GS Paper I
Cutoff paper
GS Paper I has 100 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours. It decides the cutoff and merit for the Prelims stage.
Official calendar dates
UPSC Prelims 2027 Exam Date, Notification and Timeline
UPSC Prelims 2027 is scheduled for 23 May 2027 (Sunday). The notification is scheduled for 13 January 2027, and the application deadline is 2 February 2027, according to the official UPSC annual calendar released 20 May 2026.
Vacancies and eligibility for 2027 are not yet notified.
UPSC CSE 2027 key dates
Source: official UPSC annual calendar released 20 May 2026.
| Event | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 13 January 2027 | Per the official UPSC annual calendar released 20 May 2026. |
| Application deadline | 2 February 2027 | The application deadline listed in the official calendar. |
| Prelims exam | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) | The Civil Services Preliminary Examination date. |
| Mains exam begins | 20 August 2027 | The Mains exam begins on this date and runs 5 days. |
What the Prelims stage includes
CSAT Paper II
Qualifying paper
CSAT Paper II has 80 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours. It is qualifying only, and candidates need 33%, or 66.67 marks.
Both papers have negative marking: one-third of the question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer. Prelims marks do not count toward the final merit list; final merit is based on Mains and Interview.
Month-by-month 2027 preparation window
This timeline starts from July 2026 and follows the official dates through the 23 May 2027 Prelims exam. Resource links are included without adding unnotified 2027 details.
| Month | Calendar position | Resource links |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Before the 13 January 2027 notification. | |
| August 2026 | Before the 13 January 2027 notification. | |
| September 2026 | Before the 13 January 2027 notification. | |
| October 2026 | Before the 13 January 2027 notification. | |
| November 2026 | Before the 13 January 2027 notification. | |
| December 2026 | The final full month before notification month. | |
| January 2027 | Notification releases on 13 January 2027. | |
| February 2027 | Application deadline is 2 February 2027. | |
| March 2027 | Between the application deadline and Prelims exam. | |
| April 2027 | Between the application deadline and Prelims exam. | |
| May 2027 | Prelims exam is on 23 May 2027 (Sunday). |
Related UPSC Prelims resources
UPSC Prelims exam pattern
See the two-paper structure, CSAT qualifying rule, and one-third negative marking.
Open resource →UPSC Prelims cutoff
Compare official General-category cutoffs from 2015 to 2025 and recent category-wise figures.
Open resource →UPSC Prelims mock test
Use timed practice with the same Prelims negative-marking rule.
Open resource →Previous year questions
Open the PYQ hub for year-wise and subject-wise UPSC Prelims questions.
Open resource →UPSC Prelims syllabus
Map GS Paper I and CSAT Paper II to the public syllabus page.
Open resource →Current affairs
Open the daily current-affairs hub for dated Prelims-focused digests.
Open resource →UPSC eligibility criteria
Check the official age limits, attempts, and qualification rules before the 2027 notification.
Open resource →NCERT booklist
Subject-wise NCERT titles verified against ncert.nic.in, including the new NCF books.
Open resource →Frequently asked questions
- When is UPSC Prelims 2027?
- UPSC Prelims 2027 is scheduled for 23 May 2027 (Sunday), according to the official UPSC annual calendar released 20 May 2026.
- When will the UPSC CSE 2027 notification be released?
- The UPSC CSE 2027 notification is scheduled for 13 January 2027, with the application deadline on 2 February 2027.
- How many papers are there in UPSC Prelims?
- UPSC Prelims has two papers on the same day: GS Paper I and CSAT Paper II. Each paper is for 200 marks and 2 hours.
- Is CSAT qualifying in UPSC Prelims?
- Yes. CSAT Paper II is qualifying only, and candidates need 33%, or 66.67 marks. GS Paper I decides the cutoff for the Prelims stage.
- Are vacancies and eligibility for UPSC CSE 2027 notified?
- Vacancies and eligibility for 2027 are not yet notified.
Practice before the 2027 Prelims date
Use timed mock tests, PYQs, syllabus pages, and current-affairs resources from the links above.