UPSC IA MAINS Syllabus and Exam Pattern

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• Puzzles & Arrangements (Seating, Floor, Scheduling)

  ~2 marks
  • Linear Seating Arrangement (Single Row, Double Row)
  • Circular Seating Arrangement
  • Square/Rectangular Seating Arrangement
  • Floor-based Puzzles (Multiple Floors, Building)
  • Scheduling Puzzles (Day, Month, Time)
  • Box-based Puzzles (Multiple Boxes, Arrangements)
  • Comparison Puzzles (Height, Weight, Age, Rank)
  • Mixed Puzzles (Multiple Variables)
  • Distribution Puzzles (Distribution of Items)
  • Unknown Number of Persons Puzzles
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• Syllogism, Inequality & Statement-Conclusion

  ~2 marks
  • Syllogisms (2, 3, 4, 5 Statements)
  • Venn Diagrams and Set Theory
  • Possibility and Negation in Syllogisms
  • Either-Or Cases in Syllogisms
  • Inequality (Direct, Indirect, Coded)
  • Statement-Conclusion (True/False/Probably True/False)
  • Statement-Assumption, Statement-Course of Action
  • Statement-Inference, Argument Analysis
  • Critical Reasoning, Paradox, Strengthen/Weaken
  • Decision Making, Cause and Effect
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• Coding-Decoding, Series, Analogy & Classification

  ~2 marks
  • Coding-Decoding (Letter Shifting, Number Coding, Substitution)
  • Coding by Fictitious Language (Symbol-Based)
  • Coding by Analogy and Pattern
  • Number Series, Letter Series, Alpha-Numeric Series
  • Analogy (Word, Number, Letter, Mixed)
  • Classification (Odd One Out — Words, Numbers, Letters)
  • Blood Relations (Family Tree, Coded Relations)
  • Direction Sense (Distance-Based, Angle-Based)
  • Order and Ranking (Linear, Circular)
  • Word Formation, Dictionary Order, Letter Rearrangement
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• Blood Relations, Direction Sense & Order Ranking

  ~2 marks
  • Blood Relations (Direct, Indirect, Coded)
  • Family Tree and Generation-Based Relations
  • Direction Sense (8-direction compass, rotation)
  • Shadow-Based Direction Problems
  • Distance-Based Direction Problems
  • Order and Ranking (Top-Bottom, Left-Right)
  • Coding-Decoding (Direction-Based)
  • Combined Blood Relation and Direction Problems
  • Family Tree with Multiple Generations
  • Symbol-Based Blood Relations
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• Input-Output, Scheduling & Calendar/Clock

  ~2 marks
  • Input-Output (Single Arrangement, Multiple Shifts)
  • Scheduling (Day/Month/Year with Multiple Conditions)
  • Machine Input-Output (Coding-Based)
  • Calendar (Finding Day, Leap Year, Odd Days)
  • Clock (Angles, Mirror Image, Hands Position)
  • Time-Based Problems (Clockwise, Anticlockwise)
  • Date Validity, Year Type (Leap/Non-Leap)
  • Repeated Pattern Problems
  • Round-Robin Tournament Scheduling
  • Ternary Number System, Decoding Symbols
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• Data Sufficiency, Critical Reasoning & Misc Reasoning

  ~2 marks
  • Data Sufficiency (Two-Statement, Three-Statement)
  • Coded Data Sufficiency
  • Critical Reasoning (Argument Analysis, Flaw Identification)
  • Inference, Assumption, Conclusion
  • Cause and Effect, Statement-Reasoning
  • Course of Action (Decision Making)
  • Mathematical Operations (Coded, Symbol-Based)
  • Number Puzzles, Letter Puzzles
  • Logical Venn Diagrams, Venn Diagram-Based Problems
  • Visual Reasoning, Pattern Completion, Embedded Figures
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