NEELGYAN EXAM GUIDE
UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination Guide
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
Graduate recruitment screening · National · Union Public Service Commission
Written and source-checked by NeelGyan Team · Last verified 2 August 2026
Checked against the official sources linked below
Facts checked against the official sources listed below on 2 August 2026.
Conducting body
Union Public Service Commission
Student level
Graduate recruitment screening
Coverage
National
Exam category
UPSC Civil Services
Selection route
General Studies Paper I and qualifying General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
Guide status
Source checked · 2 August 2026
On This Page
Exam Resources
Conducting body
Union Public Service Commission
Student level
Graduate recruitment screening
About UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination
What is UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination?
UPSC CSE Prelims is the first, objective screening stage of the Civil Services Examination. It has a distinct student intent around General Studies Paper I, qualifying CSAT, negative marking, e-admit card, papers, result and the screening cut-off.
This stage guide should complement, not duplicate, the canonical UPSC CSE pillar. General service allocation, detailed Main papers, optional subjects and final salary belong on the parent CSE guide; Prelims marks do not enter final merit.
The 2026 Preliminary Examination was held on 24 May. UPSC published the roll-number result on 15 June and the name-wise result on 18 June; qualified candidates moved to the Main process.
UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination at a Glance
Key exam details
- Full name
- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
- Conducting body
- Union Public Service Commission
- Student level
- Graduate recruitment screening
- Purpose / area
- Civil services and Indian Forest Service screening
- Selection format
- General Studies Paper I and qualifying General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
- Coverage
- National
- Current catalog status
- Active; first stage of CSE and common screening route for IFoS
UPSC CSE Prelims Important Dates
Official notification and exam timeline
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 2026 notification | Published | |
| Final application deadline | Closed; live-page extension | |
| Preliminary examination | Completed | |
| Roll-number result | Published | |
| Name-wise result | Published |
Date note: The revised notice PDF retained the earlier 24 February date, while the live UPSC examination page records the extended 27 February deadline.
UPSC CSE Prelims Application Process and Fees
Official application route and fee details
The 2026 window is closed. The final deadline on the live UPSC page was 27 February at 6:00 PM; do not show the superseded 24 February date as final.
The Preliminary fee was ₹100. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates were exempt; candidates admitted to Main pay a further ₹200 unless exempt.
Use only the current UPSC examination page and official online portal. Download e-admit cards online; UPSC does not send them by post.
| Stage or category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | ₹100 |
| Further Main fee after admission | ₹200 |
| Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates | Exempt |
UPSC CSE Prelims Eligibility Criteria
Qualification, age and other requirements
- A recognised graduate degree or equivalent is required. Candidates awaiting the qualifying result may be provisionally eligible under the notice's proof conditions.
- The base age band is 21–32 years on 1 August 2026: date of birth from 2 August 1994 through 1 August 2005. Upper-age concessions include SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, eligible defence-disabled candidates 3 years, eligible ex-servicemen/ECO/SSCO 5 years and PwBD 10 years, subject to the notice.
- Attempt limits are General/EWS 6, OBC 9, SC/ST unlimited; PwBD candidates have 9 attempts for General/EWS/OBC and unlimited attempts for SC/ST, within age limits. Appearing in at least one Prelims paper counts as an attempt.
- Indian citizenship is mandatory for IAS, Indian Foreign Service and IPS. The notice sets the broader nationality/certificate-of-eligibility provisions for other services.
UPSC CSE Prelims Exam Pattern and Selection Process
Stages, papers and qualifying rules
UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 pattern
| Paper | Duration | Marks | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 2 hours | 200 | Screening cut-off |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 2 hours | 200 | Qualifying at 33% |
- Both papers are compulsory.
- One-third negative marking applies to wrong answers; blank answers have no penalty.
- Prelims marks do not enter final merit.
Official General-category CSE cut-off trend
| Year | Prelims | Main | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 92.66 | 739 | 963 |
| 2024 | 87.98 | 729 | 947 |
| 2023 | 75.41 | 741 | 953 |
| 2022 | 88.22 | 748 | 960 |
| 2021 | 87.54 | 745 | 953 |
- Historical official cut-offs provide context only and do not predict a future threshold.
UPSC CSE Prelims Syllabus Overview
Subjects and stages in the official syllabus
- GS Paper I — current events; Indian history and national movement; Indian and world geography; polity and governance; economic and social development; environment, biodiversity and climate; general science.
- CSAT — comprehension; interpersonal and communication skills; logical reasoning and analytical ability; decision making and problem solving; general mental ability; Class X numeracy and data interpretation.
- Use the official syllabus headings as the preparation boundary and official past papers to judge depth. CSAT is qualifying but cannot be skipped because both papers are compulsory.
UPSC CSE Prelims Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of UPSC CSE Prelims 2026?
The examination was held on 24 May. Roll-number and name-wise results were published on 15 and 18 June; qualified candidates moved to Main.
Is CSE Prelims separate from the IAS exam?
It is the first screening stage of the Civil Services Examination commonly called UPSC CSE or the IAS exam, not a separate final recruitment.
What is the CSE Prelims age limit?
The base band is 21–32 years on 1 August 2026, with the category and service concessions in the notice.
How many CSE attempts are allowed?
General/EWS 6, OBC 9, SC/ST unlimited; PwBD limits depend on category. Appearing in at least one Prelims paper counts.
Is CSAT qualifying?
Yes. CSAT requires 33%, but both papers are compulsory and the candidate must also clear the GS Paper I screening cut-off.
Is there negative marking in Prelims?
Yes. A wrong answer loses one-third of the marks assigned; a blank answer has no penalty.
Do Prelims marks count in final merit?
No. Prelims is screening only. Final merit is based on the seven Main merit papers and the Interview/Personality Test.
What was the CSE Prelims 2026 fee?
₹100; women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates were exempt under the notice.
Where are the CSE Prelims result and cut-off published?
Results and papers appear on the cycle page. UPSC publishes official cut-offs later in its cut-off archive.
Should the Prelims page duplicate the full CSE guide?
No. It should stay focused on GS, CSAT, screening, admit card, papers, result and cut-off, while linking to the parent CSE guide for Main, interview, services and final merit.
Official Information and Sources
Primary notice and authority links
Related Exams and Student Routes
More options in UPSC Civil Services
Verify Before You Apply
Eligibility, dates, fees, vacancies, pattern and status can change. Read the latest notice on the official authority’s website before applying. NeelGyan does not collect application fees or guarantee admission or selection.