UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026 PDF: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is conducting the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Prelims 2026 on 24 May 2026 across various exam centres in India. Here we are providing the UPSC CSE Prelims Question Paper 2026 PDF for both General Studies (GS Paper 1) and CSAT Paper 2. The candidates can download the official question paper PDFs shift-wise after the completion of each exam shift.
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 is being conducted in offline mode in two shifts. The first shift for General Studies Paper 1 is scheduled from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, while the CSAT Paper 2 examination will be held from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Candidates who are preparing for future UPSC exams should download and solve these question papers to understand the latest exam pattern, question trend, difficulty level, and important topics asked in the examination.
Also Read: UPSC To Release Answer Key for Civil Services Prelims Examination 2026 After Exam
UPSC Question Paper 2026 Overview
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (Prelims) |
| Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Papers | GS Paper 1 & CSAT Paper 2 |
| GS Paper Timing | 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM |
| CSAT Timing | 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Type of Questions | Objective Type MCQs |
| Number of Questions | GS: 100 Questions, CSAT: 80 Questions |
| Total Marks | 200 Marks Each Paper |
| Duration | 2 Hours Each |
| Medium | English & Hindi |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE Prelims Question Paper 2026 PDF
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 consists of two papers, including General Studies (GS Paper 1) and CSAT (Paper 2). The question paper PDFs for both papers will be uploaded below after the completion of the respective exam shifts. Candidates are advised to keep refreshing this page for the latest updates regarding UPSC Prelims 2026 Question Paper PDF Download Link.
UPSC Prelims 24 May Question Paper 2026 PDF
The UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2026 is being held on 24th May 2026 in offline mode. After the exam concludes, candidates will be able to download the UPSC Question Paper PDF 2026 directly from the links provided below. These papers will help aspirants analyze the level of questions asked in the exam and estimate the expected cut-off marks.
UPSC Prelims 2026 GS Paper PDF Download
The UPSC General Studies Paper 1 contains questions from History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology, and Current Affairs. Candidates who appeared in the morning shift can download the GS Paper PDF after the examination ends. The direct PDF link will be activated below shortly.
UPSC CSAT Question Paper 2026 PDF
The UPSC CSAT Paper 2 includes questions related to comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision making, basic numeracy, and data interpretation. The CSAT question paper PDF will be uploaded after the afternoon shift examination is completed.
UPSC Prelims 2026 Difficulty Level & Good Attempts
Based on the feedback received from candidates and experts, the difficulty level and expected good attempts for both papers will be updated after the exam concludes.
| Paper | Name of Exam | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies | Update Soon | Moderate |
| Paper 2 | CSAT | Update Soon | Update Soon |
UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is conducted in an objective MCQ format. Both papers are held on the same day in two different shifts. GS Paper 1 is considered for merit and cut-off calculation, while CSAT Paper 2 is qualifying in nature. Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks in CSAT to be considered for the next stage of the examination.
Why Should Candidates Download UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026?
Candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination in the upcoming years should carefully solve the latest question papers to understand the changing trend of the examination. Solving the UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2026 will help candidates improve time management, accuracy, question selection strategy, and overall exam preparation. It also gives a clear idea about the important subjects and frequently asked topics in the examination.
Also Read: UPSC Exam Calendar 2027
Important Links
| Exam | Question Paper | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| GS (Paper-1) | Download (SET-A) Download (SET-B) Download (SET-C Download (SET-D) Download (Hindi-A) Download (Hindi-D) | Download (All Sets) |
| CSAT (Paper-2) | Download (SET-A) Download (SET-D) | Download (Soon) |
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key 2026 | Answer Key |
| UPSC Official Website | UPSC |

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