UPPCS Prelims: General Studies Paper I

About this paper

General Studies-I is Paper I of the UPPCS Preliminary Examination, the first of the three stages of the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination. It is an objective paper of 150 multiple choice questions, each with four answer options, answered on an OMR sheet.

• 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.
• Merit for the Main Examination is decided on the marks of this paper only, provided the candidate scores at least 33% in Paper II. Candidates must sit both papers; missing either disqualifies.
• Fifteen times as many candidates as there are vacancies are declared successful for the Main Examination.
• Preliminary Examination marks are not added to the final merit.
• Candidates scoring less than 40% in the Preliminary or Main Examination (35% for SC and ST candidates) are not placed in the merit or select list.

Official syllabus

Paper-I, General Studies-I, as printed in Appendix-3 of the advertisement:

• Current events of national and international importance.
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• India and World geography: Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World.
• Indian Polity and governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues etc.
• Economic and Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
• General Issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization.
• General Science.

Current events of national and international Importance: On Current Events of National and International Importance, candidates will be expected to have knowledge about them.

History of India & Indian National Movement: In History emphasis should be on broad understanding social, economic and political aspects of Indian History. In the Indian National Movement, the candidates are expected to have synoptic view of nature and character of the freedom movement, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence.

India and World Geography - Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World: In World Geography only general understanding of the subject will be expected. Questions on the Geography of India will relate to Physical, Social & Economic Geography of India.

Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.: In Indian Polity, Economic and Culture, questions will test knowledge of country's political system including Panchayati Raj and Community Development, broad features of Economic policy in India and Indian Culture.

Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.: The candidates will be tested with respect to problems and relationship between Population, Environment and Urbanisation. General Issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization, General awareness of the subject is expected from candidates.

General Science: Questions on General Science will cover general appreciation and understanding of Science including matters of every day observation and experience, as may be expected of a well educated person, who has not made a special study of any scientific discipline.

Note: Candidates are expected to have general awareness about the above subjects with special reference to Uttar Pradesh.

Subject-wise breakdown

The seven official areas are split into eleven pages, in the order of the syllabus. Because the note asks for special reference to Uttar Pradesh in every subject, four more pages, listed last, gather the state's history and culture, geography and environment, polity and economy.

• Current Events of National and International Importance: national, international and Uttar Pradesh events, by area.
• History of India: Ancient India: prehistory to about AD 1200: society, economy and polity.
• History of India: Medieval India: the Sultanate, regional kingdoms, Bhakti and Sufi movements, the Mughals and their successors.
• Modern India and the Indian National Movement: British rule, reform movements, 1857 and the freedom movement to 1947.
• Geography of India: physical, social and economic geography of India.
• World Geography: the Earth, landforms, climate, oceans, resources and the world map.
• Indian Polity and Governance: the Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj and Community Development, public policy and rights.
• Indian Culture: architecture, art, performing arts, literature, religion and heritage.
• Economic and Social Development: basic economics, economic policy, sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social sector initiatives.
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change: ecology, biodiversity, laws, pollution and climate change.
• General Science: physics, chemistry, biology, health and everyday technology.
• Uttar Pradesh: History and Culture: the state's history from prehistory to 1950, monuments, languages, literature, arts, fairs and crafts.
• Uttar Pradesh: Geography and Environment: location, physiography, rivers, climate, soils, minerals, forests, protected areas and population.
• Uttar Pradesh: Polity and Administration: state government, High Court, administration, local bodies and land reforms.
• Uttar Pradesh: Economy and Social Development: agriculture, industry, ODOP, infrastructure, energy and social development.

How this paper connects

• Prelims Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying only, but this paper does not count unless Paper II is passed with 33%.
• History, culture, society and geography lead into Mains General Studies I; polity, governance and current affairs into General Studies II; economy, agriculture, science, environment and security into General Studies III.
• The Uttar Pradesh pages are the base for Mains General Studies V (history, culture, polity and administration of the state) and General Studies VI (economy, geography and environment of the state).

Source: UPPSC Advertisement No. A-1/E-1/2026 (25 June 2026), Appendix-2 and Appendix-3, published on the UPPSC website. Last checked 11 November 2026.