UPPCS Prelims 2026 on 6 December: Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Syllabus
UPPSC has notified about 500 posts for the PCS 2026 exam, with the Preliminary on Sunday, 6 December 2026. Here is who can appear, how the two Prelims papers work and how the Main exam is now structured.
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The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) released the notification for the Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2026 on 25 June 2026. The Preliminary exam is on Sunday, 6 December 2026, which gives you about 12 weeks from mid-September. Applications have closed, so the next thing to watch for is the admit card.
UPPCS 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) |
| Exam | Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2026 |
| Notification | 25 June 2026 |
| Vacancies | About 500, which the Commission says can change |
| Application | Closed |
| Prelims | Sunday, 6 December 2026 |
| Stages | Prelims, Mains and Interview |
| Official website | uppsc.up.nic.in |
Vacancies
UPPSC has notified about 500 posts across a range of Uttar Pradesh state services. The Commission notes that the number can go up or down as departments confirm their requirements. The post-wise list in the advertisement also shows which posts need a specific degree or other conditions.
Eligibility
Education: a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Some posts need specific qualifications, listed post-wise in the advertisement.
Age: 21 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026, which means you should be born between 2 July 1986 and 1 July 2005. Uttar Pradesh’s Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class candidates get five more years, and candidates with disabilities get 15 more years. Reservation and age relaxation for these categories apply to candidates domiciled in Uttar Pradesh.
Prelims pattern
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | What it decides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I, General Studies | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | Your rank for the Mains shortlist |
| Paper II, General Studies II (CSAT) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying only: you need 33% |
Both papers are objective, are held on the same day and have negative marking: one-third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Paper II is qualifying, but only just. 33% of 200 is 66 marks. At 2 marks a question, that is at least 33 correct answers after penalties for wrong ones. A weak Paper II removes you however well you do in Paper I.
Prelims syllabus
Paper I (General Studies) covers:
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and the Indian National Movement
- Indian and world geography: physical, social and economic
- Indian polity and governance: the Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy and rights issues
- Economic and social development: sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social sector initiatives
- General issues on environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change
- General science
Paper II (CSAT) covers:
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills, including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Elementary mathematics up to Class 10: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and statistics
- General English up to Class 10
- General Hindi up to Class 10
Uttar Pradesh is not a separate heading in Paper I, but questions on the state’s geography, history, economy and schemes appear within these subjects. Our 12-week plan for UPPCS Prelims 2026 shows how to cover them.
The Main exam: two papers on Uttar Pradesh
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Hindi | 150 |
| Paper 2 | Essay | 150 |
| Paper 3 | General Studies I | 200 |
| Paper 4 | General Studies II | 200 |
| Paper 5 | General Studies III | 200 |
| Paper 6 | General Studies IV (ethics) | 200 |
| Paper 7 | General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 |
| Paper 8 | General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 |
| Total | 1,500 |
The interview carries 100 marks, so the final merit is out of 1,600. There is no optional subject in the current pattern; the two Uttar Pradesh papers took its place. That also makes UP-specific knowledge more valuable at Prelims, because you will need it again at Mains.
What to do now
- Download recent UPPCS Prelims question papers from the UPPSC website and solve both papers under exam conditions.
- Take a CSAT diagnostic this week. If you score below 90 out of 200, give CSAT a fixed slot every day.
- Start one notebook of Uttar Pradesh facts: rivers, districts, protected areas, schemes, the state budget and economic survey.
- Watch uppsc.up.nic.in for the admit card and exam centre details.
Frequently asked questions
When is UPPCS Prelims 2026?
Sunday, 6 December 2026.
How many vacancies are there in UPPCS 2026?
About 500. UPPSC notes that the final number can change.
Is CSAT counted in the UPPCS merit?
No. Paper II is qualifying and you need 33%. Your Paper I score decides whether you are shortlisted for Mains.
Is there negative marking in UPPCS Prelims?
Yes. One-third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in both papers.
Does UPPCS Mains have an optional subject?
No. The current Main exam has two General Studies papers on Uttar Pradesh instead.
Facts in this article are from UPPSC’s PCS 2026 notification and schedule as reported on 11 September 2026. Confirm the latest details on uppsc.up.nic.in.
