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UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Guide: GS + CSAT Pattern, Cutoff & Admit Cards
Rojgarpulse Team·2 Nov 2026
UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination screens candidates for Mains through two objective papers held on the same day: General Studies Paper-I (200 marks, merit-ranked) and CSAT Paper-II (200 marks, qualifying at 33%), both with 1/3rd negative marking. Only GS-I marks decide the prelims cutoff; CSAT must simply be cleared.
Prelims Pattern
| Paper | Marks | Role |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper-I | 200 (100 Q × 2) | Merit for Mains shortlisting (cutoff varies yearly) |
| CSAT Paper-II | 200 (80 Q) | Qualifying – 33% (66+ marks) mandatory |
Admit Cards & Preparation
- E-admit cards release ~3 weeks before prelims on upsc.gov.in – download with RID + DOB.
- GS: polity, economy, environment, science-tech, history, geography + current affairs of the last 12–18 months.
- CSAT: comprehension, reasoning, basic numeracy and data interpretation – practise to secure 33%+ safely.
- Attempt full mocks with negative-marking discipline; never leave CSAT to chance.
Related on Rojgarpulse
| UPSC Official Website | Open |
FAQs
What CSAT score is needed?
33% (66 of 200) – qualifying only, not ranked.
Do prelims marks count for final merit?
No – prelims only shortlists for Mains.