UPSC Prelims: General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

Preliminary Examination, Paper II: General Studies, often called CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test). At a glance: • 200 marks, 2 hours. • Objective type: multiple choice questions, each with four answers to choose from. • A wrong answer costs one-third (0.33) of the marks for that question. Marking more than one answer counts as a wrong answer. A question left blank costs nothing. • Calculators are not allowed. • A qualifying paper: you need at least 33% in it (66 of the 200 marks). Who goes on to the Main Examination is then decided by Paper I (General Studies) marks. • You must sit both Prelims papers: missing either one disqualifies you. • The question paper is in Hindi and English. Topics: • Comprehension. • Interpersonal skills including communication skills. • Logical reasoning and analytical ability. • Decision making and problem solving. • General mental ability. • Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level). • Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc. — Class X level). Source: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026, Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, 4 February 2026.