UKPSC Upper PCS Syllabus 2026: Prelims and Mains

This page gives the complete UKPSC Upper PCS syllabus for the Uttarakhand Combined State Civil / Upper Subordinate Services Examination. First, see the exam pattern. Then, read the paper-wise syllabus for Prelims and Mains. Finally, download the official syllabus PDF at the end. For the same syllabus in Hindi, see UKPSC syllabus in Hindi.

UKPSC Upper PCS exam pattern at a glance

Stage	Papers	Marks	Nature
Preliminary	2 (GS and General Aptitude Test)	300 (only GS counts for merit)	Objective, negative marking
Main	8 (General Hindi, Essay, GS I to VI)	1,500	Descriptive
Interview	Personality test	150	Oral
Final merit	Mains + Interview	1,650

UKPSC Prelims exam pattern

Paper	Subject	Questions	Marks	Time
Paper 1	General Studies	150 (1 mark each)	150	2 hours
Paper 2	General Aptitude Test (CSAT)	100 (1.5 marks each)	150	2 hours
Total		250	300	4 hours

• Negative marking: one-fourth of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Marking more than one answer also counts as wrong.
• Merit: the prelims merit list uses Paper 1 (General Studies) marks only.
• Qualifying CSAT: every candidate must score at least 33% in Paper 2.
• Uttarakhand weight: at least one-third of the 150 GS questions are asked with reference to Uttarakhand.

UKPSC Prelims syllabus: Paper 1 General Studies

The GS paper has six units. Moreover, each unit has an Uttarakhand part, so state topics need daily attention.

Unit 1: Indian history, culture and national movement

• Ancient India: Harappan and Vedic civilisation, Sangam age, Mahajanapadas and Magadh, Jainism, Buddhism, Bhagavatism and Shaivism, Mauryan, Kushana and Gupta empires, post-Gupta period (650 to 1200 AD).
• Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagar empire, Sufi and Bhakti movements, Mughal empire and administration, Marathas, Sikhs and Jats.
• Modern India: arrival of Europeans, British rule and its economic impact, 19th-century reform movements, Viceroys (1858 to 1947), the 1857 revolt, peasant and tribal movements.
• National movement: Congress, partition of Bengal, Swadeshi, Gandhian era, Civil Disobedience, Round Table Conferences, Quit India, Cabinet Mission, Independence Act 1947 and partition.
• Uttarakhand history and culture: prehistoric and protohistoric periods, ancient tribes, Kuninda and Yaudheya, Kartikeyapur (Katyuri), Parmar dynasty of Garhwal, Chand dynasty of Kumaon, Gorkha rule, British rule, Tehri state, the 1857 revolt in Uttarakhand, the state’s role in the national movement and its people’s movements.

Unit 2: Indian and world geography

• World geography: earth and solar system, latitudes and longitudes, landforms, oceans, atmosphere, climate, resources, population, transport and world trade.
• Indian geography: relief, climate, drainage, vegetation, soils, agriculture, irrigation, minerals, industries, population, urbanisation, transport and foreign trade.
• Uttarakhand geography: location, relief, climate, rivers, vegetation, wildlife, minerals, agriculture, cities and tourist places, population, SC/ST, transport, power, industry and natural hazards.

Unit 3: Indian polity

• National: parliamentary system, coalition politics, welfare of SC, ST, OBC and minorities, gender politics, electoral reforms, governance, national integration, nuclear policy, LPG reforms, banking (RBI, NABARD), Lokpal and Lokayukta.
• International: United Nations, SAARC, ASEAN, BRICS and India’s approach to world issues.
• Constitution: making of the Constitution, Preamble, Fundamental Rights and Duties, DPSP, amendments, federal system, parliamentary committees, Election Commission, CAG, Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Executive and administration: Union and State executive, legislatures, elections, parties, reorganisation of states, Union Territories, administrative reforms and district administration.
• Panchayati Raj, public policy (Citizen Charter, RTI, RTE, Right to Services) and rights issues.
• Political system of Uttarakhand: Governor, legislature, Chief Minister, public services, High Court, official language, local government, Lokayukta, Samadhan Yojana and related topics.

Unit 4: Economic and social development

• National: economic reforms, FDI, inflation, inclusive growth, poverty and unemployment programmes, HDI, census, Union Budget, national income, agriculture and food security, financial markets, tax structure and fiscal policy.
• International: WTO, IMF, World Bank, regional trade groups, FERA, FEMA and PMLA.
• Uttarakhand economy: budget, resources, industries, schemes, agriculture, livestock, public finance, census, HDI, tourism and the role of herbs and culture.

Unit 5: General science and technology

• Everyday science, India’s science history, awards, discoveries and research bodies (IUCN, WWF, IPCC, WHO, UNESCO).
• IT and computers: basics, networks, cyber security, cloud computing and e-governance.
• Environment and ecology: ecosystems, agriculture, natural resources, biodiversity, pollution, climate change, remote sensing and GIS.
• Physics, chemistry and life sciences at a general level, including biotechnology, nanotechnology, vaccines and health care.
• Natural resources of Uttarakhand and their role in climate change.

Unit 6: Current events

Current events of state, national and international importance. This includes books and authors, awards, sports, defence, important days, reports, conferences, heritage and cultural institutions. For state events, use our monthly Uttarakhand current affairs magazine.

UKPSC Prelims syllabus: Paper 2 General Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Part	Topics	Questions	Marks
Unit 1	Syllogism, analogies, mirror images, coding-decoding, logical reasoning, statements and conclusions, decision making, direction sense, puzzles, data sufficiency, number system, divisibility, series and data interpretation	80	120
Unit 2 (English)	One comprehension passage with 3 questions, plus 4 grammar questions (vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, phrasal verbs, transformation)	7	10.5
Unit 2 (Hindi)	Hindi comprehension (6 questions) and grammar (7 questions): तत्सम-तद्भव, पर्यायवाची, विलोम, लोकोक्ति-मुहावरे, अलंकार, संधि, समास, उपसर्ग-प्रत्यय	13	19.5

Since CSAT is only qualifying, aim for a safe score above 33%. Then, put the rest of your time into GS, where the merit is decided.

UKPSC Mains exam pattern

Paper	Subject	Time	Marks
1	General Hindi	3 hours	150
2	Essay	3 hours	150
3	GS I: Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world and society	3 hours	200
4	GS II: Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations	3 hours	200
5	GS III: Technology, economic development, biodiversity, environment, security and disaster management	3 hours	200
6	GS IV: Ethics, integrity and aptitude	3 hours	200
7	GS V: Knowledge of the state of Uttarakhand (history, society, culture, polity, administration)	3 hours	200
8	GS VI: Knowledge of the state of Uttarakhand (geography, economy, disaster, human resources)	3 hours	200
	Written total		1,500

All eight papers are compulsory. In addition, a candidate must score at least 35% in General Hindi, which is set at high school level.

UKPSC Mains syllabus: paper-wise

General Hindi (150 marks)

शब्द-रचना (15), शब्द-विवेक (15), वाक्य-रचना (15), मुहावरे एवं लोकोक्तियाँ (10), पत्र लेखन (15), प्रतिवेदन लेखन (10), प्रशासनिक शब्दों का अंग्रेजी अनुवाद (10), बोधन (15), सार लेखन (15), पल्लवन (10), हिन्दी से अंग्रेजी अनुवाद (10) और अंग्रेजी से हिन्दी अनुवाद (10).

Essay (150 marks)

You write three essays of 700 to 800 words, one from each section, for 50 marks each.

• Section A: literature and culture, social sphere, political sphere, and the economy (agriculture, industry and trade).
• Section B: science, environment and technology, national and international events, natural calamities, and national development programmes.
• Section C (Uttarakhand): social structure, history, culture, art and literature, economy, geography, tourism and migration, environment and disaster management, and women empowerment.

GS I: Indian heritage, history and geography of the world and society (200 marks)

• Indian art forms, literature and architecture from ancient to modern times.
• Modern Indian history from the mid-18th century, the freedom struggle and post-independence consolidation.
• World history from the 18th century: industrial revolution, world wars, colonisation, decolonisation and political philosophies.
• Indian society: diversity, women, population, poverty, urbanisation, globalisation, communalism, regionalism and secularism.
• World physical geography, distribution of resources, location of industries and geophysical phenomena.

GS II: Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice and international relations (200 marks)

• Constitution: evolution, features, amendments and basic structure; federal issues and devolution; separation of powers.
• Parliament, state legislatures, executive and judiciary; the Representation of the People Act; constitutional, statutory and quasi-judicial bodies.
• Government policies, NGOs and SHGs, welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, health, education, poverty and hunger.
• Governance, transparency, e-governance, citizen charters and the role of civil services.
• India and its neighbours, international groupings, the Indian diaspora and international institutions.

GS III: Technology, economy, environment, security and disaster management (200 marks)

• Indian economy: planning, growth, employment, inclusive growth and budgeting.
• Agriculture: cropping patterns, irrigation, subsidies, MSP, PDS, food security, food processing and land reforms.
• Liberalisation, industrial policy, infrastructure and investment models.
• Science and technology: achievements, IT, space, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and IPR.
• Environment, EIA, disaster management, and internal security including cyber security and border management.

GS IV: Ethics, integrity and aptitude (200 marks)

• Ethics and human interface, human values, attitude, aptitude and foundational values for civil service.
• Emotional intelligence, and contributions of Indian and world moral thinkers.
• Public service values, ethics in public administration, probity in governance, RTI, codes of conduct and corruption.
• Case studies on these issues.

GS V: Knowledge of Uttarakhand, Part 1 (200 marks)

• History: prehistoric sites, ancient tribes, Kuninda, Katyuri, Parmar and Chand dynasties, Gorkha rule.
• British rule: administration, land revenue, forests, education, vernacular journalism, Tehri state and its merger, freedom fighters.
• Popular movements: Coolie Begar, Dola Palki, Chipko, anti-liquor movement, the Tehri state movement and the separate state movement.
• Society and culture: family and kinship, caste, SC, ST and OBC, folk songs, dances, crafts, temples, fairs, festivals and dialects.
• Polity and administration: political system, parties, state government structure, district and tehsil administration, UKPSC, Lokayukta, local bodies, State Finance and Election Commissions, and public policy.
• Current events in the context of Uttarakhand.

GS VI: Knowledge of Uttarakhand, Part 2 (200 marks)

• Geography: location, relief, climate, drainage, vegetation, soils, glaciers, lakes and climate change.
• Resources and transport: forests, water, minerals, agriculture, horticulture, industry, hydro projects, tourism, national parks and sanctuaries.
• Population: growth, density, sex ratio, literacy, migration, settlements, urbanisation and HDI.
• Economy: state domestic product, per capita income, MSME policy, infrastructure, planning, public finance and the state budget.
• Disaster management: landslides, earthquakes, cloudbursts, forest fires, NDRF, SDRF, the Disaster Management Act 2005 and NDMA.
• Human resource development: employment, education (RTE, Samagra Shiksha), and health (NRHM, nutrition, Food Security Act).

UKPSC interview (150 marks)

The interview tests general awareness, intelligence, character, expression and overall suitability for service. For preparation, see our Interview Guidance Program (IGP), which most of our students in the UKPSC 2024 result took.

Download the official UKPSC Upper PCS syllabus PDF

The PDF below is the official syllabus in Hindi and English, 39 pages. It is the same document the Commission publishes on psc.uk.gov.in.

How to use this syllabus

1. Start with UKPSC previous year papers and mark which syllabus topics repeat.
2. Then follow our UKPSC strategy and book list for subject-wise sources.
3. Practise 25 free UKPSC questions every day to test each topic.
4. Finally, take full-length tests in our UKPSC 2026 Prelims Test Series.

Frequently asked questions