The UPSC Preliminary Examination, commonly known as Prelims, is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination and serves as a screening test for the Main Examination. Understanding the structure of Prelims, including how many papers you need to attempt, is crucial for effective preparation. Unlike Mains which has 9 papers, Prelims is more concise but equally challenging.
Prelims consists of 2 objective-type papers conducted on the same day, testing your general knowledge, current affairs, and aptitude. While it may seem simpler than Mains, Prelims is actually the biggest filter in the UPSC journey, eliminating over 98% of candidates. This comprehensive guide will explain everything about the Prelims papers for UPSC 2026.
Total Number of Papers in UPSC Prelims
UPSC Prelims consists of 2 papers, both conducted on the same day:
Paper I: General Studies (GS)
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 hours (9:30 AM to 11:30 AM)
- Number of Questions: 100
- Marks per Question: 2
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd (0.66 marks deducted for each wrong answer)
- Nature: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options each
- Counted for Merit: Yes, only Paper I marks determine your Prelims rank
Paper II: Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 2 hours (2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)
- Number of Questions: 80
- Marks per Question: 2.5
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd (0.83 marks deducted for each wrong answer)
- Nature: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options each
- Counted for Merit: No, this is a qualifying paper only
Important Points:
- Both papers are compulsory
- You must qualify Paper II (minimum 33% or 66 marks out of 200)
- Only Paper I marks are counted for final Prelims merit
- Prelims marks are NOT counted for final selection (only qualifying for Mains)
- You need to clear both papers to qualify for Mains
Paper I: General Studies - Detailed Breakdown
Syllabus Coverage:
1. Current Events (National and International):
- Major events, issues, and developments
- Government schemes and policies
- International relations and diplomacy
- Approximately 15-20 questions
2. History of India and Indian National Movement:
- Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History
- Freedom Struggle and its various stages
- Important personalities and movements
- Approximately 12-15 questions
3. Indian and World Geography:
- Physical, Social, and Economic Geography
- World Geography including major features
- Maps and geographical phenomena
- Approximately 10-12 questions
4. Indian Polity and Governance:
- Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj
- Public Policy, Rights Issues
- Governance and administration
- Approximately 15-18 questions
5. Economic and Social Development:
- Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion
- Demographics, Social Sector initiatives
- Economic concepts and current economic issues
- Approximately 10-12 questions
6. Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change:
- General issues on environment and ecology
- Biodiversity, climate change
- Environmental pollution and degradation
- Approximately 10-12 questions
7. General Science:
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology
- Scientific developments and applications
- Technology and innovation
- Approximately 10-12 questions
Question Pattern:
- Direct factual questions: 40-50%
- Conceptual questions: 30-40%
- Current affairs based: 20-30%
- Statement-based questions (I, II, III type): Common
- Match the following: 2-3 questions
- Assertion-Reasoning type: Occasional
Paper II: CSAT - Detailed Breakdown
Syllabus Coverage:
1. Comprehension:
- Reading passages followed by questions
- Tests understanding and interpretation
- Approximately 20-25 questions
- Usually 4-5 passages with 4-5 questions each
2. Interpersonal Skills and Communication:
- Situation-based questions
- Decision making in social contexts
- Approximately 5-8 questions
3. Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability:
- Syllogisms, coding-decoding
- Blood relations, seating arrangements
- Puzzles and logical deductions
- Approximately 15-20 questions
4. Decision Making and Problem Solving:
- Scenario-based questions
- Choosing best course of action
- Approximately 5-8 questions
5. General Mental Ability:
- Pattern recognition
- Series completion
- Analogies
- Approximately 8-10 questions
6. Basic Numeracy:
- Number systems, percentages
- Ratio and proportion, averages
- Simple and compound interest
- Profit and loss, time and work
- Approximately 10-12 questions
7. Data Interpretation:
- Tables, graphs, charts
- Data sufficiency
- Data analysis
- Approximately 10-12 questions
Important Notes:
- You need only 33% (66 marks) to qualify
- Most serious candidates score 70-90 marks
- Focus on accuracy rather than attempting all questions
- Time management is crucial
- Comprehension passages are time-consuming
Examination Day Schedule
Prelims Examination Timeline:
Morning Session - Paper I (General Studies):
- Reporting Time: 8:30 AM
- Entry Closes: 9:00 AM
- Examination Time: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Questions: 100
- Time per question: 1.2 minutes (72 seconds)
Break Between Papers:
- Duration: 3 hours
- Use this time to relax, have lunch, and mentally prepare for CSAT
- Don't discuss Paper I answers with others
- Review CSAT formulas and shortcuts
Afternoon Session - Paper II (CSAT):
- Reporting Time: 2:00 PM
- Entry Closes: 2:15 PM
- Examination Time: 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes)
- Questions: 80
- Time per question: 1.5 minutes (90 seconds)
Total Examination Day Duration: 8 hours Total Writing Time: 4 hours
Things to Remember:
- Carry admit card and valid ID proof
- Reach center well before reporting time
- Carry water bottle and light snacks
- No electronic devices allowed
- Carry extra pens (black ball point)
- Don't carry any study material inside the center
Scoring Strategy and Cut-offs
Paper I Scoring Strategy:
Target Score for Different Categories:
- General Category: 95-105 marks (safe: 100+)
- OBC Category: 90-100 marks (safe: 95+)
- SC Category: 80-90 marks (safe: 85+)
- ST Category: 75-85 marks (safe: 80+)
Note: Cut-offs vary each year based on difficulty level.
Attempt Strategy:
To score 100 marks with accuracy:
- Attempt 75-80 questions with 90% accuracy
- 75 correct × 2 = 150 marks
- 5 wrong × 0.66 = -3.3 marks
- Net Score: 146.7 marks (before normalization)
Don't attempt all 100 questions blindly. Quality over quantity!
Paper II Qualifying Strategy:
Target: 66 marks (33%)
To safely qualify:
- Attempt 50-55 questions with 80% accuracy
- 45 correct × 2.5 = 112.5 marks
- 10 wrong × 0.83 = -8.3 marks
- Net Score: 104.2 marks (well above qualifying)
Historical Cut-offs (Paper I):
2023:
- General: 88.00
- OBC: 83.74
- SC: 77.34
- ST: 70.00
2022:
- General: 88.00
- OBC: 82.00
- SC: 76.00
- ST: 70.00
2021:
- General: 87.54
- OBC: 82.48
- SC: 76.36
- ST: 70.00
Cut-offs fluctuate based on paper difficulty and number of vacancies.
Preparation Strategy for Both Papers
For Paper I (General Studies):
Phase 1: Foundation Building (3-4 months)
- Read NCERT books (Class 6-12) for all subjects
- Build strong conceptual foundation
- Make concise notes for revision
- Focus on understanding, not rote learning
Phase 2: Advanced Preparation (4-5 months)
- Read standard reference books for each subject
- Cover entire syllabus systematically
- Integrate current affairs with static portions
- Make topic-wise notes
Phase 3: Current Affairs (Ongoing)
- Read newspaper daily (The Hindu/Indian Express)
- Follow monthly current affairs magazines
- Make monthly current affairs notes
- Focus on government schemes, international relations, economy
Phase 4: Revision and Practice (3-4 months)
- Revise notes multiple times
- Solve previous 10 years' question papers
- Take regular mock tests
- Analyze mistakes and improve
For Paper II (CSAT):
Phase 1: Understanding (1 month)
- Understand the syllabus and pattern
- Identify your strong and weak areas
- Learn basic concepts and formulas
Phase 2: Practice (2-3 months)
- Practice comprehension passages daily
- Solve logical reasoning questions
- Practice basic numeracy and data interpretation
- Learn shortcuts and tricks
Phase 3: Speed Building (1-2 months)
- Take timed sectional tests
- Improve reading speed for comprehension
- Practice quick calculations
- Work on time management
Phase 4: Mock Tests (1 month)
- Take full-length CSAT mocks
- Aim for 70-80 marks consistently
- Focus on accuracy over attempts
- Analyze and improve
Common Mistakes to Avoid
For Paper I:
1. Attempting Too Many Questions: Many candidates attempt 90-95 questions and get 50-60 wrong due to guesswork. This leads to heavy negative marking.
2. Neglecting Current Affairs: 20-25 questions come from current affairs. Ignoring this costs you heavily.
3. Not Practicing Previous Years' Papers: PYQs help you understand UPSC's question pattern and difficulty level.
4. Weak Revision: Without regular revision, you forget what you studied. Revise at least 3-4 times.
5. Ignoring Certain Subjects: Every subject contributes questions. You can't afford to skip any area.
For Paper II:
1. Underestimating CSAT: Many candidates fail to qualify CSAT despite good GS preparation.
2. Not Practicing Enough: CSAT requires extensive practice. Theory alone won't help.
3. Poor Time Management: Spending too much time on comprehension leaves no time for other sections.
4. Attempting All Questions: You need only 66 marks. Attempting all 80 questions leads to mistakes.
5. Ignoring Basics: Many questions test basic concepts. Don't jump to advanced topics without mastering basics.
General Mistakes:
1. Starting Late: Prelims requires 10-12 months of serious preparation. Starting late reduces your chances.
2. Too Many Sources: Using too many books creates confusion. Stick to standard sources.
3. Not Taking Mock Tests: Mocks help you assess preparation and improve exam temperament.
4. Exam Day Panic: Stay calm, follow your strategy, don't get influenced by others.
Conclusion
UPSC Prelims consists of 2 papers - Paper I (General Studies) which is counted for merit, and Paper II (CSAT) which is qualifying in nature. Both papers are conducted on the same day and are equally important for clearing Prelims. While Paper I determines your rank, failing to qualify Paper II means elimination regardless of your GS score.
Prelims is the biggest filter in the UPSC journey, with only 1.3-1.5% candidates qualifying for Mains. Success requires comprehensive preparation, smart strategy, and excellent time management. You need to balance depth and breadth of knowledge while maintaining accuracy in the examination.
Start your preparation early, follow a structured approach, and practice extensively. Remember, Prelims is not just about knowledge but also about exam temperament, time management, and smart guessing. Many knowledgeable candidates fail Prelims due to poor strategy, while well-prepared strategic candidates succeed.
Use UPSC.AI's Prelims preparation tools including topic-wise tests, full-length mocks, and AI-powered performance analytics to optimize your preparation for both papers. Our platform helps you identify weak areas, track progress, and develop the right strategy to clear Prelims with a comfortable margin. Focus on both papers equally, and approach Prelims with confidence and a well-planned strategy.