UPSC Civil Services Prelims — exam pattern
Union Public Service Commission · Graduate · Yearly · Age 21–32 (Gen), 6 attempts · checked 2026-10-19
Previous year questions (2015–2025) Topic-wise weightage Notification · admit card · result timeline Mock test
GS Paper I
OMR · 2 h · Negative marking: 1/3 of marks per wrong · 100 questions · 200 marks
| Section | Questions | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 100 | 200 | 100% |
GS Paper II (CSAT)
OMR · 2 h · Negative marking: 1/3 of marks per wrong · 80 questions · 200 marks
Qualifying: 33% (66 marks).
| Section | Questions | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aptitude, comprehension, reasoning | 80 | 200 | 100% |
Subjects in our question bank
Years available: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
Frequently asked
- How many questions are there in UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
- GS Paper I: 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 h. GS Paper II (CSAT): 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 h.
- Is there negative marking in UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
- GS Paper I: 1/3 of marks per wrong. GS Paper II (CSAT): 1/3 of marks per wrong.
- Who can apply for UPSC Civil Services Prelims?
- Graduate, age 21–32 (Gen), 6 attempts. Held yearly by Union Public Service Commission.