UPPSC Mains 2025: Exam Pattern

Exam Structure & Marking Pattern

The Mains exam consists of 8 descriptive (written) papers:

  • General Hindi – 150 marks
  • Essay – 150 marks
  • General Studies I – 200 marks
  • General Studies II – 200 marks
  • General Studies III – 200 marks
  • General Studies IV – 200 marks
  • General Studies V – 200 marks
  • General Studies VI – 200 marks

Total marks for Mains: 1500

Conducted over multiple days, typically with morning (9:30–12:30) and afternoon (14:00–17:00) sessions.

Paper-wise Syllabus Breakdown


1. General Hindi (Paper I – 150 Marks)
  • Comprehension of prose passages & Q&A
  • Precise/summarization skills
  • Official correspondence: letters, memos, orders, circulars, notifications
  • Vocabulary and usage: prefixes/suffixes, antonyms, one-word substitutions, spelling and grammar correction
  • Idioms and phrases
2. Essay (Paper II – 150 Marks)
  • Consists of three sections; candidates pick one topic from each and write a 700-word essay for each section
  • Section A: Literature & Culture | Social Sphere | Political Sphere
  • Section B: Science, Environment & Technology | Economic Sphere | Agriculture, Industry & Trade
  • Section C: National & International Events | Natural Calamities (e.g., landslides, earthquakes, droughts) | National Development Programmes & Projects
3. GS Paper I – General Studies I (200 Marks)
  • Indian art, literature, architecture (ancient to modern)
  • Modern Indian history (1757–1947), Freedom Struggle, and Post-independence reorganization (up to 1965)
  • World history: French & Industrial Revolutions, World Wars, boundary redraws, ideologies like Socialism/Nazism/Fascism
  • Indian society & culture, women’s role and emerging societal challenges (poverty, urbanization)
  • Economic reforms: LPG and its impact
  • Social issues: empowerment, communalism, regionalism, secularism
  • Physical geography: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones, oceans, glacier
  • Oceanic resources of India, human migration & refugee issues, subcontinental frontiers, settlement patterns, smart cities/villages
4. GS Paper II – General Studies II (200 Marks)
  • Constitution: history, features, amendments, basic structure, Supreme Court’s role
  • Federal structure: Centre–State relations, fiscal devolution, Finance Commission
  • Separation of powers, dispute resolution mechanisms
  • Constitutional schemes comparison with other democracies
  • Parliament & State Legislatures: structure, functions, privileges
  • Executive & Judiciary frameworks
5. GS Paper III – General Studies III (200 Marks)
  • Economic planning and SDGs with NITI Aayog’s role
  • Poverty, unemployment, social justice, inclusive growth
  • Government budgets and financial systems
  • Agriculture: major crops, irrigation, storage, transport, marketing, and farm tech
  • Issues with subsidies, MSP, PDS, food security, buffer stocks, tech missions
  • Food processing industries: scope and supply chain
  • Land reforms post-independence
  • Effects of LPG, industrial policies, infrastructure (energy, transport, ports, airports)
  • Science, technology & innovation: policy, dual-use tech, IPR, ICT, nanotech, biotech
  • Environmental security: wildlife, pollution, biodiversity, environmental impact
  • Disaster management as a security challenge
  • International security threats: nuclear proliferation, extremism, cyber-security, money laundering, human trafficking
  • Internal security: terrorism, insurgency, corruption, organized crime; role of security forces
6. GS Paper IV – General Studies IV (200 Marks)
  • Ethics & Human Interface: ethics in human action, values from leaders and reformers, social institution roles
  • Attitude: structure and influence on behavior, moral/political attitudes, persuasion
  • Civil service values: integrity, impartiality, empathy, public service, tolerance
  • Emotional Intelligence and its role in administration
  • Contributions from moral thinkers globally and nationally
  • Public administration ethics: accountability, transparency, ethical dilemmas, laws & conscience
  • Probity in governance: information sharing, transparency, philosophical foundations
  • Case studies on above themes
7. GS Paper V & VI – General Studies V & VI (200 Marks each)

These two papers focus on Uttar Pradesh-specific issues—key state-related historical, economic, and developmental topics.

GS V:
  • UP’s history, civilization, cultural heritage, ancient cities
  • Architecture of UP, museums, archives, archaeology
  • Freedom struggle contributions from UP
  • Eminent personalities from the state
GS VI:
  • UP’s economy: budget, infrastructure, physical resources
  • Trade, commerce, and industries in UP
  • State government schemes and projects for welfare, human resources, skills
  • Investment landscape and development impact

Key Highlights & Strategy Tips

  • Total Papers: 8 (2 language/essay + 6 GS papers)
  • Marks Distribution: 150 marks each for General Hindi & Essay; 200 marks each for GS I–VI