UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026: Prelims and Mains Topic-wise Guide

The UPPSC PCS syllabus covers two objective papers in the preliminary exam and eight descriptive papers in the main exam, followed by an interview. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission sets it for the Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Examination, and the 2026 cycle (prelims on 6 December 2026) follows the same scheme as recent years.

This page sets out the syllabus paper by paper, shows where prelims and mains overlap, and gives a phased plan to cover it. The biggest recent change is in mains: the two optional papers have been replaced by General Studies V and VI, both focused on Uttar Pradesh. The topic lists below follow the official syllabus headings, grouped into a working checklist. Always check the syllabus annexed to the official notification for the final wording.

UPPSC PCS Syllabus

Key Changes to Know

• No optional subject in mains: The two optional papers have been removed. GS V and GS VI, each worth 200 marks, now cover Uttar Pradesh in depth.

• UP content carries more weight: With 400 marks of UP-specific papers in mains, state knowledge is no longer a small part of GS.

• Older pages may mislead: Older pages may still show optional subjects or a different mains total, so follow the official notification.

UPPSC PCS Prelims Syllabus

Paper I: General Studies

History, polity, geography and current affairs usually carry the most questions, and UP-specific questions appear across sections. Read every static topic with its UP angle, such as UP's districts, rivers, folk culture and state schemes.

Paper II: CSAT (Qualifying)

You need only 33% in CSAT, but it is a hard filter. Candidates from a non-maths background should give it a short weekly slot from the start rather than leaving it for the last month.

UPPSC PCS Mains Syllabus

General Hindi (150 Marks)

• Comprehension and precis: Reading an unseen passage, answering questions and writing a summary.

• Official writing: Official and semi-official letters, circulars, notices and similar drafts.

• Grammar and vocabulary: Prefixes and suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, spelling and sentence correction, idioms and proverbs.

Essay (150 Marks)

You write one essay from each section, about 700 words each.

General Studies I

• Culture and history: Indian art forms, literature and architecture; modern Indian history from about the mid-18th century; the freedom struggle; post-independence consolidation; world history events.

• Society: Salient features of Indian society, role of women, population, urbanisation, globalisation, communalism, regionalism and secularism.

• Geography: Physical geography of the world, distribution of resources, location of industries, geophysical phenomena, oceans and natural resources of India.

General Studies II

• Constitution and polity: Features, amendments, basic structure, federalism, separation of powers, Parliament and state legislatures, judiciary, constitutional and statutory bodies.

• Governance and social justice: Government policies, welfare schemes, health, education and human resources, transparency and accountability, e-governance, civil services.

• International relations: India and its neighbours, bilateral and global groupings, international institutions and the Indian diaspora.

General Studies III

• Economy: Planning, resource mobilisation, growth, inclusive development, budgeting, agriculture, food processing, land reforms, liberalisation and infrastructure.

• Science and technology: Developments and applications, IT, space, biotechnology and intellectual property.

• Environment and security: Conservation, environmental impact assessment, disaster management, internal security, border management, cyber security and security forces.

General Studies IV

• Ethics and human interface: Values, attitude, aptitude, emotional intelligence and contributions of moral thinkers.

• Ethics in administration: Integrity, probity in governance, codes of conduct, RTI, citizen charters, work culture and corruption.

• Case studies: Applying the above to real administrative dilemmas.

General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh)

• History and culture of UP: Ancient to modern history, UP's role in the freedom struggle, art, architecture, festivals, folk music and literature.

• Polity and administration of UP: Governor, Chief Minister, legislature, high court, public service commission, local bodies, land reforms and the revenue system.

• Governance and public services: Law and order, education, health, social welfare schemes, e-governance, tourism and security issues in UP.

General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh)

• Economy of UP: State budget, planning, trade and industry, investment policies, infrastructure and major schemes.

• Agriculture and resources: Crops, irrigation, forestry, minerals, water and energy resources including renewable energy.

• Geography and environment of UP: Physical features, climate, demography, wildlife sanctuaries, pollution and environmental policy.

Overlap Between Prelims and Mains

Is There a Syllabus for the Interview?

No. The 100-mark interview has no published syllabus. Expect questions on your background, your district, UP administration, current issues and the posts you have chosen in your preference list.

How to Cover the UPPSC PCS Syllabus

1. Weeks 1 to 8: Build concepts in history, polity, geography and economy from standard textbooks, with a daily newspaper habit.

2. From week 3: Add current affairs for 30 to 40 minutes a day and keep monthly notes, with a separate UP section.

3. From week 6: Start topic tests for GS Paper I and a weekly timed CSAT set. Begin writing one mains answer a day.

4. From week 10: Cover UP-specific topics for GS V and VI, environment and science, and add essay practice every week.

5. Final phase before prelims: Full-length mocks, same-day analysis and revision from your error log.

Download the official syllabus from the UPPSC website and keep it as your master checklist.