UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam (CSE Prelims) – Detailed Guide
1.
Purpose of Prelims
The Preliminary
Exam is a screening
test for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
·
It filters
candidates for the Main Exam.
·
Marks obtained
in Prelims are not counted for the final ranking.
·
Only a qualifying
exam—you must pass to appear in the Mains.
2.
Exam Structure
Prelims consists of two
papers, each 200
marks, totaling 400
marks.
|
Paper |
Subject |
Marks |
Duration |
Nature |
|
Paper I |
General Studies (GS) |
200 |
2 hours |
Objective / MCQs |
|
Paper II |
CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) |
200 |
2 hours |
Objective / MCQs |
Key
Points:
·
Both papers are multiple-choice
questions (MCQs).
·
Paper
II is qualifying; you must score at
least 33% to qualify for Mains.
·
Negative marking: 1/3
mark deducted for each wrong answer in both papers.
3.
Detailed Syllabus & Question Types
Paper
I – General Studies (GS)
Topics
& Weightage:
|
Topic |
Marks |
Details / Sample Areas |
|
Current events |
20–30 |
National & international events,
government schemes, awards |
|
History |
15–25 |
Ancient, medieval, modern Indian
history |
|
Geography |
15–25 |
Physical, human, economic geography,
environmental issues |
|
Polity |
15–25 |
Indian Constitution, governance,
public policy |
|
Economy |
15–25 |
Budget, economic surveys, basic
economics, schemes |
|
Environment & Ecology |
10–15 |
Biodiversity, climate change,
environmental policies |
|
Science & Technology |
10–15 |
General innovations, basic science,
IT, space |
|
Miscellaneous |
5–10 |
Ethics, disaster management,
international organizations |
Question
Types:
·
Multiple-choice
questions (MCQs) with four options.
·
Often analytical
& factual, some require reasoning or interpretation of data.
Sample
GS Question (Realistic Prelims Style):
1.
Which of the following rivers does not flow into the Bay of Bengal?
a) Godavari
b) Krishna
c) Narmada
d) Mahanadi
Answer:
c) Narmada
Paper II – CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)
Topics
& Weightage:
|
Topic |
Marks |
Details |
|
Comprehension |
30–40 |
Passages with questions on
understanding |
|
Logical reasoning |
30–40 |
Puzzles, statements, conclusions |
|
Analytical ability |
20–30 |
Data interpretation, charts, tables |
|
Decision-making |
10–20 |
Problem-solving, scenario analysis |
|
Basic numeracy |
20–30 |
Arithmetic, percentages, ratio,
averages |
Question
Types:
·
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
·
Some problem-solving
questions require calculations.
·
Must score
at least 33% to qualify (66/200 marks minimum).
Sample
CSAT Question:
1.
If the cost of 5 pens and 3 pencils is Rs. 46 and 3 pens and 2
pencils is Rs. 26, what is the cost of one pen?
a) Rs. 5
b) Rs. 6
c) Rs. 7
d) Rs. 8
Answer:
b) Rs. 6
4.
Exam Duration & Timing
·
Each
paper: 2 hours (120 minutes)
·
Mode:
Offline (Pen and Paper, OMR sheet)
·
Usually held in two
sessions: Morning & Afternoon or on the same day with break.
Time
management tips:
·
Paper
I: ~1 min per question (100–120 questions typical)
·
Paper
II: ~1.5 min per question (80–100 questions typical)
5.
Marking Scheme
|
Paper |
Total Marks |
Negative Marking |
Qualifying? |
|
GS – Paper I |
200 |
1/3 for wrong answer |
No |
|
CSAT – Paper II |
200 |
1/3 for wrong answer |
Yes, min 33% |
·
Total
marks: 400
·
Qualifying
marks for Paper II (CSAT): 66 marks
6.
Cut-Off & Passing
·
Prelims cut-off
varies each year, depends on competition.
·
Usually, General
Category: 95–105 marks in GS Paper I
·
Prelims is qualifying
for Mains; marks not
counted for final ranking.
7.
Tricks & Preparation Tips
For
Paper I (GS):
·
Focus on NCERTs
(Class 6–12) for history, geography, science.
·
Read The
Hindu or Indian Express for current affairs.
·
Make monthly
current affairs notes.
·
Revise polity
(Laxmikanth) and economy
(Ramesh Singh).
For
Paper II (CSAT):
·
Practice numerical
ability & logical reasoning daily.
·
Solve mock
papers & previous year questions.
·
Focus on time
management – don’t spend too long on one question.
General
Tips:
·
Practice OMR
sheet marking to avoid errors.
·
Skip
tough questions and come back if time permits.
·
Revise
at least 2 months before Prelims.
8.
Real Test Sample Questions – Prelims 2023 Style
GS
Questions:
1.
Which of the following is not a fundamental duty under the Indian
Constitution?
a) Respect the National Flag
b) Protect the environment
c) Pay taxes honestly
d) Promote harmony
Answer:
c) Pay taxes honestly
2.
The Ganga
Action Plan was launched in which year?
a) 1985
b) 1986
c) 1990
d) 1992
Answer: b)
1986
CSAT
Questions:
1.
A train 120 m long passes a pole in 10 seconds. What is its speed?
a) 36 km/h
b) 40 km/h
c) 42 km/h
d) 45 km/h
Answer:
b) 40 km/h
2.
Read the passage and answer:
"Many farmers are shifting to organic farming to reduce
environmental impact. However, yields are lower than conventional farming."
Which of the following can be inferred?
a) Organic farming is more profitable
b) Conventional farming has environmental issues
c) Farmers prefer organic farming for higher yield
d) Organic farming has no environmental impact
Answer:
b) Conventional farming has environmental issues
✅ Summary Table – CSE Prelims
|
Feature |
Detail |
|
Papers |
2 (GS & CSAT) |
|
Marks |
200 each (Total 400) |
|
Duration |
2 hours each |
|
Negative Marking |
1/3 for wrong answer |
|
CSAT Qualifying |
33% (66/200) |
|
Nature |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
|
Purpose |
Screening for Mains |
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