Last Updated:August 14, 2026, 14:15 IST

For UPSC aspirants, these PDFs can serve as valuable primary-source material for analysing the 2026 prelims, thereby developing a more focused strategy for the next exam cycle.

The official UPSC Previous Question Papers page lists both 2026 papers under the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. (AI Image)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination question papers provides aspirants an official opportunity to download and revisit both papers for preparation, practice and analysis. This year, the examination was conducted on May 24, while the question papers were uploaded on May 25.

For those preparing for UPSC prelims, they can access the two papers directly from the UPSC website. General Studies Paper-I is the main General Studies paper and covers areas relevant to the Preliminary Examination syllabus, while General Studies Paper-II, commonly known as CSAT, tests aptitude, comprehension, reasoning and related skills.

The official UPSC Previous Question Papers page lists both 2026 papers under the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. Aspirants preparing for upcoming Civil Services examinations can use these papers as more than simply practice material.

Solving the papers under timed conditions can help candidates understand UPSC’s question framing, identify recurring concepts and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Reviewing incorrect answers afterwards can also reveal whether mistakes resulted from gaps in knowledge, misreading, elimination errors or poor time management.

The papers are available free of charge through the official UPSC website.

Download UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 GS Paper-I:

General Studies Paper-I PDF — Official UPSC: Direct Link

Download UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 GS Paper-II (CSAT):

General Studies Paper-II PDF — Official UPSC: Direct Link

The official UPSC examination page also confirms that both question papers were uploaded on May 25, 2026. Candidates should note that the prelims General Studies exam marking system contains a negative marking of one-third marks for every wrong answer.

For aspirants, these PDFs can serve as valuable primary-source material for analysing the 2026 Prelims, comparing it with previous years and developing a more focused strategy for the next examination cycle.

Those who clear the prelims round will next be called for the mains exam followed by an interview process.

Key Questions Answered

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How can these papers improve my UPSC preparation?

The 2026 UPSC Civil Services Prelims papers can help with preparation by serving as primary-source material for analysing the exam, which can lead to a more focused strategy for future exams. They offer an official opportunity to download and revisit both papers for practice and analysis.

What is the negative marking rule for UPSC Prelims?

In the UPSC Prelims examination, one-third (1/3) of the marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.

When will the UPSC Mains exam be conducted?

The UPSC Mains exam for 2026 will begin on 21 August 2026.

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