UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2025 & Detailed Exam Pattern

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) examination is one of the most sought-after state-level civil services exams in India. A comprehensive understanding of the updated syllabus and the latest exam pattern is the first and most critical step for aspirants aiming to secure a prestigious position in the administrative services of Uttar Pradesh.

This guide provides a complete breakdown of the UPPSC PCS Prelims and Mains syllabus and the detailed exam structure to help you formulate a successful preparation strategy.

Also explore: UPPSC PCS Overview JPSC Overview UPPSC Official Website

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UPPSC PCS 2025: Exam Overview & Pattern

The UPPSC PCS selection process is a three-stage examination. A significant recent update is the removal of optional subjects in the Mains exam, replaced by two General Studies papers focused on Uttar Pradesh. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Mains exam and the Interview.

Preliminary Exam Pattern (Qualifying)

Paper	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
General Studies Paper-I	150	200	2 Hours
General Studies Paper-II (CSAT)	100	200	2 Hours
Total	250	400

Marking Scheme for Prelims:

Nature: Paper-I determines the merit for Mains qualification, while Paper-II (CSAT) is qualifying with a minimum requirement of 33% marks.
Negative Marking: There is a penalty of 1/3rd (or 0.33%) of the marks for each incorrect answer.

Mains Exam Pattern (Merit Deciding)

The Mains examination is descriptive and consists of eight compulsory papers. The marks from this stage are crucial for the final selection.

Paper	Subject	Maximum Marks	Duration
Paper I	General Hindi	150	3 Hours
Paper II	Essay	150	3 Hours
Paper III	General Studies - I	200	3 Hours
Paper IV	General Studies - II	200	3 Hours
Paper V	General Studies - III	200	3 Hours
Paper VI	General Studies - IV (Ethics)	200	3 Hours
Paper VII	General Studies - V (UP Special)	200	3 Hours
Paper VIII	General Studies - VI (UP Special)	200	3 Hours
Total (Written Test)		1500

Interview / Personality Test:

Candidates who qualify the Mains exam are called for the Personality Test (Interview).
Maximum Marks: 100.
The final merit is based on the total marks from the Mains (1500) and Interview (100).

Syllabus for other exams: JPSC ACF FRO Syllabus MPPSC Syllabus MPPSC FSO Syllabus

UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2025: In-Depth Topic Breakdown

A deep understanding of every topic is essential for success. Here is a detailed, paper-wise breakdown of the syllabus to guide your preparation.

Detailed Topic-wise Syllabus

Paper / Subject	In-Depth Topics & Chapters
Prelims Paper-I: General Studies	This paper assesses your general awareness with a special focus on Uttar Pradesh. Current Events: National and International importance. History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History, with a focus on social, economic, and political aspects and the Indian National Movement. Geography: Physical, Social, and Economic geography of India and the World. Indian Polity & Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. Economic & Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives. Environment & Ecology: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity, and Climate Change. General Science: Basic understanding of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Prelims Paper-II: CSAT (Qualifying)	This paper tests aptitude and reasoning skills and is qualifying in nature. Comprehension. Interpersonal Skills including communication skills. Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability. Decision Making & Problem-Solving. General Mental Ability. Elementary Mathematics (Class X Level): Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Statistics. General English (Class X Level). General Hindi (Class X Level).
Mains: General Hindi	This paper tests proficiency in the Hindi language. Reading Comprehension and Question-Answer. Précis Writing. Letter Writing (Official & Semi-Official), Notifications, Circulars. Vocabulary: Prefixes, Suffixes, Antonyms, One-word substitution, Spelling and Sentence correction. Idioms & Phrases.
Mains: Essay	Candidates are required to write three essays (approx. 700 words each), choosing one topic from each of the three sections. Section A: Literature and Culture, Social sphere, Political sphere. Section B: Science, Environment and Technology, Economic Sphere, Agriculture, Industry and Trade. Section C: National and International Events, Natural Calamities (Landslide, Earthquake, etc.), National Development programs and projects.
Mains: General Studies I-IV	These papers cover a wide range of subjects similar to the UPSC pattern. GS-I: Indian Culture, Modern Indian History, World History, Indian Society, Geography of India and the World. GS-II: Indian Constitution, Polity, Governance, Social Justice, and International Relations. GS-III: Indian Economy, Science & Technology, Environment, Disaster Management, and Internal Security. GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude - covering topics like Human Values, Attitude, Emotional Intelligence, and Probity in Governance.
Mains: General Studies V & VI (UP Special)	These two new papers focus exclusively on Uttar Pradesh. GS-V (UP History, Polity, Society): History, Civilization, Culture, and Ancient Cities of UP. Architecture, Archaeology, and Museums of UP. Contribution of UP in the freedom struggle. Social structure, customs, festivals, and literature of UP. Political System: Governor, CM, State Assembly, etc. GS-VI (UP Economy, Geography, Environment): Overview of UP Economy, State Budget, Infrastructure. Trade, Commerce, and Industries of UP. Government Schemes and Welfare Projects. Investment, Public Finance, and the ODOP Policy. Geography, Demography, and Environment of UP.

Related Resources: UPPSC PCS Overview MPPSC Syllabus UPPSC Official Website

Download UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2025 PDF

(Candidates are advised to download the official syllabus PDF for complete details.)

FAQs: UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2025

Q1: Are optional subjects removed from the UPPSC Mains exam?

Ans: Yes, as per the latest update, the two optional subject papers have been removed and replaced by two compulsory General Studies papers (Paper V and VI) focusing on Uttar Pradesh.

Q2: Is the UPPSC Prelims exam qualifying in nature?

Ans: Yes, the Prelims exam is for screening purposes only. Marks obtained in the Prelims are not counted for the final merit list. You must clear the cut-off in Paper-I and score at least 33% in Paper-II (CSAT) to be eligible for the Mains exam.

Q3: What is the negative marking scheme in the UPPSC PCS exam?

Ans: In the Preliminary exam, there is a negative marking of 1/3rd of the marks assigned to that question for every incorrect answer. There is no negative marking in the descriptive Mains examination.