UPSC 2028 Complete Roadmap (Beginner Friendly, Full-Time, 7–8 Hrs/Day Strategy)
Objective: To clear UPSC CSE 2028 in the first attempt with a structured, phase-
wise, and monthly plan for aspirants starting in July 2025.
Includes Prelims, Mains & Interview Built for full-time aspirants (college-free)
Balanced workload, strategic breaks & revision cycles Covers NCERTs, standard
books, CA, CSAT, essay, optional
Exam Timeline Estimate
• Prelims: ~May/June 2028
• Mains: ~Jul/Sept 2028
• Interview: Jan–Feb 2029
Standard Booklist (Toppers’ Preferred)
Polity – M. Laxmikanth, Previous Year Qs
Modern History – Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir)
Ancient/Medieval – Tamil Nadu Board + NCERTs
Geography – GC Leong, 11–12th NCERTs, Oxford Atlas
Economy – 11th-12th NCERT, Sriram IAS, Economic Survey
Environment – Shankar IAS Book
S&T – NCERTs + CA Notes
CSAT – Arihant Manual + PYQs
Essay – Vision/Forum Essay Booklets
Current Affairs – Hindu/Indian Express, PIB, Vision CA, PRS, Yojana Optional – Based
on interest (e.g. PSIR, Sociology, Geography)
Phase-Wise Strategy with Month-Wise Breakdown
Phase 1: Foundation Phase (July 2025 – March 2026)
Goal: Build conceptual clarity through NCERTs + start standard books + CSAT basics
July 2025
• NCERTs 6–8: Polity, History, Geography, Science – daily 2 subjects
• Newspaper Reading (The Hindu/IE – 30–45 mins/day)
• Make notes from CA + Highlight-only strategy
• CSAT: Basic Arithmetic – %ages, Averages, Ratio
• Weekly Revision: Sunday Recaps
August 2025
• NCERTs 9–10: Polity, Geography, Economy
• Spectrum Modern History – Ch 1–4
• CSAT: Reasoning – Series, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism
• Prelims PYQs (1 subject/week)
September 2025
• NCERTs 11–12 Geography + GC Leong
• Polity: Laxmikanth Ch 1–12
• Current Affairs Notes – Theme-Wise File Start
• CSAT: Comprehension (Basic)
October 2025
• Polity: Laxmikanth Ch 13–End
• History: Spectrum Ch 5–10 + Ancient/Medieval (TN Board/NCERT)
• CA Revision: July–Sept
• CSAT: Quant Mock Practice
November 2025
• Economy NCERTs + Start Sriram IAS notes (GDP, Inflation, Budget)
• Environment: Shankar IAS Ch 1–6
• Weekly Mixed MCQs Practice
December 2025
• Environment Continued (Ch 7–12)
• Economic Survey 2024–25 Summary
• PYQ Focus: Economy + Environment
January 2026
• Science & Tech NCERTs (Class 6–10)
• Essay: Start with general social topics
• GS Mains Style: Answer Writing (1/day)
February–March 2026
• NCERT + Core Book Revision (1 Subject/3 days)
• Prelims + CSAT Mock 1 each
• Ethics Orientation (Glossary + Values Notes)
Phase 2: Mains-Oriented Phase (April 2026 – Jan 2027)
Goal: Deep dive into GS, Ethics, Optional & Essay
April 2026
• GS1: Art & Culture (Nitin Singhania) + Modern History (Deep Dive)
• GS2: Polity – Governance, Constitution, Rights issues
• Optional Paper 1 (Basic concepts)
• Essay: Social Justice + Philosophy
May 2026
• GS2: Schemes, Policies, Institutions
• GS1: Post-Independence India + World History
• Essay: Value-based topics
June 2026
• GS3: Economic Issues (Agriculture, Budget, Inclusive Growth)
• GS4: Thinkers + Ethics Case Examples
• Optional Paper 1 Continued
July 2026
• GS3: Internal Security + Disaster Mgmt + S&T (CA-based)
• GS4: Case Studies Practice
• Full Test 1 (Essay + GS1)
• Optional Paper 2 Begins
August 2026
• GS2: International Relations + Revise Polity
• Essay: Mock + Peer Evaluation
• Optional Paper 2 Midway
September–October 2026
• Full GS1–GS3 Revision
• Optional Paper 2 Finish
• Start Mains Full Test Series (1 Paper/10 days)
Nov–Jan 2027
• Mains Tests Continue
• Essay Alternate Weeks
• CA Answer Notes Compilation (Govt schemes, IR, Polity)
Phase 3: Integrated Focus (Feb 2027 – Dec 2027)
Goal: Balance Prelims-Mains + Consolidated Revisions
Feb–April 2027
• 30 MCQs/day + 2 Mains answers
• Essay: Biweekly (2/month)
• Optional Revision Begins
• Monthly CA Tests (Pre + Mains format)
May–June 2027
• Subject-wise Full Tests (Prelims)
• Revise Static Core (Polity, Modern, Eco, Env)
• CSAT Full Mocks – 1/week
July–Dec 2027
• Full-Length Prelims Tests: 2–3/week
• Mains Mocks: 1/week (Essay + GS)
• PYQs Practice (Pre + Mains – theme-wise)
• Current Affairs Revision Sheets (2025–2027)
Phase 4: Prelims-Only Focus (Jan 2028 – May 2028)
Goal: Master accuracy, speed & confidence
January–February 2028
• Subject-wise quick revision (1 subject in 3 days)
• Daily MCQs: 60 (GS + CA mix)
• Weekly CSAT Practice
• PYQs Retake Round 2
March 2028
• Mixed Topic Mocks (Full Syllabus)
• CA Final Summary Notes (June 2026–Feb 2028)
• One Subject Deep Focus/day
April 2028
• FLTs (3–4/week) with Post-Test Analysis
• CSAT Speed Practice + Elimination Drills
May 2028
• Last 15 Days: Static Summaries + Weak Area Revision
• Final Practice Mocks
• Confidence & Strategy Revision (Notes Only)
Phase 5: Interview Preparation (Oct 2028 – Jan 2029)
• DAF-Based Preparation (Background, Education, Optional, Hobbies)
• Mock Interviews (Online/Offline)
• Daily Newspaper (45 mins) + Ethics & Opinion Note-Making
