CompetitivePractice + Mock

UPSC Prelims — General Studies Paper I

Civil Services Examination — UPSC India

120
Minutes
20
Questions
38,220
Learners
43%
Pass mark
★ Start here · Official guidance

From practice to the real exam

Verified sources
01
Check eligibility
Indian citizen, age 21-32 (relaxations for reserved categories), bachelor's degree.
02
Apply via UPSC portal
Annual notification appears around February. Apply online at upsconline.nic.in.
03
Take Prelims
Two papers (GS Paper I + CSAT) on the same day. CSAT is qualifying (33% minimum).
04
Qualify for Mains
Only top scorers in GS Paper I are called for the Mains examination.
05
Mains + Interview
Nine descriptive papers across days, followed by a Personality Test. Final rank based on Mains + Interview.
Official resources
Heads up: Links open in a new tab and go to government / awarding-body sites. AceMark is not affiliated — always verify deadlines and fees on the official page.
Exam blueprint

What this exam covers

5 topics · 20 questions
01Polity & governance
30%6 questions
02Geography
20%4 questions
03Economy
20%4 questions
04History
15%3 questions
05Environment
15%3 questions
The experience

What to expect on test day

Timed simulation
Every mock runs under real exam time pressure. No pauses, no hints — exactly like the day.
Randomised questions
Every attempt draws fresh questions. You cannot memorise your way to a pass — you have to understand.
Integrity monitoring
Tab switches are logged in mock mode. Three switches auto-submits — same discipline as a real proctor.
Detailed results
Topic-by-topic breakdown, every answer explained, and a personalised 5-day study plan when you finish.
How to prepare

Competitive study playbook

Four habits that move the needle most — pulled from how high-scorers actually study.

01
Spend the first week entirely on your weakest topic — momentum follows confidence.
02
Previous-year papers are the single highest-ROI study tool. Treat them as gospel.
03
Strict time per question. Most failures are time-management failures, not knowledge failures.
04
For GS: daily current affairs reading is non-negotiable — even 15 minutes compounds.