Last Updated: 19 May 2026
Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is the premier state-level recruitment body in Uttar Pradesh. It conducts the Combined State Upper Subordinate Services Examination (PCS) and various other departmental examinations for officer-grade posts across UP Government departments. UPPSC recruits for posts like Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Deputy Collector and Assistant Prosecution Officer among other gazetted posts.
Graduation is the minimum qualification for most UPPSC posts. Age limit is generally 21 to 40 years with relaxation for reserved categories. This page is updated regularly with all latest UPPSC recruitment notifications, exam dates, admit cards, results and answer keys.
Latest Updates
Latest UPPSC Recruitment 2026
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UPPSC APO Mains Online Form 2026 – Apply Now
Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission has started the online application process for the Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) Mains Examination 2026. Check eligibility, vacancy details and application process.
What is UPPSC – Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission
Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) was established in 1937 and is headquartered in Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh. It operates under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution and is responsible for recruitment and selection of candidates for Group A and Group B Gazetted posts under the UP Government.
The UPPSC PCS (Provincial Civil Services) examination is the most sought-after state-level competitive exam in UP. Every year lakhs of graduates appear for UPPSC PCS to secure officer-grade positions in the Uttar Pradesh administration. UPPSC also conducts exams for posts like APO, RO/ARO, Lecturer and other specialised positions.
UPPSC PCS Exam Pattern 2026
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 200 Marks | 150 Questions | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | CSAT (General Aptitude) | 200 Marks | 100 Questions | 2 Hours |
* Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying (min 33%). Merit for Mains shortlisting is based on Paper I marks only. Negative marking of 1/3 applies to BOTH Paper I and Paper II for wrong answers. Not answering a question results in no deduction.
Stage 2 – Main Examination
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Hindi (Qualifying – min 30%) | 150 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper II | Essay | 150 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper III | General Studies I (History, Culture, Geography) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper IV | General Studies II (Polity, Governance, Social Justice) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper V | General Studies III (Technology, Economy, Environment) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper VI | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper VII | General Studies V (UP-specific: History, Culture, Economy) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
| Paper VIII | General Studies VI (UP-specific: Governance, Development, Geography) | 200 Marks | 3 Hours |
* General Hindi is qualifying (min 30%). No optional subjects in revised UPPSC pattern. Merit is based on Essay + GS I to GS VI = 1350 marks, plus Interview 100 marks. Total merit = 1500 marks.
Important Update: UPPSC has removed optional subjects from Mains. GS Paper V and GS Paper VI are now compulsory papers focused entirely on Uttar Pradesh history, governance, economy and geography.
Stage 3 – Interview
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for Interview / Personality Test carrying 100 marks. Final merit list is prepared based on Main Exam marks and Interview marks combined.
UPPSC PCS Eligibility Criteria 2026
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any stream from a recognised university |
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age (UR) | 40 years |
| Age Relaxation – OBC | 45 years (5 years relaxation) |
| Age Relaxation – SC/ST | 45 years (5 years relaxation) |
| Domicile | UP domicile may be required for reservation benefits and certain posts as per official notification |
| Nationality | Indian Citizen |
Top Officer Posts Through UPPSC PCS
| Post | Department | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) | Revenue Department | Head of sub-division, land revenue and law and order |
| Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) | Police Department | Law enforcement and police administration |
| Block Development Officer (BDO) | Rural Development | Rural schemes implementation at block level |
| Deputy Collector | Revenue Department | Revenue administration and district-level governance |
| Assistant Prosecution Officer (APO) | Prosecution Department | Legal prosecution in government cases (LLB required) |
| District Commandant Homeguards | Home Department | Command and administration of Home Guards at district level |
UPPSC Posts and Salary Structure 2026
| Post | Pay Scale | Level | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDM / Deputy Collector | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 | Level 10 | Revenue |
| Deputy SP (DSP) | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 | Level 10 | Police |
| Block Development Officer | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 | Level 10 | Rural Development |
| APO (Assistant Prosecution Officer) | ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100 | Level 8 | Prosecution |
| Supply Inspector | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 | Level 6 | Food & Supply |
* Gross salary includes DA, HRA and other allowances as per UP State Pay Commission.
UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026
Prelims – General Studies Paper I Topics
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography
- Indian Polity and Governance
- Economic and Social Development
- General Science and Technology
- Current Affairs – National and International
- UP-specific GK – History, Culture, Geography and Economy
Mains – Key Topic Areas
- GS I – Indian Heritage, Culture, History and World Geography
- GS II – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations
- GS III – Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment, Disaster Management
- GS IV – Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
- GS V – UP-specific History, Culture, Governance and Polity
- GS VI – UP-specific Geography, Economy, Agriculture and Development
- UP-specific focus across all GS papers
Note: Optional subjects have been removed from UPPSC PCS Mains. GS Papers V and VI are now compulsory UP-specific papers. For complete detailed syllabus visit our UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026 page.
UPPSC Selection Process 2026
- Preliminary Examination: GS Paper I (200 marks, for merit) and CSAT Paper II (200 marks, qualifying with 33% minimum). Negative marking of 1/3 applies.
- Main Examination: Eight papers — General Hindi (qualifying, 30% minimum), Essay, GS I to GS IV (national topics) and GS V & GS VI (UP-specific). No optional subjects. Total 1500 merit marks.
- Interview / Personality Test: 100 marks. Tests personality, communication and awareness of current affairs and UP-specific issues.
- Final Merit List: Prepared combining Mains marks and Interview marks. Post allotment based on merit rank and candidate preference.
- Document Verification: Original certificates for age, qualification, category, UP domicile and identity are verified.
UPPSC Previous Year Papers PDF
UPPSC PCS previous year question papers in PDF format are available on the official UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in after result declaration. Solving previous year papers helps candidates understand which topics repeat across years, how UP-specific GK is tested and what the difficulty level of the Prelims GS Paper I is. For complete year-wise UPPSC previous papers and cut off data visit our UP Govt Exam Previous Year Papers & Cut Off page.
UPPSC PCS Pre Cut Off Marks – Category Wise (Based on Previous Year Trends)
| Year | UR | OBC | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 106 | 96 | 88 | 80 | 200 |
| 2023 | 103 | 94 | 86 | 78 | 200 |
| 2022 | 100 | 91 | 83 | 75 | 200 |
| 2021 | 98 | 89 | 81 | 73 | 200 |
Expected UPPSC PCS Pre Cut Off 2026
| Category | Expected Cut Off | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| UR (General) | 108 – 112 | 200 |
| OBC | 98 – 102 | 200 |
| SC | 90 – 94 | 200 |
| ST | 82 – 86 | 200 |
* Cut off marks are based on previous year trends. Expected 2026 cut off is indicative only. Actual cut off will be declared by UPPSC after result.
How to Prepare for UPPSC PCS 2026
- Build NCERT Foundation: Start with NCERT books from Class 6 to 12 for History, Geography, Polity, Economy and Science. These form the base for GS Paper I in both Prelims and Mains.
- Focus on UP GK: UPPSC gives heavy weightage to Uttar Pradesh-specific History, Culture, Geography, Economy and Current Affairs. Dedicate separate time to UP GK study from reliable state-specific sources.
- Follow Current Affairs Daily: Read a daily newspaper and maintain notes on national and UP-specific current affairs. UPPSC Prelims regularly includes questions on recent government schemes and UP development.
- Practice Answer Writing: For Mains, answer writing practice is critical. Write timed answers daily — focus on structure, relevant examples and UP-specific references in GS papers.
- Solve Previous Year Papers: Solving 5 years of UPPSC Prelims papers helps identify recurring topics, understand the question style and build exam temperament. Check our UP Previous Year Papers page for access.
- Prepare CSAT Seriously: Although CSAT is qualifying (33% minimum), many candidates lose marks here. Practice comprehension, basic maths and logical reasoning regularly to avoid surprises.
- Master UP GK for Mains: UPPSC has replaced optional subjects with two compulsory UP-specific papers (GS V and GS VI) worth 400 marks. Dedicate serious time to UP History, Geography, Economy, Governance and current state schemes — this is now the biggest scoring differentiator in UPPSC Mains.
Best Optional Subjects for UPPSC PCS 2026
Choosing the right optional subject is one of the most important decisions in UPPSC PCS preparation. The optional carries 400 marks and can significantly impact your final rank. Below are some commonly chosen optional subjects with their key characteristics.
| Optional Subject | Best For | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Science / Arts graduates | Overlaps with GS I and GS III — study effort shared |
| History | Arts graduates | Overlaps with GS I — good for candidates with strong history base |
| Political Science & IR (PSIR) | Arts / Political Science graduates | Overlaps with GS II — Polity, Governance, International Relations |
| Sociology | Arts graduates | Relatively static syllabus, good scoring potential |
| Public Administration | Any graduate | Directly relevant to administrative roles, overlaps with GS II |
| Economics | Commerce / Economics graduates | Overlaps with GS III — Economy, Agriculture, Development |
* Optional subject selection should be based on your graduation background, interest and available study material. No single optional guarantees success — consistency matters more.
UPPSC Preparation Resources
- UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026
- UPPSC Previous Year Papers & Cut Off Marks
- UP Govt Jobs 2026 – All Latest Notifications
- UP Previous Year Papers & Cut Off
- UPPSC PCS Syllabus 2026
- UPSSSC Recruitment 2026
UPPSC 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is UPPSC and what posts does it recruit for?
UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) recruits for Gazetted officer-level posts through the PCS examination including SDM, DSP, BDO, Deputy Collector, APO and other Class A and Class B services of the UP Government.
Q2. What is the qualification for UPPSC PCS exam?
Graduation in any stream from a recognised university is the minimum qualification. Candidates must possess the educational qualification as specified in the official notification before the prescribed eligibility date. Always check the specific notification for exact requirements.
Q3. What is the age limit for UPPSC 2026?
Minimum age is 21 years and maximum is 40 years for UR category. OBC and SC/ST candidates get 5 years relaxation (45 years maximum) as per UP Government norms.
Q4. How many stages are there in UPPSC PCS?
UPPSC PCS has three stages — Preliminary Examination (GS Paper I for merit + CSAT qualifying), Main Examination (8 papers, 1500 marks for merit) and Interview (100 marks). Final selection is based on Mains and Interview marks combined.
Q5. Is there negative marking in UPPSC Prelims?
Yes. UPPSC Prelims GS Paper I has negative marking of 1/3 mark for each wrong answer. CSAT Paper II also has negative marking. Candidates should attempt only those questions they are confident about.
Q6. What is UPPSC APO exam?
UPPSC APO (Assistant Prosecution Officer) exam is conducted to recruit law graduates for prosecution posts in UP Government. LLB degree is mandatory. The 2026 APO Mains Online Form has been released. The exam is separate from UPPSC PCS with its own syllabus and pattern.
Q7. What is the UPPSC PCS cut off for General category?
UPPSC PCS Pre cut off for UR category has ranged between 98 to 106 marks out of 200 in recent years. The cut off varies each year based on total vacancies, number of candidates and difficulty level of the paper.
Q8. What is the salary of UPPSC PCS officer?
UPPSC PCS officer posts like SDM, DSP and BDO carry a pay scale of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 per month at Level 10. APO posts carry ₹47,600 to ₹1,51,100 at Level 8. Gross salary is higher after DA, HRA and other allowances.
Useful Links
UPPSC Notifications
UP Govt Jobs
For all UP Government Job updates visit our UP Govt Jobs 2026 Page or our Home Page – SarkariResult.Zone.