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How UPSC repeats how it thinks

Not subject weightage — the patterns: which ideas travel across exams, how a topic's focus shifts over time, and what UPSC keeps returning to.

In 5 minutes here you'll see what a coaching weightage chart can't: how ideas travel across UPSC's exams, which topics are rising or fading, and which ideas always come back.

Cross-exam propagation

The same idea tracked across exams by first appearance — an idea often surfaces in one exam (CSE · CDS · CAPF · NDA · CISF …) and recurs in the others, year after year.
Vijayanagara Empirecross-exam
CAPF 2014 → CDS 2015 → CSE 2019 → NDA 2021 → CISF 2021 → GEO 2023 → EPFO 2023
Myanmarcross-exam
CDS 2015 → CSE 2016 → EPFO 2020 → NDA 2021 → CAPF 2021 → GEO 2021 → CISF 2026
ISROcross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2014 → CSE 2018 → CISF 2020 → LDCE 2023 → NDA 2023 → GEO 2026
Ashokacross-exam
CDS 2014 → CSE 2016 → NDA 2021 → CAPF 2022 → CBI 2023 → GEO 2026
Round Table Conferencecross-exam
CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → NDA 2022 → CISF 2022 → EPFO 2023 → CAPF 2024
New Delhicross-exam
CDS 2015 → CAPF 2015 → GEO 2022 → NDA 2023 → LDCE 2025 → CSE 2026
Francecross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2014 → EPFO 2015 → NDA 2021 → LDCE 2024 → CSE 2025
Sri Lankacross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2014 → CSE 2020 → NDA 2021 → LDCE 2025
Arya Samajcross-exam
CAPF 2015 → CDS 2017 → CSE 2018 → NDA 2021 → CBI 2023
Gandhi-Irwin Pactcross-exam
CAPF 2015 → EPFO 2015 → CSE 2020 → CDS 2021 → NDA 2022
Indian National Armycross-exam
CAPF 2015 → CDS 2018 → CSE 2021 → EPFO 2023 → GEO 2025
Indian Railwayscross-exam
CAPF 2016 → CDS 2017 → EPFO 2020 → CISF 2020 → CSE 2025
Hampicross-exam
CDS 2014 → CSE 2019 → CAPF 2020 → CISF 2020 → GEO 2023
Lord Irwincross-exam
CAPF 2015 → EPFO 2015 → CSE 2020 → NDA 2020 → CDS 2021
Irancross-exam
CAPF 2014 → CSE 2016 → CDS 2018 → CISF 2022 → GEO 2022
Transpirationcross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2016 → CSE 2018 → NDA 2021 → GEO 2025
Jayaprakash Narayancross-exam
CAPF 2017 → EPFO 2020 → NDA 2023 → CSE 2026 → CDS 2026
National Green Tribunalcross-exam
CAPF 2015 → CSE 2018 → CDS 2019 → EPFO 2020 → CISF 2023
Tribal revoltscross-exam
CAPF 2016 → CSE 2018 → CBI 2023 → EPFO 2025 → CISF 2025
Gravitational wavescross-exam
CAPF 2016 → CDS 2017 → CSE 2019 → GEO 2022 → NDA 2024
Subhas Chandra Bosecross-exam
CDS 2018 → EPFO 2020 → NDA 2022 → CSE 2026
Non-Cooperation Movementcross-exam
CDS 2014 → EPFO 2015 → NDA 2024 → CSE 2025
Indian Armycross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2015 → NDA 2021 → CSE 2026
Muslim Leaguecross-exam
CAPF 2015 → CSE 2016 → CDS 2017 → EPFO 2020
Cabinet Missioncross-exam
CDS 2014 → CSE 2015 → CAPF 2015 → EPFO 2020
Polymerscross-exam
CDS 2017 → CAPF 2017 → CSE 2021 → ESE 2022
Jainismcross-exam
CDS 2014 → CSE 2017 → CAPF 2018 → CISF 2021
Goods and Services Taxcross-exam
CDS 2017 → CSE 2017 → CAPF 2022 → ESE 2024
Brazilcross-exam
CDS 2014 → CAPF 2021 → GEO 2021 → CSE 2024
Warren Hastingscross-exam
CDS 2015 → CSE 2018 → NDA 2023 → GEO 2023

Topic evolution — then vs now

How often a topic was tested in 1979–2020 vs 2021–2026. ↑ rising focus · ↓ fading.
Inflation…–2020 36 · 2021–26 20 ↓
Fundamental Rights…–2020 25 · 2021–26 23 ↓
Optics…–2020 15 · 2021–26 36 ↑
Directive Principles of State Policy…–2020 27 · 2021–26 22 ↓
Right to Information…–2020 0 · 2021–26 44 ↑
Parliamentary procedure…–2020 8 · 2021–26 33 ↑
Article 368…–2020 21 · 2021–26 17 ↓
Refraction…–2020 10 · 2021–26 22 ↑
Nutrition…–2020 22 · 2021–26 9 ↓
Panchayati Raj…–2020 15 · 2021–26 16 ↑
Photosynthesis…–2020 14 · 2021–26 16 ↑
Taxation…–2020 22 · 2021–26 7 ↓
Monsoon…–2020 23 · 2021–26 6 ↓
Article 51A…–2020 16 · 2021–26 12 ↓
Buoyancy…–2020 13 · 2021–26 13 →
Gravitation…–2020 11 · 2021–26 13 ↑
Air pollution…–2020 18 · 2021–26 5 ↓
Article 110…–2020 15 · 2021–26 7 ↓

Most recurring ideas

Concepts UPSC returns to across the most distinct years — the surest repeat-bets.
Reserve Bank of Indiarecurs across 27 years · 1980–2026 · 64 PYQs
Inflationrecurs across 26 years · 1979–2025 · 56 PYQs
Indiarecurs across 24 years · 1980–2026 · 84 PYQs
Rajya Sabharecurs across 22 years · 1981–2026 · 27 PYQs
Supreme Court of Indiarecurs across 21 years · 1979–2026 · 41 PYQs
Election Commission of Indiarecurs across 21 years · 1980–2026 · 29 PYQs
Fundamental Rightsrecurs across 20 years · 1979–2026 · 52 PYQs
Directive Principles of State Policyrecurs across 20 years · 1981–2025 · 50 PYQs
Monsoonrecurs across 19 years · 1979–2026 · 29 PYQs
Keralarecurs across 19 years · 1979–2026 · 26 PYQs
Article 368recurs across 18 years · 1981–2026 · 38 PYQs
Taxationrecurs across 18 years · 1982–2025 · 29 PYQs
Panchayati Rajrecurs across 17 years · 1981–2026 · 31 PYQs
Article 110recurs across 17 years · 1980–2025 · 22 PYQs
Photosynthesisrecurs across 16 years · 1979–2026 · 30 PYQs
Article 51Arecurs across 16 years · 1979–2025 · 28 PYQs
Buoyancyrecurs across 16 years · 1979–2026 · 26 PYQs
Mahatma Gandhirecurs across 15 years · 2011–2026 · 109 PYQs
Indian National Congressrecurs across 15 years · 2012–2026 · 94 PYQs
Constituent Assembly of Indiarecurs across 15 years · 1979–2024 · 34 PYQs
Chinarecurs across 15 years · 1979–2026 · 32 PYQs
Nutritionrecurs across 15 years · 1979–2023 · 31 PYQs
Gravitationrecurs across 15 years · 1979–2026 · 24 PYQs
Air pollutionrecurs across 15 years · 1979–2023 · 23 PYQs
Subject weightage is a secondary reference on the home page.
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