UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026 – Complete Guide by IAS SETU

What is CSAT in UPSC Prelims?

The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is also known as General Studies Paper-II in the UPSC Prelims Examination. Though qualifying in nature, the CSAT paper plays a crucial role in clearing Prelims, as failing to score 33% (66 out of 200 marks) will automatically disqualify the candidate, regardless of their GS Paper I score.

✅ CSAT = Elimination Tool
Many aspirants with strong GS knowledge get eliminated due to underestimating CSAT. At IAS SETU, we make sure CSAT becomes your strength, not a hurdle.

CSAT 2026 – At a Glance

Category

Details

Exam Name

UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam – CSAT (Paper II)

Conducting Body

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Total Marks

200

Total Questions

80

Duration

2 Hours

Type of Questions

Objective (MCQ-based)

Negative Marking

1/3rd of the marks deducted for wrong answers

Qualifying Marks

33% (66 marks out of 200)

Language Medium

English & Hindi

UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2026 – CSAT Topics

The following is the official CSAT syllabus as mentioned in the UPSC 2026 Notification. The paper tests candidates on:

1️⃣ Comprehension

  • ↪ Reading unseen passages and answering related questions
  • ↪ Focus on both direct and inferential comprehension

2️⃣ Interpersonal Skills including Communication Skills

  • ↪ Situational judgment
  • ↪ Interpersonal reasoning
  • ↪ Basic understanding of effective communication

3️⃣ Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability

  • ↪ Statement & Conclusion
  • ↪ Cause & Effect
  • ↪ Coding-Decoding
  • ↪ Blood Relations
  • ↪ Syllogisms
  • ↪ Direction Sense Test
  • ↪ Seating Arrangements
  • ↪ Puzzles

4️⃣ Decision Making and Problem-Solving

  • ↪ Ethics-based situation questions
  • ↪ Choosing the most appropriate action
  • ↪ Practical scenarios requiring analytical solutions

5️⃣ General Mental Ability

  • ↪ Numbers and Simplification
  • ↪ Percentages and Averages
  • ↪ Ratio & Proportion
  • ↪ Time & Work
  • ↪ Time, Speed, Distance
  • ↪ Profit & Loss
  • ↪ Interest (Simple & Compound)
  • ↪ Ages & Mixtures

6️⃣ Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)

  • ↪ Number Systems
  • ↪ LCM & HCF
  • ↪ Orders of Magnitude
  • ↪ Fractions and Decimals
  • ↪ Algebra basics
  • ↪ Mensuration basics

7️⃣ Data Interpretation (Class X Level)

  • ↪ Tables, Graphs (Bar, Line, Pie)
  • ↪ Caselets
  • ↪ Calculations involving interpretation

UPSC CSAT 2026 – Syllabus PDF Download

Download UPSC CSAT Syllabus PDF 2026
Get the latest official syllabus in downloadable format – suitable for printing and offline reference.

CSAT Trend Analysis (2011–2024)

Based on analysis of previous year CSAT papers, here are the major trends:

Section

Average Questions

Difficulty Trend

Comprehension

27–30

Increasing

Logical Reasoning

20–25

Moderate

Data Interpretation

5–7

Moderate

Mathematics (Numeracy)

15–18

Increasing

Decision Making & Ethics

5–6

Rare (less frequent)

Insight: UPSC is gradually increasing the complexity of comprehension & reasoning, making practice and clarity essential.

CSAT 2021-25 Analysis by Amit Sir – IAS SETU 

Topic Number of Questions 2021 Number of Questions 2021 Number of Questions 2021 Number of Questions 2021 Number of Questions 2021
Number System 13 16 20 24 25
Basic Numeracy 2 - 4 1 2
Percentage 3 3 - 4 3
Ratio 2 1 - 1 -
Average 1 1 - 2 1
Number Series 2 2 1 2 4
Coding Decoding 1 1 2 2 2
Character Puzzle 1 - 1 - -
Continuous Series 1 - 1 1 1
Non Verbal Reasoning 1 - - - -
Direction Sense 2 2 - 2 1
Seating Arrangement - 2 - - -
Number Ranking and Sequence 3 1 1 - -
Blood Relation - 2 1 - 2
Analytical/logical Reasoning 6 1 4 2 2
Calendar 2 1 1 1 -
Calendar 1 2 - 2 -
Cube and Dice - - 2 1 1
Data Interpretation 2 1 - - -
Reading Comprehension 27 27 27 28 29
Critical Reasoning 3 2 - - 1
True False - - 2 - -
Statement Based Questions (General) 6 5 10 7 8
Statement Based Questions (Data Sufficiency) 3 6 7 9 5
Problem on Ages 1 1 1 2 -
Puzzle 1 1 - - -
Geometry/GMA/Measurement 2 2 1 1 1
Time and Work/ Pipe and Cistern 1 1 1 2 2
Speed Time and Distance/Train/Circular Motion 1 2 - - -
Permutation and Combination 3 6 8 - -
Profit and Loss - - - - -
Partnership - - - 1 -
Venn Diagram 2 - 1 1 -
Simple Interest/Compound Interest - - 1 - -
Mixture - 1 - - -
AP/GP 2 - - - 1

How to Prepare for CSAT – IAS SETU Strategy

At IAS SETU, our CSAT courses are designed for UPSC 2026 aspirants who:

  • ➡️ Struggle with maths/logical reasoning
  • ➡️ Are from humanities backgrounds
  • ➡️ Have failed CSAT before

What We Offer:

  • ➡️ CSAT Foundation Course (Comprehensive syllabus coverage)
  • ➡️ Offline + Online + Recorded Classes
  • ➡️ Daily Practice Sheets + PYQ Discussions
  • ➡️ CSAT iConic Test Series
  • ➡️ Mentorship for Weak Students
  • ➡️ Marathon Sessions & Revision Drills

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is CSAT qualifying in UPSC 2026?
➡️Yes, you need to score 33% (66 marks out of 200) to clear CSAT.

Q2. How many questions are asked in CSAT?
➡️There are 80 multiple-choice questions, each carrying 2.5 marks.

Q3. What happens if I don’t clear CSAT?
➡️Your GS Paper 1 will not be evaluated, and you won’t qualify for Mains.

Q4. Is it possible to clear CSAT without maths background?
➡️Absolutely, with the right strategy, practice, and mentorship, anyone can crack CSAT.

Useful Resources

Final Words

Don't underestimate CSAT in UPSC 2026. It can make or break your Prelims result. At IAS SETU, we ensure result-driven CSAT preparation with unmatched mentorship, expert faculty, and structured guidance.

"CSAT isn't just a paper – it's the gatekeeper to your Mains."