UPPSC PCS 2026: Deputy Collector, DSP, SDM & Other Group A/B

What is UPPSC PCS?

UPPSC PCS — Provincial Civil Services — is Uttar Pradesh's equivalent of the IAS exam. If UPSC Civil Services gives you posts like IAS and IPS at the national level, UPPSC PCS gives you posts like Deputy Collector, DSP, SDM, and BDO at the state level in UP.

This is one of the most competitive state-level exams in India simply because UP is the largest state — the competition pool is massive, but so is the reward. A Deputy Collector in UP commands real administrative authority. A DSP posting means you're heading a police circle. These are not entry-level roles — they're actual power positions in the state government.

Posts and What They Actually Mean

Group A posts come with executive authority, official residence, vehicle, and staff. Group B posts are the foundation of district-level administration. Both have structured promotions — a Naib Tehsildar can become Tehsildar, then SDM, and eventually District Magistrate over a career.

Vacancy Breakdown 2026

Note: UPPSC releases category-wise and post-wise vacancy details in the official advertisement. Candidates should verify the exact count for their post preference on uppsc.up.nic.in.

Eligibility

Age (as on July 1, 2026)

• General / EWS: 21–40 years
• OBC (UP domicile): 21–43 years
• SC / ST (UP domicile): 21–45 years
• PwBD: 21–55 years

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final year candidates can apply provisionally — degree must be completed before a specified date.

Domicile

Reservation benefits (OBC/SC/ST) are available only to candidates who are permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh. General category candidates from other states can apply without domicile restrictions.

Application Fee

Selection Process

Stage 1: Preliminary Exam

Two papers, both objective type:

Paper 1 — General Studies (150 marks, 2 hours)

• History, Culture, National Movement
• Indian & World Geography
• Indian Economy & Social Development
• Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change
• Indian Polity & Governance
• Science & Technology
• Current Events (national and international)
• General Mental Ability

Paper 2 — CSAT (200 marks, 2 hours) — Qualifying Only

• Comprehension
• Interpersonal Skills & Communication
• Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• General Mental Ability
• Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation

Minimum 33% required in Paper 2 to be considered for merit. Paper 1 marks decide Prelims rank.

Stage 2: Mains Exam (1500 marks)

Eight papers — all descriptive (written answers):

Stage 3: Interview (100 marks)

Held at UPPSC, Prayagraj. Tests personality, communication, administrative aptitude, awareness of UP-specific issues. Final merit: Mains + Interview = 1600 marks.

Salary

Group A officers additionally get government accommodation, vehicle with driver, and medical facilities under the state government health scheme.

Syllabus Overview

UPPSC PCS syllabus is heavily UP-centric in both Prelims and Mains. This matters:

• Prelims GS Paper 1: UP-specific questions on culture, history, geography, economy appear regularly
• Mains: Essays are often on UP governance, rural development, and regional issues
• Interview: Questions on UP's current administrative challenges, local geography, and candidate's home district are common

Optional Subjects available: History, Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Economics, Political Science, Law, Agriculture, Philosophy, Hindi Literature, Sanskrit Literature, Urdu Literature, and others.

Public Administration, Geography, and Sociology are popular choices among UPPSC toppers due to overlap with General Studies syllabus.

Important Dates

How to Prepare

UPPSC PCS rewards consistent, long-form preparation — not speed, but depth. Prelims can be cracked in 6 months of dedicated preparation. Mains needs at least a year.

Start with NCERT books (Class 6–12) for History, Geography, Polity, and Economics. Then build on that with UP-specific sources — UP's economy, culture, government schemes, and administrative structure are tested at both Prelims and Mains levels.

General Hindi is scored by many candidates in the 100–120 range, which becomes a differentiator in the final merit. Don't ignore it.

For optional subject — choose based on your graduation background and how much the syllabus overlaps with GS. Public Administration and Sociology overlap heavily with Mains GS, which reduces total preparation load.

Official Links