UPSC CSAT Syllabus (Prelims Paper II)
CSAT is Prelims Paper II: 80 multiple-choice questions for 200 marks. It is qualifying — you need 33% to pass, and the marks do not count towards the cut-off. The syllabus below is split into 24 topics across 4 subjects, with how often each was asked from 2016 to 2025.
Most asked Prelims CSAT (Paper II) topics
- Logical Deduction & SyllogismsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Data SufficiencyHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Number Systems & DivisibilityHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Ratio, Proportion & PercentageHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Bar Charts AnalysisHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Critical Reading & AnalysisHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Analytical ReasoningHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Averages & MixturesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Profit, Loss & DiscountHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Time, Work & WagesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability — 6 topics
- Logical Deduction & SyllogismsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Analytical ReasoningHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Data SufficiencyHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Blood Relations & Directionsasked 2/10 yrs
- Statement & ConclusionsHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Coding-Decoding & Seriesasked 2/10 yrs
Basic Numeracy & Data Interpretation — 8 topics
- Number Systems & DivisibilityHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Averages & MixturesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Ratio, Proportion & PercentageHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Profit, Loss & DiscountHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Time, Work & WagesHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Speed, Distance & TimeHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Simple & Compound InterestHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
- Basic Geometry & Mensurationasked 2/10 yrs
Comprehension & Communication — 6 topics
- Bar Charts AnalysisHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Pie Charts InterpretationHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Line Graphs & TrendsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Tables & Data AnalysisHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Mixed Chartsasked 2/10 yrs
- Caselets & Complex DIHigh-yieldasked 3/10 yrs
Reading Comprehension — 4 topics
- Critical Reading & AnalysisHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
- Inference & ImplicationHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Tone & Central IdeaHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
- Interpersonal Skills & Communicationasked 2/10 yrs
Other UPSC papers
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