UPSC syllabus
“Current events of national and international importance.”
UPSC syllabus
“History of India and Indian National Movement.”
Ancient India
47 questions · 6 topics
Prehistory & the Harappan civilisation · Vedic age & the Mahajanapadas · Buddhism, Jainism & other schools · The Mauryan empire …
Medieval India
27 questions · 5 topics
Early medieval kingdoms (c. 700–1200) · The Delhi Sultanate · Vijayanagara, Bahmani & regional kingdoms · The Mughals & the Marathas …
Modern India & the freedom struggle
73 questions · 8 topics
Europeans & the East India Company · British administration, land revenue & economy · Social & religious reform movements · 1857 & early resistance movements …
Art & culture
38 questions · 5 topics
Architecture & sculpture · Painting, crafts & GI heritage · Music, dance & theatre · Literature, philosophy & religion …
UPSC syllabus
“Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.”
UPSC syllabus
“Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.”
UPSC syllabus
“Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.”
UPSC syllabus
“General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.”
UPSC syllabus
“General Science.”
Subject-wise weightage, 2016–2026
Questions from each subject in each year's GS Paper I (100 questions a year). Each question is counted once, under its main subject.
| Subject | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy & social development | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 189 |
| Geography | 11 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 162 |
| Environment & ecology | 9 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 156 |
| Polity & governance | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 22 | 7 | 152 |
| International relations & current affairs | 21 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 134 |
| Science & technology | 13 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 122 |
| Modern India & the freedom struggle | 5 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 73 |
| Ancient India | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 47 |
| Art & culture | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 38 |
| Medieval India | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 27 |
| All subjects | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 1100 |
CSE 2027: 234 days to Prelims
UPSC's calendar ↗- Notification
- 13 Jan 2027
- Applications close
- 2 Feb 2027
- Prelims
- 23 May 2027
- Mains begins
- 20 Aug 2027
From UPSC's annual calendar as on 20 May 2026; UPSC may revise it.
Most-asked topics, 2016–2026
- 1. International organisations & groupings47
- 2. Money, banking & monetary policy41
- 3. IT, computing & emerging technologies40
- 4. Biodiversity, plants & animals38
- 5. Parliament & the Union executive33
- 6. Climate change & agreements33
- 7. Government schemes & initiatives31
- 8. World: places, rivers & mapping30
- 9. Agriculture & crops30
- 10. Pollution & waste30
- 11. India: relief, rivers & drainage29
- 12. Minerals, energy & industry28