims exam. For every wrong answer, 1/3rd of the marks allotted for every question will be reduced from the correct tally of the score. So candidates need to be extra careful while making wild guesses in the prelim exams.