UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 — Complete General Studies & CSAT Course

The Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission is the single route into the IAS, IPS, IFS and the other All-India and Central Group A/B services. The Preliminary examination is the first of three stages — Prelims, Mains and the Personality Test — and functions purely as a screening filter: its marks do not carry forward to your final rank, but a single mark short of the cut-off ends the attempt for that year. This course covers both Prelims papers as they are actually set. General Studies Paper I is 100 questions for 200 marks at 2 marks each, and is the only paper whose score counts toward the Prelims cut-off and merit. CSAT (General Studies Paper II) is 80 questions for 200 marks at 2.5 marks each and is purely qualifying — you must clear 33% (66 of 200) to reach Mains, but not one CSAT mark is added to your GS1 score for ranking. Both papers are taken on the same day and are sectionally time-locked to 120 minutes each: time left over in GS1 cannot be carried into CSAT. Both deduct one-third of a question's marks for a wrong answer — −0.667 in GS1 and −0.833 in CSAT — with no penalty for leaving a question blank, and a question with more than one option marked is treated as wrong. Eligibility & who can join: • A bachelor's degree from a recognised university, in any discipline. Final-year students may apply and appear for Prelims, subject to producing proof of passing before the Mains stage. • Age and attempt limits vary by category and are governed by the year's official notification — the General category limit is commonly 21–32 years with 6 attempts, with relaxations for OBC, SC/ST and PwBD candidates. • The course assumes no prior civil-services coaching and no specific graduation subject — it builds every GS area from foundations. How the course is structured: The GS Paper 1 syllabus is taught as seven distinct areas — History, Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economy & Social Development, Environment & Ecology, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs — with topics sequenced by their real previous-year question share. CSAT is taught as its own eighth track, because a qualifying paper that ends attempts every year deserves deliberate practice rather than an afterthought. Each area combines concept building, standard-source consolidation and MCQ practice against the exact 1/3rd negative-marking scheme, followed by sectional and full-length mocks under the real 120-minute sectional lock. Prelims is normally held once a year around late May or June; always confirm dates against the official notification at upsc.gov.in.