UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026 Out, Download Paper 1 & 2 PDF

The UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026 was conducted on August 30, 2026 (Sunday) as part of the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026. Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) was conducted through two papers, with Optional Subject Paper 1 in the forenoon session and Paper 2 in the afternoon session. Each paper carried 250 marks, making the optional subject worth 500 marks in total.

UPSC Mains PSIR Optional Paper 2026 Out

UPSC PSIR Optional 2026 question papers have been released as the exam is conducted and these papers can be used to review the questions asked, assess the paper's overall demand, and compare the topics with previous years' papers. 

UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026 Download PDF

The UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026 PDF is available for candidates who appeared for the Political Science and International Relations optional examination. The exam was conducted on August 30, 2026, with Paper 1 in the forenoon session and Paper 2 in the afternoon session. Candidates can download the PSIR Optional Paper 2026 PDF using the link provided below for both papers.

Download PSIR Optional Paper 1 PDF
Download PSIR Optional Paper 2 PDF

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How to Download UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026

Candidates can download the UPSC PSIR Optional Paper 2026 PDF online by visiting the official UPSC website and following the steps given below:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: Go to upsc.gov.in, the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
2. Open the Examinations section: On the homepage, click on the “Examinations” section to access examination-related information.
3. Select Previous Question Papers: Find and click on the “Previous Question Papers” option to access the question paper archive.
4. Choose Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026: From the list of available examinations, select Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026.
5. Find the PSIR Optional Paper: Look for Political Science and International Relations in the list of optional subject question papers.
6. Select the required paper: Click on the link for PSIR Optional Paper-I or PSIR Optional Paper-II, depending on the paper you want to download.
7. Open the PDF: The selected question paper will open in PDF format in a new browser tab or window.
8. Download and save the paper: Click the Download icon and save the PDF on your device for future reference, analysis, and answer-writing practice.

Also Check: UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026

UPSC PSIR Optional Previous Year Papers

Candidates can use the UPSC PSIR Optional previous year question papers from 2016 to 2025 to understand the question pattern, identify recurring topics, and practise answer writing. The papers are available separately for Paper I and Paper II.