The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 24th May 2026 (Sunday). This exam marks the first stage of the UPSC Civil Services recruitment process for coveted posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A and B services.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about UPSC Prelims 2026, including exam pattern, syllabus, eligibility, preparation strategy, cutoff, and how to apply.
📅 UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Date
- Exam Date: 24 May 2026 (Sunday)
- Mode: Offline (OMR-based)
- Nature: Objective (MCQ-based)
- Stages After Prelims: Mains + Interview
Only candidates who qualify the Prelims exam are eligible to appear for the Mains, followed by the Interview/Personality Test.
🧾 UPSC Prelims Eligibility Criteria 2026
To be eligible for the UPSC Prelims 2026, candidates must meet the following conditions:
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of India / subject of Nepal or Bhutan / Tibetan refugee (before Jan 1, 1962)
- Age Limit:
- General: 21 to 32 years
- OBC: up to 35 years
- SC/ST: up to 37 years
- PwBD: up to 42 years
- Educational Qualification:
- A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
- Final year students are eligible to apply but must submit proof before Mains
- Attempts Allowed:
- General: 6
- OBC: 9
- SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (within age limit)
📝 UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours | Yes (1/3rd) |
| CSAT (General Studies Paper II) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours | Yes (1/3rd) |
- CSAT is qualifying only: Minimum 33% required
- GS Paper I marks determine cut-off
- Papers are held on the same day in two sessions
📚 UPSC Prelims 2026 Syllabus
🟢 Paper I – General Studies (200 marks)
- Current Affairs (National & International)
- History of India & Indian National Movement
- Indian & World Geography
- Indian Polity & Constitution
- Economic & Social Development
- Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change
- General Science
🔵 Paper II – CSAT (200 marks, qualifying)
- Reading Comprehension
- Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
- Decision Making & Problem Solving
- General Mental Ability
- Basic Numeracy (Class 10 level)
- Data Interpretation (Class 10 level)
🏛️ UPSC Prelims Exam Centres 2026 (Selected List)
The Prelims 2026 exam will be held in 80+ cities across India including:
- North: Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Dehradun, Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar
- South: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram
- East: Kolkata, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal
- West: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Pune, Nagpur
- Others: Gangtok, Aizawl, Port Blair, Leh, Itanagar, Dharamshala
For the complete centre list, visit upsc.gov.in
🎟️ UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026
- Admit cards will be released around 3 weeks before the exam (early May 2026)
- Can be downloaded from https://upsc.gov.in
- Required documents at center:
- Printed admit card
- Valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport)
💻 How to Apply for UPSC Prelims 2026
- Go to https://upsc.gov.in
- Click on Apply Online > “One Time Registration” (OTR)
- Fill Part I form (personal & academic details)
- Complete Part II (upload photo, signature, pay fee)
- Select preferred exam center
- Submit the application and save confirmation
Application Fee:
- General/OBC: ₹100
- SC/ST/PwBD/Female: Exempted
📘 Recommended Books for UPSC Prelims 2026
🟤 History
- NCERTs (Class 6–12)
- Modern India – Bipin Chandra
- Ancient & Medieval – RS Sharma, Satish Chandra
🟤 Polity
- Indian Polity – M. Laxmikanth
- NCERT Class XI: Constitution at Work
🟤 Economy
- NCERT Class XI–XII
- Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh
🟤 Geography
- Certificate Physical & Human Geography – G.C. Leong
- School Atlas – Orient Black Swan
🟤 Environment
- Shankar IAS Environment Book
- NCERT Biology (Class 12 – Ecology Chapters)
🟤 Science & Tech + Current Affairs
- NCERT Class 6–10
- Science Reporter
- Newspapers (The Hindu/Indian Express)
- Monthly Current Affairs Magazines
📄 UPSC Prelims Previous Year Papers
Practicing past year papers helps understand question trends and difficulty.
General Studies Paper I (2014–2024)
CSAT Paper II (2014–2024)
Aspirants should aim to solve at least last 10 years’ papers with proper time tracking and analysis.
📊 UPSC Prelims Cut Off Trends (2018–2023)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.41 | 74.75 | 47.85 | 59.25 | 68.02 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 87.54 | 74.08 | 69.35 | 82.83 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 89.12 | 75.41 | 70.71 | 80.14 |
| 2020 | 92.51 | 89.12 | 74.84 | 68.71 | 77.55 |
| 2019 | 98.00 | 95.34 | 82.00 | 77.34 | 90.00 |
| 2018 | 98.00 | 96.66 | 84.00 | 83.34 | – |
Cut-off depends on number of vacancies, paper difficulty, and candidate performance.
🗝️ UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026
- Official answer key will be released after final result (post-Mains)
- Available at https://upsc.gov.in
- Helps estimate marks and raise objections if applicable
📈 How to Prepare for UPSC Prelims 2026
- Start early — complete the NCERTs and basic books in 3–4 months
- Make a weekly plan and revise frequently
- Practice 30+ mock tests before exam day
- Stay consistent with Current Affairs (newspaper + compilations)
- Analyze your performance and focus on weak areas
- Don’t neglect CSAT — especially if you’re from a non-quant background
🔗 Useful Links
- UPSC Official Website
- UPSC OTR Registration Portal
- UPSC Prelims Strategy Guide
- UPSC Previous Year Papers
- UPSC Current Affairs PDF
🙋♂️ UPSC Prelims 2026 – FAQs
Q1. What is the exam date of UPSC Prelims 2026?
A: The exam will be held on 24 May 2026 (Sunday).
Q2. Is CSAT qualifying or counted in merit?
A: CSAT is qualifying only. You need 33% to pass.
Q3. What is the age limit for UPSC Prelims?
A: 21–32 years for General category (as on 1 Aug 2026).
Q4. When will UPSC Prelims admit card be released?
A: Likely by the first week of May 2026.
Q5. Can final-year students apply?