IES/ISS 2026 Question Paper: Download Paper and Answer Key PDF
IES/ISS 2026 Question Papers are available after the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination is conducted from June 19 to June 21, 2026. As per the timetable, General English is held on June 19 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, while General Studies is conducted from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
IES/ISS 2026 Question Paper PDFs
| Exam Date | Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|
| June 19, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 General English Question Paper PDF |
| June 19, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 General Studies Question Paper PDF |
| June 20, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 General Economics-I Question Paper PDF |
| June 20, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 Statistics-I Question Paper PDF |
| June 20, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 General Economics-II Question Paper PDF |
| June 20, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 Statistics-II Question Paper PDF |
| June 21, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 General Economics-III Question Paper PDF |
| June 21, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 Statistics-III Question Paper PDF |
| June 21, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 Indian Economics Question Paper PDF |
| June 21, 2026 | IES/ISS 2026 Statistics-IV Question Paper PDF |
IES/ISS 2026 Exam Pattern
IES/ISS exam is conducted in two stages: Written Examination and Personality Test/Viva Voce. The written exam carries 1000 marks, while the interview carries 200 marks. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in both stages.
| Paper | IES Subject | ISS Subject | Marks | Duration | Paper Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General English | General English | 100 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Paper 2 | General Studies | General Studies | 100 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Paper 3 | General Economics-I | Statistics-I | 200 | IES: 3 Hours; ISS: 2 Hours | IES: Descriptive; ISS: Objective |
| Paper 4 | General Economics-II | Statistics-II | 200 | IES: 3 Hours; ISS: 2 Hours | IES: Descriptive; ISS: Objective |
| Paper 5 | General Economics-III | Statistics-III | 200 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Paper 6 | Indian Economics | Statistics-IV | 200 | 3 Hours | Descriptive |
| Written Exam Total | — | — | 1000 | — | — |
| Personality Test/Viva Voce | — | — | 200 | — | Interview |
| Final Total | — | — | 1200 | — | — |
IES/ISS 2026 Subject-wise Weightage
The subject-specific papers carry the highest weightage in the IES/ISS exam. Economics papers for IES and Statistics papers for ISS together carry 800 marks in the written examination. Therefore, candidates should give more preparation time to their core subject papers.
| Section | Marks | Weightage in Written Exam | Weightage in Final Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 100 | 10% | 8.33% |
| General Studies | 100 | 10% | 8.33% |
| Economics/Statistics Papers | 800 | 80% | 66.67% |
| Written Examination | 1000 | 100% | 83.33% |
| Personality Test/Viva Voce | 200 | — | 16.67% |
| Final Marks | 1200 | — | 100% |
IES/ISS Previous Year Papers Exam Analysis
General English Analysis
General English usually includes essay writing, précis writing, comprehension, grammar, and expression-based questions.
Candidates are expected to write clear, formal, and well-structured answers.
Regular writing practice is important to score well in this paper.
General Studies Analysis
General Studies questions are generally based on current affairs, polity, history, geography, economy, and general awareness.
Candidates should focus on basic concepts along with recent national and international developments.
Reading newspapers and revising current events can help in this section.
IES Economics Papers Analysis
IES Economics papers are descriptive and analytical in nature.
Important areas include microeconomics, macroeconomics, public finance, international economics, development economics, and quantitative methods.
Indian Economics questions often focus on planning, economic reforms, poverty, employment, inflation, agriculture, industry, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and current economic issues.
Candidates should support answers with diagrams, examples, data, and relevant economic terms wherever required.
ISS Statistics Papers Analysis
Statistics-I and Statistics-II are objective papers, so candidates need speed and accuracy.
Statistics-III and Statistics-IV are descriptive papers and require detailed explanations, derivations, interpretation, and application-based answers.
Important topics include probability, statistical inference, sampling theory, regression, linear models, econometrics, time series, and applied statistics.
Formula revision and numerical practice are very important for ISS preparation.
IES/ISS Preparation Tips 2026
Subject-Wise Preparation Tips
- Start preparation by reading the official syllabus and exam pattern carefully.
- Give maximum time to Economics for IES and Statistics for ISS.
- Prepare short notes for theories, formulas, definitions, models, diagrams, and important examples.
- Revise important concepts regularly instead of reading new topics at the last moment.
- Focus on conceptual clarity because the exam tests both knowledge and application.
Tips for IES Candidates
- Revise microeconomics, macroeconomics, public finance, international economics, and development economics thoroughly.
- Prepare Indian Economy with current data, government schemes, budget highlights, and recent policy changes.
- Practise writing analytical answers with diagrams, examples, and economic terminology.
- Use previous year papers to identify frequently asked areas.
Tips for ISS Candidates
- Practise numerical questions daily from probability, inference, sampling, regression, and time series.
- Revise formulas and important derivations regularly.
- Attempt mock tests for Statistics-I and Statistics-II to improve speed in objective papers.
- For descriptive Statistics papers, practise step-by-step solutions and proper interpretation.
Tips for General English and General Studies
- Practise essays, précis writing, comprehension, grammar, and formal expression for General English.
- For General Studies, revise current affairs, polity, history, geography, economy, and basic science.
- Make short notes of important events and revise them regularly.
- Attempt previous year papers in a timed manner to improve confidence before the exam.
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| IES ISS Exam Pattern | IES ISS Syllabus | IES ISS Eligibility |
| IES ISS Result | IES ISS Admit Card | IES ISS Previous Papers |
IES/ISS 2026 Question Paper FAQs
Ques: What is the IES/ISS 2026 exam date?
Ans: The UPSC IES/ISS 2026 exam is scheduled from June 19 to June 21, 2026.
Ques: What are the IES/ISS 2026 exam timings?
Ans: The exam will be held in morning and afternoon shifts. Most descriptive papers will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Statistics-I and Statistics-II will be conducted for 2 hours each.
Ques: Are all IES/ISS papers descriptive?
Ans: No. In IES, all papers are descriptive. In ISS, Statistics-I and Statistics-II are objective papers, while General English, General Studies, Statistics-III, and Statistics-IV are descriptive.
Ques: Why should candidates solve IES/ISS previous year papers?
Ans: Candidates should solve previous year papers to understand the paper pattern, difficulty level, important topics, answer-writing style, and time management strategy.
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