UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) documents · last checked 3 October 2026

Prelims

Offline, objective multiple-choice (OMR answer sheet) · 2 hours for each paper

SectionQuestionsMarks
General Studies Paper I100200
General Studies Paper II (CSAT) - qualifying80200
Total180400

Marking: All questions in a paper carry equal marks: 2 marks each in Paper I and 2.5 marks each in Paper II. Each question has four options. For a wrong answer, one-third of that question's marks is cut. Marking more than one option also counts as wrong. A blank question gets no penalty.

  • Paper II is qualifying only. You need at least 33% in it.
  • The Mains shortlist is based on Paper I marks, among candidates who clear 33% in Paper II.
  • You must appear in both papers. If you miss one, you are disqualified.
  • Prelims is only a screening test. Its marks do not count in the final ranking.
  • Question papers are in both Hindi and English.
  • About 12 to 13 times the number of vacancies are admitted to the Mains.
  • Question counts (100 and 80) are taken from the official 2026 question booklets.

Mains (Written)

Offline, descriptive (conventional essay-type) papers · 3 hours for each paper

SectionQuestionsMarks
Paper A: Indian Language (qualifying)—300
Paper B: English (qualifying)—300
Paper I: Essay—250
Paper II: General Studies I—250
Paper III: General Studies II—250
Paper IV: General Studies III—250
Paper V: General Studies IV (Ethics)—250
Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1—250
Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2—250
Total—1750

Marking: Examiners mark written answers. Only Papers I to VII (1750 marks) count for merit. Negative marking applies only to objective papers, so it does not apply here. Marks can be cut for handwriting that is hard to read or for irrelevant marks that could reveal your identity.

  • Papers A and B are of Class 10 (matriculation) standard. You need 25% in each, or your other papers are not counted.
  • Paper A is not compulsory for candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, or for hearing-impaired PwBD candidates who were exempted from a 2nd/3rd language by their board or university.
  • You choose one optional subject from 26 options, including the literature of one listed language.
  • You can answer in English or in any language of the Eighth Schedule, except in Papers A and B.
  • UPSC can set qualifying marks in any of the papers.
  • Scientific non-programmable calculators are allowed in these papers.

Personality Test (Interview)

In person, before an interview board · Not fixed in the notification

SectionQuestionsMarks
Interview / Personality Test—275
Total—275

Marking: No minimum qualifying marks. Interview marks are added to the Mains written marks.

  • About twice the number of vacancies are called for the interview.
  • Final merit is based on 2025 marks: 1750 (Mains written) plus 275 (interview).
  • Ties are broken first by total marks in the compulsory papers plus the interview, then by the compulsory papers alone, then by age (the older candidate ranks higher).

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