IAS and UPSC Coaching

The official UPSC notification gives you a syllabus that is vague and confusing. UPSC Syllabus 2026

• Official Syllabus: “History of India.”

• Real Syllabus: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Art & Culture, Post-Independence.

If you study based only on the official PDF, you will fail. You need the “Decoded Syllabus.” At Trademark IAS, we have broken down the 2-page official document into a 20-page Micro-Topic Listing. Here is the simplified breakdown of the UPSC Syllabus 2026.

Stage 1: The Prelims (The Elimination Round) UPSC Syllabus 2026

• Date: Usually in May/June.

• Nature: Objective Type (MCQ).

• Paper 1 (General Studies):

  • 100 Questions | 200 Marks | Cutoff ~85-90.

  • Syllabus: History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, Current Affairs.

  • Strategy: This decides if you qualify.

• Paper 2 (CSAT):

  • 80 Questions | 200 Marks | Qualifying (33%).

  • Syllabus: Maths, Reasoning, Reading Comprehension.

  • Strategy: You just need to pass. Marks are not counted.

Stage 2: The Mains (The Selection Round) UPSC Syllabus 2026

• Date: Usually in September.

• Nature: Descriptive (Written).

• Total Marks: 1750.

• The 9 Papers:

  1. Paper A & B: Language Papers (Qualifying). One Indian Language + English.

  2. Essay (Paper I): 2 Essays (250 Marks).

  3. GS 1 (Paper II): History, Geography, Society.

  4. GS 2 (Paper III): Polity, Governance, IR.

  5. GS 3 (Paper IV): Economy, Environment, Science, Disaster Management, Security.

  6. GS 4 (Paper V): Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude.

  7. Optional 1 & 2 (Paper VI & VII): Your chosen subject (e.g., History/PSIR).

The “Hidden” Syllabus (What UPSC Doesn’t Tell You) UPSC Syllabus 2026

The official syllabus misses key keywords that appear in the exam every year.

• In GS 2: The syllabus says “International Relations.”

  • Hidden Topic: “Indian Diaspora” (NRIs) and “International Institutions” (WHO, WTO).

• In GS 3: The syllabus says “Security.”

  • Hidden Topic: “Money Laundering,” “Cyber Security,” and “Media’s Role.”

• In GS 1: The syllabus says “Society.”

  • Hidden Topic: “Urbanization,” “Globalisation,” and “Women’s Issues.”

How to Use the Syllabus for Preparation?

1. Print It: Don’t keep it on your phone. Print it and stick it on your wall.

2. Memorize It: You should know exactly which GS paper “Disaster Management” falls under (It’s GS 3).

3. Map News to Syllabus: When you read about a “Cyclone” in the newspaper, your brain should instantly connect it to GS 1 (Geography) and GS 3 (Disaster Mgmt).

Conclusion

The Syllabus is your compass. Without it, you are lost in an ocean of books. Don’t start studying until you have understood every single word of the syllabus.

Want the “Micro-Topic” Breakdown? We have created a detailed PDF that lists every sub-topic you need to study (e.g., under “Economy,” we list Banking, Budget, Agriculture, etc.).

[Download Decoded Syllabus PDF] | [Join Foundation Batch]