UKPSC Upper PCS Prelims: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Result & Cutoff (2025 Cycle)
Last Updated: May 20, 2026 | Source: Official UKPSC Notification | psc.uk.gov.in
Introduction
The UKPSC Upper PCS Prelims is the first screening stage of the Uttarakhand Combined State Civil/Upper Subordinate Services Examination. It is an objective, OMR-based test held to shortlist candidates for the Mains examination. Your prelims score does not contribute to the final merit — clearing it is the entry ticket to the next stage, nothing more.
Table of Contents
Exam at a Glance
| Details | Info |
| Exam type | Objective / OMR based |
| Total Papers | 2 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 4 hours (2+2) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Medium | Hindi & English |
| Official website | psc.uk.gov.in |
Latest Updates
Current state (May 2026)
- UKPSC Prelims Revised Result 2025 declared January 6, 2026 — 1214 candidates qualified following High Court order.
- UKPSC Prelims Mains exam date 2025 postponed — revised schedule awaited.
- UKPSC Prelims Revised Answer Key (General Studies) released January 6, 2026.
- UKPSC Prelims Original Result declared October 8, 2025 — cancelled after HC order December 4.
- UKPSC Prelims Provisional Answer Key released July 4, 2025 for both papers.
- Vacancies revised to 116 — 7 Urban Development posts returned to state govt (Official Notice: 22 April 2026)
- 41 candidates’ Mains candidature cancelled — exam fee not paid by 05 February 2026 deadline (Official Notice: 07 April 2026)
2025 Cycle — Key Dates
| Events | Dates |
| Notification | May 7, 2025 |
| Application close | May 27, 2025 |
| Prelims exam | June 29, 2025 |
| Re-exam (15 candidates) | September 10, 2025 |
| Provisional answer key | July 4, 2025 |
| Original result | October 8, 2025 |
| HC order — result cancelled | December 4, 2025 |
| Revised answer key | January 6, 2026 |
| Revised result | January 6, 2026 |
What Paper I and Paper II Actually Cover
Paper I covers six broad areas — History and Culture, Geography, Polity and Governance, Economic Development, General Science and Technology, and Current Affairs. Each unit carries Uttarakhand-specific content alongside national topics, making state knowledge non-negotiable across the entire paper, not just one section.
Paper II tests aptitude, reasoning, mental ability, numerical skills and comprehension in both English and Hindi. Since CSAT is qualifying only, preparation depth here depends entirely on your comfort level with the 33 percent threshold.
The complete topic-wise syllabus and paper-wise pattern with detailed subtopics for both papers is covered separately.
UKPSC Upper PCS Prelims 2025: Exam Held June 29, Re-exam September 10
The notification for the 2025 cycle was published on May 7, 2025 under advertisement number A-1/E-1/PCS-2025/2025-26. Applications closed May 27, 2025. The prelims was held on June 29, 2025 across examination centres in Uttarakhand. Fifteen candidates who could not appear for Paper II were given a re-examination on September 10, 2025.
The exam date history for previous cycles and expected schedule for the 2026 cycle is covered separately.
How to Download the UKPSC Prelims Admit Card
The admit card is released on psc.uk.gov.in before the exam date. Candidates must carry a printed copy along with a valid photo ID to the examination centre. The admit card contains centre address, reporting time and paper-wise schedule. The download process, login steps and instructions for correction of errors are covered separately.
2025 Answer Key: Revised After High Court Order
A provisional prelims answer key for both General Studies and General Aptitude Test was released on July 4, 2025, with a window for candidates to raise objections. Following a High Court order on December 4, 2025, one question from the General Studies paper was dropped across all sets — Set A Q70, Set B Q42, Set C Q5, Set D Q130. The revised answer key was published on January 6, 2026.
The complete objection process, question-wise changes and marks recalculation are covered separately.
2025 Result: Declared Twice — October 8 and January 6
The prelims result publishes roll numbers of candidates shortlisted for Mains, organised post-wise. For the 2025 cycle the original result was declared on October 8, 2025 with 1212 candidates qualifying across all posts. The Nainital High Court issued an order on December 4, 2025 directing UKPSC to drop one question from Paper I. The original result was cancelled and a revised result declared on January 6, 2026, with 1214 candidates qualifying. The result remains subject to PIL 48/2024 and PIL 152/2024 pending before the Nainital High Court.
The complete result timeline, post-wise qualified count and full details of the High Court intervention are covered separately.
Category-wise Cutoff — 2025 Cycle
The prelims cutoff marks represent the minimum score in Paper I required to qualify for Mains. Cutoffs vary by category and post. For the 2025 cycle the cutoff was declared alongside the original result on October 8, 2025 and revised on January 6, 2026 following the answer key change.
The category-wise and post-wise cutoff marks for the 2025 cycle are covered separately.
How UKPSC Prelims Differs from UPSC Prelims
Candidates familiar with UPSC often approach UKPSC Prelims with the same strategy. These differences directly affect preparation:
| Factor | UKPSC Prelims | UPSC Prelims |
| Uttarakhand focus | Minimum 1/3 questions in Paper I from Uttarakhand topics — mandatory | No state-specific mandatory weightage |
| CSAT nature | Qualifying — 33% minimum, marks not counted | Qualifying — 33% minimum, marks not counted |
| Re-examination | Provision exists for specific cases — used in 2025 cycle | No such provision |
| Total marks | 300 (Paper I: 150 + Paper II: 150) | 400 (GS: 200 + CSAT: 200) |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer | 0.33 per wrong answer |
What Happens After You Clear the Prelims
Candidates who qualify the prelims appear for the UKPSC Upper PCS Mains — a descriptive written test across 8 papers carrying 1500 marks. The Mains for the 2025 cycle was scheduled from December 6 to 9, 2025. Candidates who qualify Mains are called for the Interview carrying 150 marks. The final merit list is prepared on combined Mains and Interview marks. Prelims marks play no role in this calculation.
FAQs
Q1. Does my prelims score count in the final merit list?
No. The prelims is a screening test only. Your Paper I score determines whether you qualify for Mains but is not added to the final merit. The final merit list is prepared entirely on the basis of Mains written examination and Interview marks.
Q2. Can final year graduation students apply for UKPSC Upper PCS?
Yes. Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination are eligible to apply provisionally. However, they must submit proof of passing before the date specified by UKPSC at the time of document verification.
Q3. How many attempts are allowed in UKPSC Upper PCS?
UKPSC does not specify a fixed number of attempts. Eligibility is determined by age limit. General category candidates can appear until the upper age limit of 42 years. As long as you are within the age limit and meet other eligibility criteria, you can attempt the exam.
Q4. Is there a unit-wise or topic-wise sectional cutoff in Paper I?
No. There is no sectional cutoff within Paper I. Only the overall Paper I score is considered for shortlisting candidates for Mains. You are not required to score a minimum in any individual unit.
Q5. Do I need to pay a separate fee for Mains after clearing Prelims?
Yes. Candidates who qualify the prelims are required to pay the Mains examination fee separately. The fee payment link is activated on psc.uk.gov.in after the result is declared. Detailed instructions are published on the UKPSC website at that time.