UPSC CSE Exam Pattern
Each stage is checked separately so one stage cannot inherit another stage's scoring rules.
GS Paper I
Official CSE 2026 pattern| Questions | 100 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.667 per wrong answer |
| Sections | History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity and Governance, Economic and Social Development, Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change, General Science, Current events of national and international importance |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| History of India and Indian National Movement | 15 | 30 | 18 |
| Indian and World Geography | 15 | 30 | 18 |
| Indian Polity and Governance | 15 | 30 | 18 |
| Economic and Social Development | 15 | 30 | 18 |
| Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change | 12 | 24 | 14 |
| General Science | 13 | 26 | 16 |
| Current events of national and international importance | 15 | 30 | 18 |
Timing: Single 120-minute timer for the whole paper — GS Paper I is not divided into separately timed sections..
GS Paper I marks count towards the qualifying threshold for the Main Examination. UPSC does not publish an official question-wise split across its syllabus topics — the breakdown below reflects how this mock test's questions are organized, not an official UPSC-published distribution.
Official source · checked 5 August 2026CSAT (Paper II)
Official CSE 2026 pattern| Questions | 80 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.833 per wrong answer |
| Sections | Comprehension, Interpersonal skills including communication skills, Logical reasoning and analytical ability, Decision making and problem solving, General mental ability, Basic numeracy and Data interpretation |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehension | 18 | 45 | 27 |
| Interpersonal skills including communication skills | 6 | 15 | 9 |
| Logical reasoning and analytical ability | 22 | 55 | 33 |
| Decision making and problem solving | 6 | 15 | 9 |
| General mental ability | 8 | 20 | 12 |
| Basic numeracy and Data interpretation | 20 | 50 | 30 |
Timing: Single 120-minute timer for the whole paper — CSAT is not divided into separately timed sections..
Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying only — candidates must score at least 33% (66/200) to qualify for the Main Examination; it does not count towards merit ranking. UPSC does not publish an official question-wise split across CSAT's syllabus topics — the breakdown below reflects how this mock test's questions are organized, not an official UPSC-published distribution.
Official source · checked 5 August 2026