UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2025 - CSAT Full Form, CSAT Qualifying Marks

UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2025 Topic Wise

The 7 topics which make up the entire UPSC CSAT syllabus are listed below:

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal skills
• Logical reasoning
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• General mental ability
• Basic numeracy
• Data interpretation

What is UPSC CSAT?

The UPSC CSAT, or Civil Services Aptitude Test, is a key component of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. The CSAT is designed to test the analytical and reasoning abilities of candidates aspiring to join various civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

CSAT Full Form  

The full form of CSAT in the context of the UPSC examination is Civil Services Aptitude Test.

UPSC CSAT Math Syllabus 2025

Basic Numeracy

Numbers and Their Relations:

• • Integers
  • Rational and irrational numbers
  • Real numbers
  • Divisibility rules
  • Prime and composite numbers
  • HCF and LCM

Arithmetic:

1. • Percentages
   • Profit and Loss
   • Simple and Compound Interest
   • Ratio and Proportion
   • Averages
   • Time and Work
   • Time, Speed, and Distance

Algebra:

• • Basic algebraic identities
  • Simple equations

Geometry and Mensuration:

• • Basic concepts of geometry
  • Area and perimeter of simple geometric shapes like squares, rectangles, triangles, circles
  • Volume and surface area of solids like cubes, cuboids, spheres, cylinders, cones

Data Interpretation

Data Sufficiency:

• • Assessing whether the given data is sufficient to answer questions
  • Logical and analytical skills to interpret data

Graphs and Charts:

• • Interpretation and analysis of data from bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, and tables
  • Drawing conclusions and making inferences from data sets

General Mental Ability

Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability:

• • Patterns and sequences
  • Analogies
  • Syllogisms
  • Venn diagrams

UPSC Reasoning Syllabus 2025

Logical Reasoning

Analogy:

1. • Finding relationships between pairs of words or numbers.

Classification:

1. • Grouping objects based on common properties and identifying the odd one out.

Series Completion:

1. • Number series
   • Alphabet series
   • Picture series

Coding-Decoding:

1. • Letter coding
   • Number coding
   • Symbol coding

Blood Relations:

1. • Understanding family relationships
   • Solving problems related to family trees

Direction Sense Test:

1. • Determining directions based on given conditions

Logical Venn Diagrams:

1. • Solving problems using Venn diagrams to illustrate logical relations between different sets

Syllogism:

• • Statements and conclusions
  • Logical deduction and inference

Analytical Ability

Statement and Assumptions:

1. • Identifying implicit assumptions in statements

Statement and Arguments:

1. • Assessing the strength of arguments (strong or weak)

Statement and Conclusions:

1. • Drawing valid conclusions from given statements

Statement and Course of Action:

1. • Identifying appropriate actions based on given situations

Cause and Effect:

1. • Determining the relationship between cause and effect

Decision Making:

• • Solving problems based on given conditions and constraints

Data Interpretation and Analysis

Interpreting Graphs and Charts:

1. • Bar graphs
   • Line graphs
   • Pie charts
   • Tables

Data Sufficiency:

• • Analyzing data to determine if it is sufficient to answer specific questions

Problem-Solving

Puzzles:

1. • Arrangements (linear, circular)
   • Scheduling problems

Seating Arrangements:

1. • Solving problems related to the arrangement of people or objects in a specified order

Logical Sequence of Words:

• • Arranging words in a meaningful sequence

CSAT Qualifying Marks

In the UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test), candidates need to score a minimum of 33% to qualify. This means they must obtain at least 66 marks out of 200 to pass the CSAT paper. The CSAT is qualifying, so only those who achieve this minimum score will have their marks from the General Studies Paper I considered for ranking in the preliminary examination.

CSAT Exam Pattern 

The UPSC CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) is a crucial part of the Civil Services Examination's preliminary stage. Here is the detailed exam pattern for the CSAT:

Structure

1. Paper Type: Objective type (multiple choice questions).
2. Number of Questions: 80 questions.
3. Total Marks: 200 marks.
4. Duration: 2 hours.

Scoring

1. Qualifying Marks: Candidates must score a minimum of 33% (66 marks out of 200) to qualify.
2. Negative Marking: There is a penalty for wrong answers. For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.83) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
3. Marks per Question: Each question carries 2.5 marks.

Medium of Examination

• The paper can be taken in either English or Hindi.

Book for UPSC CSAT 

CSAT Book for UPSC GS Paper II (UNGIST): This book is specifically tailored for the CSAT exam, covering all sections comprehensively with practice questions and previous years' papers.

UPSC CSAT Syllabus FAQs

1. What is the CSAT syllabus primarily focused on?

The CSAT syllabus primarily focuses on testing aptitude, comprehension, logical reasoning, and basic numeracy skills.

2. Can I clear UPSC without qualifying CSAT?
No, clearing CSAT is mandatory to proceed to the General Studies paper of the Civil Services Examination.

3. Are there any changes expected in the CSAT pattern in the near future?

Changes in the CSAT pattern are possible as per the UPSC's discretion to better assess candidates' aptitude.

4. How should one prepare for CSAT if weak in mathematics?

Focus on improving basic numeracy skills through practice and understanding fundamental concepts.

5. Does CSAT require specific coaching or can it be prepared for independently?

While coaching can provide structured guidance like UNGIST, self-preparation with consistent practice is also effective for CSAT.