UPPCS Syllabus 2026

The complete syllabus of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission PCS exam (UPPCS / UP PCS): every Prelims and Mains subject and topic, with the exam pattern. The MainsMitra app builds your daily timetable from this syllabus.

Exam pattern

Prelims

Paper	Questions	Marks	Time
Paper I: General Studies	150	200	2 hours
Paper II: CSAT	100	200	2 hours

Both papers are objective (MCQ) and both are compulsory.
Merit is decided by General Studies (Paper I) only. CSAT is qualifying: at least 33% is needed.

Mains

Paper	Marks	Time
General Hindi	150	3 hours
Essay	150	3 hours
General Studies IHistory, Culture, Society, Geography	200	3 hours
General Studies IIPolity, Governance, Social Justice, International Relations	200	3 hours
General Studies IIIEconomy, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Environment, Security	200	3 hours
General Studies IVEthics, Integrity and Aptitude	200	3 hours
General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh specific)UP History, Culture, Society, Polity and Governance	200	3 hours
General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh specific)UP Economy, Geography, Resources and Environment	200	3 hours

All papers are descriptive, 3 hours each. Answer in Hindi or English.
General Hindi and Essay marks count in the merit.
Written exam 1500 marks + interview 100 marks = 1600 marks in total.

Prelims syllabus, subject by subject

Ancient History 15 topics

Stone Age
Indus Valley Civilization
Vedic Age
Buddhism
Jain Religion
Shaiva, Bhagavata Religion
6th century BCE: Political Condition
Greek Invasion
Maurya Empire
Post-Mauryan Period
Gupta and Post-Gupta Period
Architecture in Ancient India
South India (Chola, Chalukya, Pallava, Sangam)
Ancient Literature and Litterateurs
Pre-Medieval Period

Medieval History 25 topics

Muslim Invasion of India
Delhi Sultanate: Slave Dynasty
Khalji Dynasty
Tughluq Dynasty
Lodi Dynasty
Vijayanagara Empire
Delhi Sultanate: Administration
Delhi Sultanate: Art and Architecture
Delhi Sultanate: Literature
Delhi Sultanate: Miscellaneous
Provincial Dynasties of North India and Deccan
Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Mughal Dynasty: Babur
Humayun and Sher Shah
Akbar
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb
Mughal Administration
Mughal Music and Paintings
Mughal Literature
Mughal Period: Miscellaneous
Sikh Sect
Maratha State and Confederacy
Disintegration of the Mughal Empire

Modern History 51 topics

Advent of European Companies
East India Company and Nawabs of Bengal
Regional States: Punjab and Mysore
Governors, Governors-General and Viceroys
Economic Impact of British Rule
Revolt of 1857
Other Civil Uprisings
Development of Education
Development of Press
Social and Religious Reform Movements
Political Organisations before Congress
Indian National Congress
Moderates and Extremists
Revolutionary Movement in India
Revolutionary Activities Outside India
Partition of Bengal (1905) and Swadeshi
Congress Sessions: Banaras, Calcutta, Surat
Muslim League (1906)
Morley-Minto Reforms
Delhi Durbar and Change of Capital
Lucknow Session of Congress
Home Rule League
Gandhi and His Early Movements
Peasant Movement and Kisan Sabha
Trade Unions and Communist Party
Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh (1919)
Khilafat Movement
Non-Cooperation Movement
Swaraj Party (1923)
Simon Commission (1927)
Lahore Session, Purna Swaraj (1929)
Civil Disobedience Movement
Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Karachi Session (1931)
Round Table Conferences
Communal Award and Poona Pact (1932)
Congress Socialist Party (1934)
Provincial Elections and Ministries (1937)
Tripuri Crisis (1939)
Princely States
Second World War
Demand for Pakistan
Individual Satyagraha (1940)
Cripps Mission (1942)
Quit India Movement
Subhash Chandra Bose and Azad Hind Fauj
Cabinet Mission Plan (1946)
Constituent Assembly (1946)
Interim Government (1946)
Partition and Independence
Constitutional Development of India

Art, Culture & Books 3 topics

Magazines, Books and Their Authors
Art and Culture
Traditional Awards

Indian Geography 30 topics

India: Location, Tropic of Cancer, Standard Time, Extreme Points, Neighbours
Physical Regions: Mountains, Peaks, Valleys, Passes, Glaciers, Plateaus, Coasts, Islands
States and Union Territories
Tribes
Languages
Drainage: Ganga, Brahmaputra, South Indian Rivers, Cities, Waterfalls, Lakes
Climate: Monsoon, Rainfall, Winter Rainfall
Natural Disasters
Soils
Natural Vegetation
Irrigation and Canals
Multi-Purpose River Valley Projects
Agriculture
Green Revolution
Food Crops
Cash Crops
Oilseeds
Pulses
Silk
Plantation Crops
Jhum Cultivation
Agriculture: Miscellaneous
Animal Husbandry
Mineral Resources
Minerals: Miscellaneous
Electrical Energy
Industry
Research Centres of India
Transport
Tourism

World Geography 51 topics

Universe and Solar System: Sun, Planets, Moon, Asteroids, Comets
Earth: Latitude, Longitude, Day and Night, Origin, Geological History
Rocks
Volcano
Earthquake
Continents
World Mountain Ranges
Plateaus
Valleys
Arid Regions and Deserts
Grasslands
Countries and Their Borders
Dependent Territories
Land-locked Countries
Old Names of Countries
International Border Lines
World Capitals
World Towns
Geographical Nicknames
Hydrosphere
Important Seas
Ocean Currents
Ocean Salinity
Tides
Ocean Trenches
Rivers of the World
Towns along Rivers
River Landforms
Islands
Lakes and Waterfalls
Straits
Canals
Important Dams
Coral Reefs
Atmosphere
Insolation
Cyclones
Humidity
Atmospheric Pressure
Clouds
Winds
Local Winds
Forests
World Climate
Soils
Major Tribes of the World
Languages
Economic Geography: Agriculture, Minerals, Industries
Transport
Ports and Harbours
Mapping

Indian Polity 33 topics

Constitutional Development
Constituent Assembly and Making of the Constitution
Articles of the Constitution
Preamble
System of Government
National Symbols
States and Union Territories
Citizenship
Fundamental Rights
Directive Principles
Fundamental Duties
President
Vice-President
Council of Ministers
Attorney General and CAG
Order of Precedence
Parliament
Supreme Court
Governor
State Legislature
High Court
Centre-State Relations
Emergency Provisions
Finance Commission
Planning Commission / NITI Aayog
Lokpal and Important Commissions
Temporary and Special Provisions
Election Commission
Political Parties
Constitutional Amendments
Official Language
Panchayati Raj and Community Development
Special Provisions for Certain Classes

Economy & Social Development 19 topics

Nature of Indian Economy
National Income and GDP
Sustainable Economic Development
Agriculture and Allied Sector
Industrial Sector
Tertiary Sector
Fiscal Policy and Revenue
Planning
Money and Banking
Human Development
Employment and Welfare
Poverty and Unemployment
International Trade
Foreign Exchange, FDI, External Debt
International Organisations
Miscellaneous: Concepts, Books, Committees
India: Population
India: Urbanisation
World: Population and Urbanisation

Environment & Ecology 12 topics

Environment, Sustainable Development, Ecology and Ecosystem
Food Chain and Energy Flow
Ecology: Miscellaneous
Biodiversity, Loss and Conservation
Endangered Species, Ramsar Convention
Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change
Climate Change Conferences and Facts
Ozone Layer Depletion
Forests, ISFR, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Sanctuaries, Tigers
Alternative Energy, Pollution, Water Conservation
Environmental Institutions
Awards, Days and Dates: Miscellaneous

General Science: Physics 8 topics

Units, Instruments, Scales, Mechanics
Gravity and Properties of Matter
Light, Heat, Thermodynamics, Waves, Sound
Electric Current, Conductivity
Nuclear Physics
Computer and IT
Space and Defence Technology
Important Scientists and Inventions

General Science: Chemistry 5 topics

Atomic Structure, Chemical and Physical Changes, Solutions
Metals, Minerals, Ores, Alloys
Non-metals
Organic Chemistry, Food Preservation, Nutrition, Medicine
Fertilizers

General Science: Biology 7 topics

Branches of Biology, Evolution
Taxonomy, Cell, Heredity
Bio-fertilizers
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Plant Physiology and Economic Importance
Diseases and Treatment
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Sports & General Knowledge 19 topics

Olympic Games
Commonwealth Games
Asian Games
Cricket
Hockey
Football
Badminton
Tennis
Chess
Athletics
Sports Awards
National and International Days
Tourist Places of India
Indian Security System
Internal Security
International Awards and Honours
National Awards and Honours
International Organisations
Major World Organisations

Uttar Pradesh Special 19 topics

Historical Scenario
Political Scenario
Economic Scenario
Geographical Scenario
Climate and Forest
Population and Urbanisation
Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaries
Mineral Resources
Agriculture, Soil and Crops
Dams, Rivers and Irrigation
Transport
Cultural Activities
Industrial and Scientific Institutions
Scheduled Tribes
Education and Sports
Plans and Projects
Languages and Dialects
Awards and Honours
Magazines and Newspapers

CSAT: Reasoning & Ability 5 topics

Comprehension
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability
Decision Making and Problem Solving
General Mental Ability

CSAT: Elementary Maths 13 topics

Number System, LCM and HCF
Average
Ratio and Proportion
Percentage
Profit and Loss
Simple and Compound Interest
Work and Time
Speed, Time and Distance
Algebra: Polynomials, Remainder Theorem, Linear and Quadratic Equations
Set Theory and Venn Diagram
Geometry: Triangle, Rectangle, Square, Trapezium, Circle; Perimeter and Area
Volume and Surface Area: Sphere, Cylinder, Cone, Cube
Statistics: Data, Frequency, Graphs, Mean, Median, Mode

CSAT: General English 10 topics

Comprehension
Active and Passive Voice
Parts of Speech
Transformation of Sentences
Direct and Indirect Speech
Punctuation and Spellings
Words and Meanings
Vocabulary and Usage
Idioms and Phrases
Fill in the Blanks

CSAT: General Hindi 14 topics

Hindi Alphabet, Punctuation
Word Formation, Sentence Formation, Meaning
Word Forms
Sandhi, Samas
Verbs
Words with Many Meanings
Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms and Proverbs
Tatsam, Tadbhav, Deshaj, Videshi Words
Spelling
Comprehension
Common Errors in Hindi
Main Dialects of Uttar Pradesh

Mains syllabus, paper by paper

General Hindi (150 marks) 8 topics

Comprehension of an unseen passage: summary, explanation and answers to questions
Official and semi-official letters, circulars, notifications, office orders and notes
Office drafting (aalekhan) and noting
Prefixes and suffixes
Antonyms
One-word substitution
Correction of spelling and sentences
Idioms and proverbs

Essay (150 marks) 9 topics

Section A: Literature and culture
Section A: Social sphere
Section A: Political sphere
Section B: Science, environment and technology
Section B: Economic sphere
Section B: Agriculture, industry and trade
Section C: National and international events
Section C: Natural disasters: landslides, earthquakes, floods, drought
Section C: National development programmes and projects

General Studies I (200 marks) 20 topics

Indian culture: art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times
Modern Indian history from about the mid-18th century to the present: significant events, personalities and issues
The freedom struggle: its stages and contributors from different parts of the country
Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation, including integration of princely states and linguistic reorganisation of states
World history from the 18th century: Industrial Revolution, world wars, redrawing of national boundaries, colonisation and decolonisation
Political philosophies such as communism, capitalism and socialism, and their effects on society
Salient features of Indian society and its diversity
Role of women and women's organisations
Population and related issues; poverty and developmental issues
Urbanisation: problems and remedies
Effects of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation on Indian society
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
Salient features of world physical geography
Distribution of key natural resources, including water and minerals, in the world and India
Factors responsible for the location of industries
Physical phenomena: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones, ocean currents, winds and glaciers
Oceanic resources and their potential
Human migration and refugee problems in the world, with focus on India
Frontiers and boundaries of the Indian subcontinent
Population and settlements: types, patterns, urbanisation, smart cities and smart villages

General Studies II (200 marks) 22 topics

Indian Constitution: historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the states; issues and challenges of the federal structure
Devolution of powers and finances to local levels and challenges therein
Separation of powers, dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with other countries
Parliament and state legislatures: structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers and privileges
Executive and judiciary: structure, organisation and functioning; ministries and departments
Pressure groups and formal and informal associations
Salient features of the Representation of the People Act
Constitutional bodies (Election Commission, CAG, Finance Commission etc.): appointment, powers, functions and responsibilities
Statutory, regulatory and quasi-judicial bodies, including NITI Aayog
Government policies and interventions for development; issues in their design and implementation
Development processes and the role of NGOs, SHGs and civil society
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; laws, institutions and bodies for their protection
Social sector: health, education and human resources; poverty and hunger
Governance: transparency, accountability, e-governance, citizen's charters
Role of civil services in a democracy
India and its neighbourhood relations
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
Effect of policies of developed and developing countries on India's interests; the Indian diaspora
Important international institutions and agencies, their structure and mandate
Basics of cyber security, e-commerce and intellectual property rights

General Studies III (200 marks) 19 topics

Economic planning in India: objectives and achievements; role of NITI Aayog; pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals
Poverty, unemployment, social justice and inclusive growth
Components of the government budget and the financial system
Mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment
Liberalisation, changes in industrial policy and their effect on growth; effect of globalisation on the economy
Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports and railways
Land reforms in India
Agriculture: cropping patterns, irrigation, storage, transport and marketing of produce; e-technology for farmers
Farm subsidies and MSP; public distribution system; buffer stocks and food security
Food processing and related industries
Science and technology: developments, applications and effects on everyday life; achievements of Indians; indigenisation of technology
Awareness in IT, space, computers, energy, nanotechnology, microbiology, biotechnology and IPR
Environment: conservation, pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Disaster as a non-traditional security threat; disaster mitigation and management
Internal security challenges posed by state and non-state actors
Role of communication networks, media and social networking in security; cyber security; money laundering
Organised crime and its linkage with terrorism; border management
Various security forces and agencies and their mandate
Population policy and demographic dividend

General Studies IV (200 marks) 17 topics

Ethics and human interface: essence, determinants and consequences of ethics in human action
Dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships
Human values: lessons from the lives of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions
Attitude: content, structure and function; influence on thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes
Social influence and persuasion
Aptitude and foundational values for civil services: integrity, impartiality, non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication, empathy, tolerance, compassion
Emotional intelligence: concepts, utility and application in administration and governance
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world
Public/civil service values and ethics in public administration: status and problems
Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance
Accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance
Ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance
Probity in governance: concept of public service; philosophical basis of governance and probity
Information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information
Codes of ethics and codes of conduct; citizen's charters; work culture; quality of service delivery
Utilisation of public funds; challenges of corruption
Case studies on the above issues

General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh specific) (200 marks) 20 topics

History, civilisation, culture and ancient cities of Uttar Pradesh
Architecture of UP, its significance and maintenance; museums, archives and archaeology
Contribution of UP to India's freedom struggle before and after 1857
Eminent freedom fighters and personalities of UP
Rural, urban and tribal issues: social structure, festivals, fairs, music, folk dances, literature, languages/dialects and social customs of UP
Political system of UP: Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers, Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council; Centre–state relations
Public services, UP Public Service Commission, audit, Advocate General, High Court and its jurisdiction
Special state provisions: official language, Consolidated Fund and Contingency Fund, political parties, State Election Commission
Local self-government: urban local bodies and Panchayati Raj
Public policy and rights-related issues (education, health etc.)
Good governance: corruption prevention, Lokayukta, citizen's charter, e-governance, Right to Information, grievance redressal
Land reforms in UP and their impact
Security issues: law and order, police and civil defence
Medical and health issues in UP
Education system of UP
Contribution of UP to the development of India
Current affairs and events of UP
Role of NGOs in the development of UP
Tourism in UP
Innovation in various fields in UP and its impact on employment and socio-economic development

General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh specific) (200 marks) 22 topics

Economy of UP: overview, state budget, infrastructure and physical resources
Trade, commerce and industries of UP
Government welfare schemes, projects and planning; human resource and skill development
Investment in UP: issues and impact
Public finance and fiscal policy, taxes, economic reforms and One District One Product (ODOP)
Industries of UP: large, medium, small (MSME) and cottage industries
Public-private partnership (PPP) in the development of UP
Science and technology in UP: developments, achievements and institutions
Geography of UP: location, relief and structure, climate, drainage and rivers, soils, natural vegetation
Renewable and non-renewable energy resources of UP and their planning and management
Demography, population and census of UP
Commercialisation of agriculture and production of crops in UP
Agro-diversity, agricultural problems and their solutions; irrigation
New forest policy of UP; afforestation and social forestry
Development indices of UP
Major minerals of UP
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries of UP
Habitat and ecosystem: structure and function, flora and fauna of UP
Transport network of UP: roads, expressways, rail, air and waterways
Environmental issues of UP: pollution and climate change
Natural resources of UP: land, water and forest; groundwater management
Disaster management in UP: floods, drought, cold waves and heat waves

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