AspirantGoal is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission or any exam authority. This page lines up what the UPSC Civil Services notice 05/2026-CSE and the SSC CGL 2026 notice print for their first stages, as checked on 23 October 2026. The exam bodies’ current notices are the authority.
The first stages side by side
The UPSC Preliminary examination is a screening test, and SSC CGL Tier-I is the first of two tiers. The table sets the two first stages next to each other, as the notices print them.
| Item | UPSC Civil Services Prelims | SSC CGL Tier-I |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Union Public Service Commission | Staff Selection Commission |
| Papers or subjects | General Studies Paper-I: 200 marks, duration two hours. General Studies Paper-II: 200 marks, duration two hours, a qualifying paper. [1] | A. General Intelligence and Reasoning, B. General Awareness, C. Quantitative Aptitude, D. English Comprehension [2] |
| Questions and marks | The notice states the marks of each paper (200 each) and no number of questions. [1] | 25 questions and 50 maximum marks for each of the four subjects [2] |
| Duration | Two hours for each paper. [1] | 1 hour, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each subject [2] |
| Negative marking | A wrong answer loses one-third (0.33) of that question’s marks. More than one answer counts as wrong. A blank answer has no penalty. [1] | 0.50 marks for each wrong answer [2] |
| Language or medium | The question papers are set both in Hindi and English. [1] | Questions set in English and Hindi, except English Comprehension [2] |
| Role in selection | Screening test only: marks of those qualified for the Main Examination are not counted for the final order of merit. [1] | Candidates are shortlisted category-wise on Tier-I marks to appear in Tier-II [2] |
| Qualifying status | General Studies Paper-II is a qualifying paper with minimum qualifying marks fixed at 33%. [1] | Minimum qualifying marks apply in Tier-I; see the SSC CGL page. [2] |
Numbers in brackets are the sources listed at the foot of the page.
Areas whose printed names relate
The table below pairs the areas of the two syllabi that share a name or a plain meaning. The last column is our reading of the printed wording. It says nothing about the depth of the questions.
| Area | UPSC Prelims, as printed | SSC CGL Tier-I, as printed | How the printed names relate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current events | Current events of national and international importance [1] | Current events [2] | Same area, close wording |
| History | History of India and Indian National Movement [1] | History [2] | Same area name |
| Geography | Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World [1] | Geography [2] | Same area name |
| Economy | Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. [1] | Economic Scene [2] | Related wording |
| Science | General Science [1] | Every day observations and experience in their scientific aspect; General Policy & Scientific Research [2] | Related wording |
| Environment | General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization [1] | General awareness of the environment around him and its application to society [2] | Related wording |
| Polity and governance | Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. [1] | No matching item is printed in Tier-I General Awareness [2] | Only in the UPSC list |
| Culture | No matching item is printed in Prelims Paper-I [1] | Culture [2] | Only in the SSC list |
| Reasoning | Logical reasoning and analytical ability; Decision making and problem solving; General mental ability [1] | General Intelligence and Reasoning, 30 topics, among them Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences and Critical thinking [2] | Related areas |
| Numeracy | Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.), Class X level [1] | Quantitative Aptitude, 36 topics, 10th standard level [2] | Both print a Class X level |
| Data interpretation | Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc.), Class X level [1] | Histogram; Frequency polygon; Bar diagram & Pie chart [2] | Related areas |
| Comprehension | Comprehension [1] | English Comprehension, with no topic list printed in Tier-I [2] | Same area name |
The notices describe the standard of their general awareness questions in their own words. UPSC says its General Studies questions are such that a well-educated person can answer them without any specialized study [1]. SSC gives the level of Tier-I General Awareness as commensurate with graduation [2].
What is not shared
The UPSC Main examination has nine papers and an interview that SSC CGL does not have. SSC CGL Tier-II adds its own Paper-I sections, a Statistics paper and a Finance and Economics paper that UPSC does not have. The two exams also differ in how a first stage is used. UPSC’s Preliminary marks of those who qualify are not counted for the final order of merit [1]. SSC CGL’s Tier-I only shortlists candidates for Tier-II, and the merit list is made on Tier-II [2].
A free tracker for the shared areas
Download the shared areas as a CSV file. It has 12 rows, one for each area in the table, with the UPSC and SSC wording side by side. The other columns are the same as in the printable syllabus tracker, and it is free and needs no sign-up. For the full unit lists use the pages for UPSC CSE and SSC CGL.
How AspirantGoal handles two exams
- Each exam is its own goal, with its own phases, subjects and stage names. A goal with several phases, such as Prelims, Mains and Interview, or Tier I and Tier II, keeps a date and a set of subjects for each phase.
- Roadmap shows one card for each goal and a shared shortage message. Month and Week list the subjects of both goals together, each tagged with its exam, and show one buffer for the whole period.
- Archive keeps a paused goal’s syllabus, notes, progress and history, and restoring the goal brings it back.
See Preparing for two exams at once for the method.
What this page does not tell you
It does not say whether to prepare for both exams, how many hours either needs, or how much of one syllabus counts for the other. It compares printed names and stated levels, not the depth of the questions. It does not predict marks, ranks or selection. Dates, fees, age limits, attempts and eligibility are in the exam bodies’ notices.