UPSC CSE revision tracker and checklist
This free tracker has one row for each of the 82 units in the UPSC CSE syllabus, taken from the exam body's own documents, with six round columns beside each one. Download it as Excel, CSV or PDF, or print this page, and write the date of each revision round in its own column.
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Source: Civil Services Examination, 2026, Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026. Checked on 23 October 2026. Next check: when the Union Public Service Commission publishes a new notice, and at least once a quarter.
Revision tracker: UPSC CSEaspirantgoal.com
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| Subject | Topic path | First pass finished on | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Recall at last round | Next round on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper-I | Current events of national and international importance | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | History of India and Indian National Movement | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-I | General Science | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | Comprehension | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | Interpersonal skills including communication skills | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | Logical reasoning and analytical ability | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | Decision making and problem solving | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | General mental ability | |||||||||
| General Studies Paper-II | Basic numeracy (numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency etc., Class X level) | |||||||||
| Paper-A and Paper-B: question pattern | Comprehension of given passages | |||||||||
| Paper-A and Paper-B: question pattern | Precis Writing | |||||||||
| Paper-A and Paper-B: question pattern | Usage and Vocabulary | |||||||||
| Paper-A and Paper-B: question pattern | Short Essays | |||||||||
| Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern | Comprehension of given passages | |||||||||
| Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern | Precis Writing | |||||||||
| Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern | Usage and Vocabulary | |||||||||
| Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern | Short Essays | |||||||||
| Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern | Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice-versa | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | The Freedom Struggle: its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.: their forms and effect on the society | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Effects of globalization on Indian society | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Salient features of world's physical geography | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India) | |||||||||
| Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society | Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Indian Constitution: historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Parliament and State legislatures: structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary: Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Salient features of the Representation of People's Act | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Development processes and the development industry: the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Issues relating to poverty and hunger | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Role of civil services in a democracy | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | India and its neighborhood- relations | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora | |||||||||
| Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations | Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Inclusive growth and issues arising from it | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Government Budgeting | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, - different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Food processing and related industries in India- scope' and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Land reforms in India | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Investment models | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Disaster and disaster management | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Linkages between development and spread of extremism | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Security challenges and their management in border areas - linkages of organized crime with terrorism | |||||||||
| Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management | Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption | |||||||||
| Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude | Case Studies on above issues |
What the sheet covers
82 units in 8 subjects, as the exam body lists them, each with room for six rounds:
- General Studies Paper-I: 7 units
- General Studies Paper-II: 6 units
- Paper-A and Paper-B: question pattern: 4 units
- Paper-A, Indian Languages: question pattern: 5 units
- Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society: 12 units
- Paper-III: General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations: 20 units
- Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management: 20 units
- Paper-V: General Studies-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude: 8 units
What a revision round is
A round is one pass through a unit you have already finished once. The first pass has its own column, First pass finished on, and the six Round columns hold the passes after it, one date each. AspirantGoal counts rounds the same way: repeating a completed stage starts the next round, so Revision round 2 follows Revision round 1. The glossary has the app's definition.
Using the sheet
- Write the date you finished the first pass in First pass finished on. Tick the unit on the UPSC CSE syllabus tracker and the date appears here by itself.
- Go through the unit again. Answer its prompt from memory before you open your notes, then write the date in the next free Round column.
- Write how much you could recall in Recall at last round: Weak, Partly or Solid in the Excel file, or any mark you like on paper.
- Choose the gap to the next round from that: longer after a good answer, shorter after a poor one. Write the date in Next round on, or let the Excel file work it out.
On this page you can also tick a round: the date fills in, your ticks stay in this browser and nothing is sent anywhere. The Excel file adds the totals and works out Next round on from four gaps in days that you type in the yellow cells. It picks no gap for you.
Choosing the gap between rounds
Two methods are rated highest in a 2013 review by Dunlosky and colleagues: testing yourself from memory and spreading study over time. A 2006 review by Cepeda and colleagues found that the best gap between sessions grows with the time until the test. The studies do not give a best gap or a best number of rounds for a particular syllabus, so the sheet leaves both to you. The revision guide has the sources, a worked example and what the studies do not show.
How long one round takes
One round is 82 units. These are sums, not advice about pace, and the time a unit takes is yours to measure:
- At 2 units a day, one round takes 41 days.
- At 4 units a day, one round takes 21 days.
- At 6 units a day, one round takes 14 days.
For hours instead of days, the syllabus hours calculator takes the same units.
Where the units come from
The units are the ones on the UPSC CSE syllabus tracker, copied from the exam body's notice: Civil Services Examination, 2026, Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026. Checked on 23 October 2026. The exam body's current notice is the authority: syllabus units can change, so compare this sheet with it and edit what differs. AspirantGoal is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Union Public Service Commission or any exam authority.
Related
- UPSC CSE syllabus tracker: the same units with minutes and the first pass
- UPSC CSE: structure, papers, syllabus and sources
- UPSC CSE study plan: hours by subject from the marks and units, with a free sheet
- A revision schedule that starts from your own notes
- What to put in a session note
The other 10 exams that have a revision tracker: GATE, IIT JAM, JEE Advanced, JEE Main, NEET UG, RRB NTPC, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, UGC NET Paper I, UPSC ESE Paper I. All the free tools are on the free tools page.
Questions about the UPSC CSE revision tracker
Is there a free UPSC CSE revision tracker as a PDF and an Excel file?
Yes. This page has one row for each of the 82 units in 8 subjects, with six round columns beside each one, and the same sheet to download as Excel, CSV and PDF. The tracker is free, needs no sign-up and carries the AspirantGoal mark in every format.
What is a revision round in this tracker?
A round is one pass through a unit you have already finished once. You write the date in the next free Round column of that unit. AspirantGoal counts rounds the same way: repeating a completed stage starts the next round, so Revision round 2 follows Revision round 1.
How many revision rounds does UPSC CSE need?
No document from the Union Public Service Commission says, and the research this site cites gives a direction, not a count. The six columns are room, not a target. How many rounds a unit gets, and how far apart they are, is for you to set from how well you can recall it.
How long does one round of the UPSC CSE sheet take?
That depends on how many units you go through in a day. The sheet has 82 units, so at 2 units a day one round takes 41 days, at 4 a day 21 days and at 6 a day 14 days. These are sums, not advice on pace: a unit may be a set of questions or a list of prompts, and the time it takes is yours to measure.
Does this tracker use the dates from the UPSC CSE syllabus tracker?
On this site, yes. When you tick a unit as finished on the UPSC CSE syllabus tracker, its date appears in First pass finished on here. Both pages keep your ticks in this browser and send nothing anywhere. The downloaded files do not link to each other.
Where are the UPSC CSE units copied from?
From the documents of the Union Public Service Commission, which the UPSC CSE page lists with the page or paragraph for each fact. They were checked on 23 October 2026.
Let the app count the rounds.
AspirantGoal counts each revision round and leaves your first-pass coverage unchanged. Install it and revise one topic.