UPPCS Prelims: General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
About this paper
General Studies Paper II, often called the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test), is the second of the two compulsory papers of the UPPCS Preliminary Examination held by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). The advertisement calls it Paper-II, General Studies-II; it does not use the name CSAT. It is a qualifying paper.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies-I | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | Decides who goes to the Main Examination |
| Paper II: General Studies-II (CSAT) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying: minimum 33% |
- Qualifying. A candidate must score at least 33% in this paper. The merit for admission to the Main Examination is then decided on the marks of Paper I only.
- Objective type. Multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options, marked on an OMR answer sheet.
- Negative marking. One-third (0.33) of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer counts as a wrong answer, even if one of them is correct. A question left blank costs nothing.
- Both papers compulsory. A candidate who does not sit either of the two Preliminary papers is disqualified.
- Screening only. Fifteen times as many candidates as there are vacancies are declared successful for the Main Examination. Preliminary marks are not added to the final merit.
Official syllabus
Preliminary Examination, Paper-II, General Studies-II:
- Comprehension.
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability.
- Decision making and problem solving.
- General mental ability.
- Elementary Mathematics upto Class X level: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics.
- General English upto Class X level.
- General Hindi upto Class X level.
The advertisement then lists the topics of Elementary Mathematics, General English and General Hindi in detail. Each of those lists is quoted in full on its sub-page below.
Subject-wise breakdown
- Comprehension: reading passages for main idea, inference, assumption and tone.
- Interpersonal Skills Including Communication Skills: the communication process, barriers, empathy, teamwork and situations in public offices.
- Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: syllogisms, statement-based reasoning, arrangements and puzzles.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving: the decision process and administrative situations.
- General Mental Ability: series, analogies, coding, directions, blood relations, clocks, calendars and figures.
- Elementary Mathematics (Up to Class X Level): arithmetic, algebra, set theory, geometry and statistics, as listed in the syllabus.
- General English (Up to Class X Level): grammar, vocabulary, idioms and usage.
- General Hindi (Up to High School Level): Hindi grammar, vocabulary, spelling and the main dialects of Uttar Pradesh.
How this paper connects
- The paper is wider than an aptitude test alone: it adds a defined mathematics syllabus and two language sections, General English and General Hindi.
- Its General Hindi section prepares the ground for the Main Examination's General Hindi paper, which counts for merit.
- Decision-making and interpersonal questions draw on the same values as General Studies IV.
- Paper I is Prelims General Studies Paper I, whose marks decide the merit for the Main Examination.
Source: UPPSC Advertisement No. A-1/E-1/2026 (Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (General/Special Recruitment) Examination-2026), 25 June 2026, Appendices 2 to 4; Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, uppsc.up.nic.in. Last checked 11 November 2026.