UPPSC PCS Examination 2026: Complete Overview, Syllabus & Exam Pattern

UPPSC Syllabus 2026 - Highlights

To start your preparation on the right foot, review the core highlights governing the examination format:

• Exam Name: Uttar Pradesh Combined State Upper Subordinate Services Examination-2026
• Type of Questions: Prelims- Objective, Mains- Descriptive
• Negative Marking: Prelims- Paper 1- 0.44, Paper 2- 0.66
• Mode of Exam: Offline
• Selection Process: Prelims, Mains, Interview

UPPSC PCS Selection Process & Stages

The UPPSC selection process consists of three distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. Each stage serves as an elimination filter designed to select candidates best suited for administrative responsibilities.

UPPSC Prelims Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

The preliminary examination serves as the screening test. It features objective-type multiple-choice questions administered via offline pen-and-paper mode using OMR sheets.

• Name of Exam: UPPSC PCS Preliminary Exam
• No. of Papers (2): Paper 1 – General Studies I, Paper 2 – General Studies II (CSAT)
• Duration of Exam: 2 hours each
• Maximum Marks: 200 marks each
• Number of Questions: Paper-I: 150 questions, Paper-II: 100 questions
• Type of Exam: Offline (Pen-paper) OMR sheets
• Negative Marking: Paper 1- 0.44, Paper 2- 0.66
• Nature of Questions: All questions will be of Objective type (MCQs)

Paper-I decides the cut-off for qualification to the Mains, whereas Paper-II is qualifying in nature with a mandatory minimum requirement of 33% marks. Note that filling multiple circles on the OMR sheet for the same question is treated as an incorrect answer leading to negative marking, while leaving a question blank incurs no negative marking.

UPPSC Prelims Syllabus for Paper 2 (CSAT)

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills (including communication skills)
• Analytical Ability & Logical Reasoning
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• General Mental Ability
• Elementary Mathematics (class X level – Algebra, Statistics, Geometry and Arithmetic)
• General English (Class X level)
• General Hindi (Class X level)

UPPSC Mains Exam Pattern & Syllabus Updates

Under the updated syllabus, the two optional papers in the UPPSC exam have been replaced by two additional General Studies papers. The descriptive-type written test features the following configuration:

• Name of Exam: UPPSC PCS Mains (Written) Examination
• Number of Papers (8): 1. General Hindi, 2. Essay, 3. General Studies I, 4. General Studies II, 5. General Studies III, 6. General Studies IV, 7. General Studies V, 8. General Studies VI
• Duration of Exam: Papers will be conducted over a week’s duration
• Sessions: Morning Session – 9.30 AM – 12.30 AM, Afternoon Session – 2 PM – 5 PM
• Maximum Marks: General Hindi – 150 marks, Essay – 150 marks, All General Studies papers will be of 200 marks each, Total – 1500 marks
• Type of Exam: Offline (Pen-paper)
• Nature of Questions: Essay/descriptive type
• Negative Marking: NIL
• Optional Subjects: As per the new UPPSC exam pattern, in UPPSC Examination there is no optional subject.

UPPSC Mains exam sessions are divided into Morning Session (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM) and Afternoon Session (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM). For the Essay paper in Mains, candidates must select and write three essays, each approximately 700 words long, drawn from three thematic sections (A, B, and C). There is no negative marking in the UPPSC Mains exam.

Summary Tables of Exam Structure

UPPSC Syllabus 2026- Highlights	Details
Exam Name	Uttar Pradesh Combined State Upper Subordinate Services Examination-2026
Type of Questions	Prelims- Objective Mains- Descriptive
Negative Marking	Prelims- Paper 1- 0.44 Paper 2- 0.66
Mode of Exam	Offline
Selection Process	Prelims Mains Interview

Name of the Exam	Type of the Exam/Time	Marks
UPPSC Prelims Exam	Paper 1: General Studies I	150 marks
UPPSC Prelims Exam	Paper 2: General Studies II (CSAT)	100 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Hindi	150 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	Essay	150 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Studies I	200 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Studies II	200 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Studies III	200 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Studies IV	200 marks
UPPSC Mains Exam	General Studies V	200 marks
UPPSC PCS 2026 Notification Released for 500 Vacancies - Click to View Details	General Studies VI	200 marks
UPPSC Interview	Personality Test/Interview	100 marks

UPPSC Interview (Personality Test)

Candidates who successfully clear both the Prelims and the descriptive Mains examinations qualify for the final round. The UPPSC Interview (Personality Test) carries 100 marks and is conducted by a board appointed by the UPPSC to evaluate personal suitability, alertness, and administrative potential.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q 1. Is there a negative marking in UPPSC PCS 2026 Exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking scheme applied to both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the UPPSC PCS Prelims.

Q 2. Is knowledge of Hindi needed?

Yes, the Mains includes a mandatory subjective Hindi language paper at the Class X level.

Q 3. How many Optional Subject are there in UPPSC?

Under the updated syllabus, the two optional subject papers have been replaced by two additional General Studies papers.

Q 4. How many stages are there in UPPSC?

The UPPSC examination consists of three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview.

Q 5. How many Papers are there in Mains Exam?

Question papers are provided in a bilingual format, featuring both English and Hindi versions.