The pattern of the **UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam** involves two papers: **General Studies** and **CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)**. The General Studies paper assesses candidates' grasp of a wide range of topics, including **history, geography, polity, economy,** and **environment**. The CSAT evaluates reasoning, comprehension, and analytical skills. Both papers are objective in nature, consisting of multiple-choice questions. A key feature is that negative marking is applied for incorrect answers, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and strategic answering. Scoring well in these preliminary exams is critical for advancing to the Mains stage.