The PSC exam syllabus is the single most important document for your preparation — yet most aspirants misread it. They either try to cover everything equally, or miss the state-specific topics that decide selection. This guide breaks down the 2026 syllabus for Kerala PSC, UPPSC, and MPSC with subject-wise weightage, key changes, and a clear prioritisation strategy.
What is the PSC Exam Syllabus?
The PSC syllabus is the official list of topics from which questions are set in both Prelims and Mains. Unlike UPSC, where the syllabus is mostly fixed, state PSC syllabuses vary by state and can change year to year. The 2026 syllabuses for UPPSC and Kerala PSC have seen notable updates — particularly UPPSC's new UP General Knowledge papers replacing optional subjects in Mains.
Kerala PSC Syllabus 2026
The Kerala Public Service Commission Degree Level exam is one of the most competitive state PSC exams in India. The 2026 syllabus covers the following areas:
- Prelims — General Knowledge & Current Affairs: Renaissance of Kerala, Constitution of India, General Science & Technology, Geography of India and Kerala, Economics
- Prelims — Mental Ability & Simple Arithmetic: Number systems, percentages, ratio, data interpretation
- Mains GS Paper I: Indian History (ancient, medieval, modern), Geography (physical, economic, human), Kerala History and Culture
- Mains GS Paper II: Indian Polity and Constitution, Economy and Planning, Environmental Science, Current Events (national and Kerala-specific)
UPPSC Syllabus 2026 — Key Changes
UPPSC has made a major structural change for 2026: the two optional subject papers in Mains have been replaced by two new Uttar Pradesh General Knowledge papers. This is the biggest syllabus shift in years and directly impacts preparation strategy.
- Prelims Paper I (GS): History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Current Affairs
- Prelims Paper II (CSAT): Comprehension, Interpersonal skills, Logical reasoning, Decision making, Basic numeracy
- Mains GS Paper I: History of India, National Movement, Indian Society
- Mains GS Paper II: Indian Constitution, Governance, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations
- Mains GS Paper III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security
- Mains GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude
- NEW — Mains UP GK Paper I: History, Geography, Culture of Uttar Pradesh
- NEW — Mains UP GK Paper II: Economy, Agriculture, Industry, Society of Uttar Pradesh
MPSC Syllabus 2026
The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) State Services exam covers a broad range of topics across Prelims and Mains:
- Prelims GS Paper: History (India and Maharashtra), Geography, Polity, Economy, Science & Technology, Current Affairs
- Prelims CSAT: Logical reasoning, Quantitative aptitude, English comprehension
- Mains Paper I: Marathi language (essay and comprehension)
- Mains Paper II: English language
- Mains Paper III: GS I — History, Geography, Agriculture
- Mains Paper IV: GS II — Indian Polity, Governance, Economy
- Mains Paper V: GS III — Human Rights, Environment, Disaster Management
- Mains Paper VI: GS IV — Ethics and Case Studies
Common Topics Across All State PSCs
If you are preparing for multiple state PSCs or want to build a strong foundation, these topics appear in every PSC exam and should be covered first:
- Indian History — Ancient, Medieval, Modern (Freedom Struggle): 10–15% of Prelims questions
- Indian Polity and Constitution: 10–12% of Prelims questions
- Geography — Physical, Economic, Human (India + World): 8–12% of Prelims questions
- Indian Economy — Planning, Budgets, Schemes: 8–10% of Prelims questions
- General Science — Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics: 8–10% of Prelims questions
- Current Affairs — National and state-specific: 15–20% of Prelims questions
- Environment and Ecology: 5–8% of Prelims questions
How to Use This Syllabus for Preparation
- Step 1 — Download the official syllabus PDF for your target state PSC from the official website
- Step 2 — Map every topic to a standard textbook or source (NCERTs, state board books, Laxmikant for Polity)
- Step 3 — Prioritise topics by weightage — cover Current Affairs, History, and Polity first as they appear in every paper
- Step 4 — Build a weekly study schedule aligned to the syllabus (see our Complete PSC Preparation Guide)
- Step 5 — Take topic-wise mock tests after finishing each subject to validate your understanding
- Step 6 — Refresh state-specific sections (UP GK, Kerala Renaissance, Maharashtra History) in the final 4 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the PSC exam syllabus for 2026? — A: The syllabus covers General Studies (History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Current Affairs) plus state-specific topics. UPPSC has added two new UP GK papers in Mains for 2026.
- Q: Has the UPPSC syllabus changed in 2026? — A: Yes. The optional subject papers in Mains have been replaced by two mandatory UP General Knowledge papers covering UP History, Geography, Economy, Agriculture, and Society.
- Q: Is the Kerala PSC syllabus the same every year? — A: The core topics remain consistent, but exam pattern and weightage can vary. Always download the latest notification from keralapsc.gov.in.
- Q: Which subject has the highest weightage in PSC exams? — A: Current Affairs typically accounts for 15–20% of Prelims. Combined with Indian History and Polity, these three subjects together make up nearly 40% of the paper.
- Q: Where can I find state-wise PSC syllabus PDFs? — A: Official sources are keralapsc.gov.in (Kerala), uppsc.up.nic.in (UPPSC), and mpsc.gov.in (MPSC). pscprep.ai also maintains updated syllabus summaries.