Syllabus · Main examination

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2026: All Nine Papers

Two qualifying papers, seven that decide your rank — 1,750 marks of writing, then the 275-mark interview.

Paper	Subject	Marks	Counts for
Paper A	One Indian language (Eighth Schedule)Qualifying — 25% needed	300	Qualifying — 25% needed
Paper B	EnglishQualifying — 25% needed	300	Qualifying — 25% needed
Paper I	EssayCounted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper II	General Studies I — Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and SocietyCounted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper III	General Studies II — Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relationsCounted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper IV	General Studies III — Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster ManagementCounted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper V	General Studies IV — Ethics, Integrity and AptitudeCounted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper VI	Optional subject — Paper 1Counted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Paper VII	Optional subject — Paper 2Counted for merit	250	Counted for merit
Written total (Papers I–VII)+ Personality Test 275 = 2,025 final marks		1,750

Every paper is three hours, essay-type. Source: UPSC's CSE 2026 notice, pp. 26–29 ↗.

Detailed syllabus

General Studies I–IV and the Essay

GS Paper I · 250 marks Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society 12 lines · 215 questions 2016–2026. Asked most: Role of women and women’s organization, population and… (30); Distribution of key natural resources across the world (30). Topic by topic → GS Paper II · 250 marks Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations 20 lines · 224 questions 2016–2026. Asked most: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States,… (24); Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements… (22). Topic by topic → GS Paper III · 250 marks Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management 20 lines · 221 questions 2016–2026. Asked most: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,… (29); Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country,… (25). Topic by topic → GS Paper IV · 250 marks Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude 8 lines · 136 questions 2016–2026. Asked most: Case Studies on above issues. (65); Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration (21). Topic by topic → Paper I · Essay · 250 marks “Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.” Every essay topic UPSC has set, by theme →

Official syllabus · Paper A & Paper B

The qualifying language papers

“The aim of the paper is to test the candidates' ability to read and understand serious discursive prose, and to express ideas clearly and correctly, in English and Indian language concerned.”

Paper B — English

Comprehension of given passages.
Precis Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.

Paper A — Indian languages

comprehension of given passages.
Precis Writing.
Usage and Vocabulary.
Short Essays.
Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa.

Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.

Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).

Paper A is not compulsory for candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, or for candidates with a hearing impairment exempted from a second or third language by their board or university.

Papers VI & VII — your optional subject

One subject from UPSC's list of 48 — two papers of 250 marks.

All 48 optional syllabi

FAQ

Mains syllabus: questions, answered

What is the syllabus of UPSC Mains?

Mains has nine papers. Paper A (an Indian language) and Paper B (English) are qualifying. The seven papers that count are the Essay; General Studies I (Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society); General Studies II (governance, constitution, polity, social justice and international relations); General Studies III (technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management); General Studies IV (ethics, integrity and aptitude); and two papers of one optional subject.

How many marks is UPSC Mains?

The seven merit papers carry 250 marks each — 1,750 in all. With the 275-mark Personality Test, the final total is 2,025. Papers A and B (300 marks each) are qualifying and not counted.

What do you need in the qualifying papers?

25% in the Indian-language paper and 25% in English. Only candidates who reach both have their Essay, General Studies and optional papers taken into account.

In which language can Mains be written?

Papers I–VII can be answered in any one language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution or in English; Paper A and Paper B are answered in the language concerned. Question papers other than literature papers are set in Hindi and English.