Overview
UPPSC PCS is Uttar Pradesh's flagship state civil services examination, recruiting into prestigious Group A and Group B administrative, police, technical and law-related posts including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), and Naib Tehsildar. The 2026 notification, released 25 June 2026, advertised approximately 500 vacancies across roughly 36 distinct posts. Selection mirrors the UPSC CSE structure at a state level — a screening Preliminary exam (General Studies plus qualifying CSAT), a descriptive Main examination with a heavy Uttar Pradesh-specific component, and a Personality Test — with the exam's syllabus explicitly emphasising UP-centric knowledge across nearly every paper, not just the two dedicated state-specific papers.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- 2026 notification released 25 June 2026 for approximately 500 vacancies; application window closes 27 July 2026; One-Time Registration (OTR) is mandatory before applying.
- Mains includes two dedicated Uttar Pradesh-specific General Studies papers (covering UP governance, economy, science, technology and regional topics) in addition to four general GS papers.
- Only about 3 times the vacancy count are called for the Interview stage, making Mains performance — and especially UP-specific knowledge depth — the decisive factor.
- The UPPSC PCS 2025 cycle's Prelims was held 14 March 2026 and Mains from 29 March–1 April 2026, for 200 advertised vacancies — illustrating the exam's typically compressed prelims-to-mains timeline.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | 21–40 years as on 1 July of the exam year (relaxation per UP government norms for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ex-servicemen) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university (specific technical/law posts may require a relevant degree) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen; domicile requirements as specified for certain posts |
| Application Fee | Approximately ₹125–₹150 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, with reductions for SC/ST/PwBD as per the notification |
UPPSC PCS Exam Pattern
The UPPSC PCS selection process runs through prelims + mains + interview. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
Preliminary Examination — General Studies Paper I
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment & Current Affairs (with UP-specific emphasis) | 150 | 200 |
Preliminary Examination — CSAT (General Studies Paper II)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehension, Reasoning, Aptitude & Basic Numeracy | 100 | 200 |
Main Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Hindi | — | 150 |
| Essay | — | 150 |
| General Studies I–IV | — | 800 |
| UP-Specific General Studies Papers V & VI | — | 400 |
Interview (Personality Test)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality, communication skills, current affairs & decision-making ability | — | 100 |
UPPSC PCS Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise UPPSC PCS syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
Prelims — General Studies Paper I
UP-specific content is woven throughout, not confined to a separate section — build this in from day one, not as an afterthought.
- Current events — national & international, with strong UP-specific weightage
- Indian history & the Indian National Movement
- Indian and world geography, with detailed Uttar Pradesh geography
- Indian polity, governance & the Constitution
- Economic and social development, with Uttar Pradesh's economic schemes and policies
- Environmental ecology & general science
Prelims — CSAT
A must-clear qualifying hurdle — don't neglect this in favour of GS-only preparation.
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal & communication skills
- Logical reasoning & analytical ability
- Decision-making & problem-solving
- Basic numeracy & data interpretation
Mains — General Hindi & Essay
Together carry substantial marks — regular writing practice in both compounds over a full preparation cycle.
- Hindi grammar, comprehension & translation
- Essay writing on contemporary, social and UP-relevant themes
Mains — General Studies I–IV
Mirrors UPSC CSE's GS structure closely — prior UPSC preparation transfers well here.
- Indian culture, history & society (Paper I)
- Indian Constitution, governance, social justice & international relations (Paper II)
- Indian & world economy, agriculture, science & technology, security (Paper III)
- Ethics, integrity & aptitude (Paper IV)
Mains — UP-Specific General Studies Papers V & VI
The single most differentiating part of the syllabus — genuine depth here separates top scorers from the rest.
- Uttar Pradesh's history, culture & heritage
- UP's geography, demography & natural resources
- UP-specific governance, administration & Panchayati Raj
- State economic policies — One District One Product (ODOP), industrial and agricultural schemes
- Science & technology developments relevant to Uttar Pradesh
- Current administrative and developmental issues specific to the state
Selection Process
- Preliminary Examination — GS Paper I (merit) and CSAT (qualifying).
- Main Examination — General Hindi, Essay, four General Studies papers, and two Uttar Pradesh-specific papers.
- Interview (Personality Test) — approximately 3 times the vacancy count is called.
- Final merit list prepared from combined Mains and Interview marks.
Salary & Job Profile
UPPSC PCS officers are placed across various Pay Levels depending on the specific post — Deputy Collector and DSP typically start around Pay Level 9–10 of the state pay matrix, with other Group B posts placed somewhat lower, plus Dearness Allowance, HRA and post-specific allowances.
Best Books for UPPSC PCS Preparation
- Indian Polity — M. Laxmikanth (for GS foundation)
- NCERT textbooks (Class 6–12) — History, Geography, Polity, Economics
- Uttar Pradesh state-specific GK & current affairs guides — critical given the exam's heavy UP-centric weightage
- UPPSC PCS Previous Year Solved Papers — various publishers
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
UPPSC PCS Prelims and final cut-offs vary meaningfully by category and the number of advertised vacancies each cycle — with only about 3 times the vacancy count called for interview, cut-offs can shift sharply year to year. Always check UPPSC's official cut-off release for the specific cycle and category.
Preparation Tips
- Treat Uttar Pradesh-specific knowledge as a core, not supplementary, preparation area — it's tested explicitly in Mains Papers V & VI and implicitly woven into nearly every other paper.
- Since only about 3 times the vacancy count reach interview, aim for a comfortable Mains margin rather than just clearing the expected cut-off.
- Build a dedicated UP current-affairs habit alongside national/international news — state government schemes like ODOP carry real, testable weight.
- Practise Hindi essay and descriptive writing regularly, since General Hindi and Essay together carry substantial Mains marks.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Complete One-Time Registration (OTR) at otr.pariksha.nic.in at least 72 hours before applying — applications without a valid OTR number are not accepted.
- Carry the Document Checker and a valid original photo ID to every stage.
- Only black ballpoint pens are typically permitted for Prelims' OMR sheet — carry spares.
- For Mains, carry your own stationery, since UPPSC does not provide pens for descriptive papers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 500 vacancies across roughly 36 Group A and B administrative, technical and law-related posts, per the notification released 25 June 2026.
While the overall three-stage structure (Prelims, Mains, Interview) is similar, UPPSC PCS places heavy explicit emphasis on Uttar Pradesh-specific knowledge — including two dedicated state-specific Mains papers — reflecting its state-level administrative focus.
Yes, candidates must complete OTR at otr.pariksha.nic.in before submitting their application; applications without a valid OTR number are not accepted.
No, similar to UPSC CSE, Prelims is a screening stage only — the final merit list is based on Mains and Interview marks.
Prestigious Group A and Group B posts including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), and Naib Tehsildar, among others.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission notification as of 16 Jul 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at uppsc.up.nic.in before applying.