UPPCS DETAILS
Exam Pattern▼
UPPCS Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims, Mains & Interview
UPPCS 2026 has three stages. The Prelims has two objective papers of 200 marks and two hours each: GS Paper I with 150 questions and GS Paper II (CSAT) with 100 questions, qualifying at 33%. Wrong answers lose one-third of a question's marks. The Mains has eight descriptive papers totalling 1,500 marks: General Hindi (150), Essay (150) and six GS papers of 200 marks each. The interview carries 100 marks, making the final merit total 1,600.
1. Selection Stages
| Stage | Type | Marks | Counted in Final Merit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam | Objective (OMR) | 400 | No (screening only) |
| Main Exam | Descriptive | 1,500 | Yes |
| Interview | Personality test | 100 | Yes |
2. Prelims Pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Timing | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies-I | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM | Merit for Mains shortlisting |
| Paper II: General Studies-II (CSAT) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM | Qualifying (33%) |
- Each GS Paper I question carries 1.33 marks; each CSAT question carries 2 marks.
- One-third of a question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Marking more than one option counts as a wrong answer.
- Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
- Appearing in both papers is mandatory.
- Merit for Mains is based only on Paper I.
- About 15 times the vacancies qualify for Mains.
3. Mains Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Hindi | 150 | 3 hours |
| 2 | Essay | 150 | 3 hours |
| 3 | General Studies I | 200 | 3 hours |
| 4 | General Studies II | 200 | 3 hours |
| 5 | General Studies III | 200 | 3 hours |
| 6 | General Studies IV (Ethics) | 200 | 3 hours |
| 7 | General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours |
| 8 | General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours |
| Total | 1,500 |
- All papers are conventional (descriptive), three hours each.
- Answers may be written in English (Roman script), Hindi (Devanagari) or Urdu (Persian script).
- A minimum score in General Hindi is required, as fixed by the Government or Commission.
- Writing your name or roll number anywhere other than the cover page is penalised.
- Marks may be deducted for illegible handwriting.
Essay Paper Structure
The Essay paper has three sections. Candidates write one essay of about 700 words from each section:
| Section | Themes |
|---|---|
| A | Literature and Culture; Social sphere; Political sphere |
| B | Science, Environment and Technology; Economic sphere; Agriculture, Industry and Trade |
| C | National and International events; Natural calamities; National development programmes |
4. Interview
Candidates up to three times the number of vacancies are called. The 100-mark test covers general awareness, intelligence, character, expression, personality and general suitability for the service.
5. Final Merit and Qualifying Standards
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Mains | 1,500 |
| Interview | 100 |
| Total | 1,600 |
Minimum efficiency standards apply: 35% for SC and ST candidates and 40% for others in the Prelims and Mains. CM Fellowship research scholars receive Mains weightage of 2.5, 5 or 7.5 marks for one, two or three years of completed tenure, since the Mains carries more than 1,000 marks.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in UPPCS Prelims Paper I?
150 questions for 200 marks.
How many questions are in CSAT?
100 questions for 200 marks.
What is the negative marking in UPPCS Prelims?
One-third (0.33) of the marks for that question.
Is CSAT qualifying?
Yes, with a minimum of 33%.
How many marks is UPPCS Mains?
1,500 marks across eight papers.
Is there an optional subject in UPPCS Mains?
No. All Mains papers are compulsory.
What are GS V and GS VI?
Two papers dedicated to Uttar Pradesh: its history, culture, polity, governance, economy, geography and current affairs.
Is the General Hindi paper counted in merit?
It is part of the 1,500-mark Mains total, and candidates must also meet a minimum score in it.
How long is the Essay?
Three essays of about 700 words each, one from each section.
Can I write Mains in English?
Yes. Answers may be in English, Hindi or Urdu, except where the paper states otherwise.
How many marks is the interview?
100 marks.
What is the total final merit?
1,600 marks: Mains 1,500 plus interview 100.
How many candidates are called for Mains and interview?
About 15 times and 3 times the vacancies, respectively.
What is the minimum efficiency standard?
35% for SC and ST candidates and 40% for others.
Are Prelims marks counted in the final result?
No. The Prelims is only a screening test.
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