The CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test), officially known as GS Paper II, is an essential part of the UPSC Prelims, serving as a qualifying paper. Aspirants must secure at least 33% (i.e., 66 out of 200 marks) to move forward to the Mains exam. Although qualifying, CSAT tests crucial skills like comprehension, reasoning, and basic numeracy.
Effective preparation in the CSAT can provide both a confidence boost and a strategic edge in UPSC Prelims.
UPSC CSAT Exam Pattern & Structure
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper, OMR-based) |
| Total Questions | 80 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Marks per Question | 2.5 |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Negative Marking | Yes — ⅓ of marks (approx. 0.83) |
| Qualifying Score | 66 marks (33%) |
| Language | English & Hindi |
UPSC CSAT Syllabus: Topic-Wise Breakdown
UPSC CSAT syllabus covers the following core areas:
- Comprehension — Reading passages and answering inference-based questions.
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills — Basics of effective communication and comprehension from written passages.
- Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability — Syllogisms, coding-decoding, puzzles, seating arrangements, cause-effect, etc.
- Decision Making & Problem Solving — Scenario-based questions assessing judgment and solutions.
- General Mental Ability — Logical problems and quick analytical thinking tasks.
- Basic Numeracy — Class X-level mathematics: ratio, percentage, time-work, profit-loss, averages, speeds, probability, etc.
- Data Interpretation — Tables, charts, graphs, data sufficiency questions.
UPSC CSAT Syllabus – Topic-Wise Weightage (Based on Previous Year Papers)
While UPSC does not officially release a topic-wise breakup, analysis of past 10 years’ CSAT papers shows a consistent pattern. Here’s an approximate weightage of questions by topic:
| Topic | Approx. No. of Questions | Weightage (%) | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 25 – 30 | 30 – 35% | Moderate to High |
| Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability | 15 – 18 | 20 – 22% | Moderate |
| Basic Numeracy (Maths – Class 10 level) | 15 – 18 | 20 – 22% | Moderate to Tough |
| Data Interpretation | 7 – 10 | 10 – 12% | Moderate |
| Decision Making & Problem Solving | 6 – 8 | 7 – 10% | Easy to Moderate |
| General Mental Ability | 5 – 7 | 6 – 8% | Easy |
Key Insights from CSAT Weightage Analysis
- Comprehension dominates – About one-third of the CSAT paper is based on reading comprehension. Regular practice with UPSC-style passages is crucial.
- Maths cannot be ignored – Basic numeracy forms 20% of the paper, often with tricky questions on percentages, time-speed-distance, ratios, and probability.
- Logical reasoning is high-scoring – Topics like syllogisms, blood relations, seating arrangement, and coding-decoding contribute 20–22% weightage.
- Data interpretation is predictable – Expect 7–10 questions based on graphs, charts, and tables. Speed and accuracy matter here.
- Decision-making questions test judgment – Usually easier, but require ethical reasoning and logical selection of answers.
- General mental ability – Quick problem-solving and puzzle-based questions add diversity but carry lesser weightage.
How to Use the Weightage in Preparation
- Prioritize Reading Comprehension & Reasoning (50% of the paper combined).
- Allocate regular practice for maths & DI to avoid losing easy marks.
- Don’t ignore decision-making questions as they are generally scoring.
- Use previous year papers (PYQs) to identify frequently repeated question types.
Why the UPSC CSAT Syllabus Matters
- Serving as a qualifying paper, it filters candidates progressing to Mains.
- Tests analytical and comprehension skills, essential for civil service effectiveness.
- Presently, CSAT does not affect merit directly but failing it disqualifies candidates.
Preparation Strategy for UPSC CSAT
- Know the syllabus thoroughly—focus on speed and accuracy.
- Regular practice via previous year papers and mock tests.
- Revise Class 8–10 NCERT maths to strengthen basics.
- Practice comprehension and logical reasoning passages daily.
- Use mock-tests under timed conditions to improve speed & accuracy.
- Focus on high-yield areas like charts, puzzles, averages, profit-loss, data sufficiency.
Also Read: UPSC Optional Subjects 2025: Full List, Selection Tips, and Success Rates
Conclusion
The UPSC CSAT Syllabus has a balanced mix of comprehension, reasoning, and numeracy, but the weightage clearly shows comprehension and reasoning dominate. Aspirants must practice RCs daily, solve reasoning sets, and revise Class 10 maths to secure the qualifying 66 marks with confidence.
FAQs: UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2025
Q1. What is the UPSC CSAT syllabus for Prelims?
A. The UPSC CSAT syllabus includes comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, problem-solving, general mental ability, basic numeracy (Class 10 level), and data interpretation. It is officially mentioned in the UPSC notification every year.
Q2. How many questions are there in UPSC CSAT and total marks?
A. The CSAT paper consists of 80 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying 200 marks in total. Each question carries 2.5 marks, and the paper must be completed in 2 hours.
Q3. Is CSAT qualifying or scored in UPSC?
A. The CSAT paper is qualifying in nature, which means candidates only need to score 33% marks (66 out of 200). The marks are not counted towards the final merit list, but failing CSAT disqualifies the candidate from Mains.
Q4. What is the duration and structure of UPSC CSAT Paper?
A. The CSAT exam is a 2-hour test, conducted offline in OMR sheet format. It has 80 questions, each carrying 2.5 marks, and includes negative marking for wrong answers.
Q5. Does CSAT have negative marking in UPSC?
A. Yes. The UPSC CSAT exam has negative marking of ⅓rd (0.83 marks) for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for leaving a question unanswered.
Q6. What topics are there in UPSC CSAT reasoning section?
A. The reasoning section includes puzzles, syllogisms, seating arrangements, coding-decoding, blood relations, cause-effect, statement-assumption, statement-conclusion, and logical decision-making.
Q7. Which maths topics to focus on for UPSC CSAT?
A. The maths syllabus for CSAT covers ratios, percentages, averages, profit-loss, simple and compound interest, time-speed-distance, time-work, probability, and geometry (Class 10 level).
Q8. Is data interpretation part of CSAT syllabus?
A. Yes. Data interpretation forms an important part of CSAT. It includes questions on tables, graphs, charts, bar diagrams, and data sufficiency, requiring accuracy and speed.
Q9. How much percentage is required to clear CSAT?
A. Candidates must score at least 33% marks (66 out of 200) to qualify in the CSAT paper. Even if you score high in GS Paper I, failing CSAT will disqualify you from Mains.
Q10. Does CSAT affect final UPSC merit list?
A. No. The CSAT is only a qualifying paper. Its marks are not counted in the UPSC merit list. However, clearing CSAT is mandatory to appear in Mains.
Q11. How to prepare comprehension for UPSC CSAT?
A. To prepare for CSAT comprehension, candidates should:
- Read editorials from The Hindu, Indian Express.
- Practice RC (Reading Comprehension) passages from UPSC previous year papers.
- Focus on speed reading, inference-based questions, and vocabulary.
Q12. Are decision making and communication tested in CSAT?
A. Yes. The CSAT syllabus includes decision-making and interpersonal skills, which test a candidate’s ability to analyze real-life scenarios, judge situations fairly, and select the most ethical response.
Q13. What are the best books for UPSC CSAT preparation?
A. Recommended books for UPSC CSAT include.
- CSAT Manual by TMH (Tata McGraw Hill)
- Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
- Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
- NCERT Mathematics (Class 8–10)
- Previous UPSC CSAT papers
Q14. How to improve speed in CSAT exam?
A. To improve CSAT speed:
- Practice mock tests in 2-hour conditions.
- Revise short-cut tricks for maths.
- Strengthen reading comprehension speed.
- Work on time management by allocating time per section.
Q15. Should humanities students worry about math for CSAT?
A. Humanities students often worry about basic numeracy in CSAT, but with regular practice of NCERT Maths (Class 8–10) and mock tests, they can easily score the qualifying marks.
Q16. Where can I find UPSC CSAT previous year papers?
A. CSAT previous year question papers are available on the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) under the “Examinations → Previous Question Papers” section. They are also compiled in books and coaching material.
Q17. Is CSAT the same for IAS and PCS exams?
A. No. While UPSC CSAT (IAS Prelims Paper II) is qualifying, State PCS exams (like UPPCS, MPPCS, BPSC, etc.) often have separate aptitude papers with different difficulty levels.
Q18. Does UPSC CSAT test English language skills?
A. Yes. The comprehension section in CSAT requires strong English reading and understanding skills. However, the exam is available in both English and Hindi, except for English comprehension passages, which must be answered in English only.
Q19. What is data sufficiency in CSAT?
A. In data sufficiency questions, candidates are provided with a problem and multiple statements. The task is to decide whether the given statements are sufficient to answer the question. It tests logical reasoning and analytical skills.
Q20. How important is reasoning in UPSC CSAT?
A. Reasoning is very important in CSAT, as nearly 25–30% of questions are from logical reasoning and analytical ability. Strong reasoning skills ensure better scores, especially for candidates weak in maths.
