🏛️ UPSC CSAT 2026 – Complete Guide by EverythingIAS 🚀
Your one-stop platform for smart, simplified & exam-oriented UPSC preparation
The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is the qualifying gatekeeper of the UPSC Preliminary Examination.
While its marks are not added to the final merit, failing CSAT means elimination from Prelims ❌
At EverythingIAS, we focus on clarity over clutter and strategy over overload. This post is designed to give aspirants a crystal-clear, copyright-free, and student-friendly overview of CSAT 2026—perfect for revision, social media sharing, and serious preparation.
CSAT PYQ Analysis is the most reliable way to understand the real trend of the UPSC CSAT paper. By analysing previous year questions topic-wise, aspirants can clearly identify high-weightage areas in Maths and Logical Reasoning and prepare strategically for UPSC Prelims.
📌 UPSC CSAT 2026: Exam Pattern (Quick & Clear)
| 🔍 Feature | 📊 Details |
|---|---|
| 📝 Paper | General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) |
| 🎯 Total Marks | 200 |
| ❓ Total Questions | 80 MCQs |
| ⏳ Duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| ✅ Correct Answer | +2.5 Marks |
| ❌ Wrong Answer | –0.83 Marks |
| 🌐 Medium | Hindi & English |
| 🎯 Qualifying Marks | 33% (66.67 Marks) |
⚠️ EverythingIAS Tip: CSAT is not about attempting all questions — it’s about selective accuracy.
| Year | Maths 🔢 | English 📖 | Reasoning 🧠 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 15 | 32 | 33 |
| 2015 | 15 | 30 | 35 |
| 2016 | 24 | 27 | 29 |
| 2017 | 21 | 29 | 30 |
| 2018 | 31 | 26 | 23 |
| 2019 | 26 | 30 | 24 |
| 2020 | 40 | 25 | 15 |
| 2021 | 35 | 27 | 18 |
| 2022 | 34 | 27 | 19 |
| 2023 | 39 | 27 | 14 |
| 2024 | 37 | 27 | 16 |
| 2025 | 33 | 29 | 18 |
📘 CSAT 2026: Detailed Syllabus Explained Simply
UPSC tests whether a future administrator can think logically, calculate accurately, read critically, and decide wisely.
🧠 1️⃣ Logical Reasoning & Mental Ability
🔹 Logical & Analytical Reasoning
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Syllogisms
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Coding–Decoding
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Blood Relations
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Direction Sense
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Seating Arrangement (Linear & Circular)
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Puzzles
🔹 Critical Reasoning
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Statement & Assumptions
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Cause & Effect
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Logical Conclusions
🔹 Non-Verbal Reasoning
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Mirror & Water Images
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Paper Folding
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Figure Classification
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Dice & Cube Problems
📌 EverythingIAS Focus: High-return topics with repeated UPSC patterns.
| Topic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time & Work | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Integer | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 1 | 12 |
| Number System | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 87 |
| Divisibility & Remainder | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 22 |
| Profit & Loss | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 10 |
| Partnership | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Percentage | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | – | 2 | 26 |
| Problem on Age | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 6 |
| Linear Equation | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Average | – | – | 2 | 3 | – | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 14 |
| Algebra | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Data Sufficiency | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| Cube & Cuboid | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Permutation | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | – | 19 |
| Probability | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 4 |
| Mensuration | 1 | – | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 12 |
| Interest (SI/CI) | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 |
| Speed–Time–Distance | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 13 |
| Mixture & Alligation | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 5 |
| Number Series | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | 5 |
| Progression | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 |
| Ratio & Proportion | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | – | – | 8 |
| Data Interpretation | 6 | 4 | – | – | 14 | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | 27 |
| Simplification | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | 5 |
| Geometry | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| Elementary Statistics | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
🔢 2️⃣ Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)
📈 Most feared yet most scoring section
🔹 Number System
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Divisibility Rules
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LCM & HCF
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Remainder Theorem
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Fractions & Decimals
🔹 Arithmetic
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Percentages
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Ratio & Proportion
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Averages
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Profit & Loss
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Simple & Compound Interest
🔹 Time-Based Maths
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Time, Speed & Distance (Trains & Boats)
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Time & Work
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Pipes & Cisterns
🔹 Geometry & Mensuration
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Lines, Angles & Triangles
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Area & Volume (2D & 3D Shapes)
📌 EverythingIAS Tip: Concept clarity + daily practice = CSAT confidence.
| Topic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing Term | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | 6 |
| Puzzle | 12 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 78 |
| Series | – | 2 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Venn Diagram | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Clock | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 1 | 12 |
| Calendar | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Direction & Distance | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | 1 | 14 |
| Statements & Conclusions / Inference / Argument | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 23 |
| Syllogism | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 11 |
| Coding–Decoding | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Blood Relation | – | – | – | 2 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Classification | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| Coded Inequalities | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| Data Sufficiency | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | – | 9 |
| Arrangement & Pattern | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | 2 | – | 9 |
| Order & Ranking | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | 18 |
| Seating Arrangement | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | 5 |
📊 3️⃣ Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
🔹 Data Interpretation
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Pie Charts
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Bar Graphs
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Line Graphs
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Tables
🔹 Data Sufficiency
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Decide whether given data is sufficient to answer the question
📌 EverythingIAS Insight: Many aspirants lose marks here due to overthinking.
📖 4️⃣ English Comprehension
🧾 Backbone of CSAT
🔹 Skills Tested
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Central Theme
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Author’s Tone
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Logical Inference
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Argument Flow
⚠️ Vocabulary is secondary — logic and understanding are primary.
🏛️ 5️⃣ Decision-Making & Administrative Skills
🔹 Decision-Making & Problem-Solving
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Real-life administrative situations
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Choosing the most ethical & practical option
🔹 Interpersonal Skills
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Social awareness
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Communication effectiveness
📌 EverythingIAS Approach: Think like an administrator, not a student.
📊 CSAT 2025 Trend (Guidance for 2026 Aspirants)
🔍 Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
🎯 Nature: Qualifying but highly eliminative
📘 Section-Wise Weightage
| Section | Questions | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 🔢 Quantitative Aptitude | 34 | 42.5% |
| 📖 Reading Comprehension | 29 | 36.3% |
| 🧠 Logical Reasoning | 17 | 21.2% |
✅ Safe Attempt Strategy
| Section | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 25–28 |
| Reading Comprehension | 22–24 |
| Reasoning | 14–15 |
| ⭐ Overall | 55–65 Questions |
🚀 EverythingIAS Pro-Tips for CSAT 2026
✅ Never ignore CSAT — even GS toppers fail here
📅 Practice CSAT every week, not at the end
🎯 Focus on Quant + RC + Reasoning
🎯 Aim for accuracy, not maximum attempts
⚡ Use shortcuts, elimination & smart guessing
⏱️ Leave time-consuming traps
🌐 Why Choose EverythingIAS?
✨ UPSC-focused, plagiarism-free content
✨ Simplified explanations with exam relevance
✨ Perfect for self-study aspirants
✨ Ideal for Prelims + Mains foundation
✨ Designed for clarity, revision & confidence
EverythingIAS = Everything UPSC Needs, Nothing You Don’t.
📌 Coming Soon on EverythingIAS
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Topic-wise CSAT importance list
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3-Month CSAT study plan
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Daily CSAT practice sets
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CSAT mock test strategy
👉 Stay connected with EverythingIAS for smart UPSC preparation 💫
