UP Police Constable draws more applications than almost any state recruitment in India, and the written paper is built to test breadth rather than depth. Four subjects carry roughly equal weight, which means no single strength can carry you and no single weakness can be hidden. General Knowledge is the section where preparation converts most reliably into marks, and Uttar Pradesh's own general knowledge is the part most candidates leave until too late. This guide covers the exam structure, eligibility, physical standards and a study plan built around how the paper is actually weighted.
Key Points (Quick Revision)
- Conducted by the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB).
- Written exam of 150 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours — each question carries 2 marks.
- Four subjects: General Knowledge, General Hindi, Numerical Ability, Reasoning.
- Negative marking of 0.5 marks per wrong answer.
- Selection = Written Exam → Document Verification → Physical Standard Test → Physical Efficiency Test.
Who conducts it and what the written paper looks like
The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board conducts the constable recruitment. Postings are within Uttar Pradesh, and given the size of the force, the number of vacancies notified in a single cycle regularly runs into tens of thousands — which is also why competition is intense.
The written examination has 150 objective questions worth 300 marks, since each question carries 2 marks, to be completed in two hours. Negative marking of half a mark applies for each wrong answer.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 38 | 76 |
| General Hindi | 37 | 74 |
| Numerical and Mental Ability | 38 | 76 |
| Mental Aptitude, IQ and Reasoning | 37 | 74 |
The four sections are almost evenly split, which changes how you should plan. There is no section you can afford to skip, and no section worth over-preparing at the cost of another. Confirm the exact distribution from the current notification on uppbpb.gov.in, since the Board has adjusted it between cycles.
General Knowledge — what actually appears
The General Knowledge section stays at a general awareness level rather than testing academic depth. Questions draw from Indian history and the freedom movement, geography of India and the world, the Constitution and Indian polity, the economy, general science, sports, awards and honours, books and authors, important days, and current affairs of roughly the past year.
Police-specific general awareness also appears and is worth preparing separately: the structure of the police force, basic knowledge of the Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, cybercrime awareness, and topics such as internal security and human rights. These are not deep legal questions, but they are outside the standard GK syllabus, so candidates who prepare only general Static GK miss them.
Uttar Pradesh's own general knowledge deserves its own revision sheet. Questions cover the state's districts and divisions, its rivers, historical sites such as Sarnath, Fatehpur Sikri, Ayodhya and Varanasi, folk arts and festivals, state government schemes, and the administrative structure. It is a small, finite list and one of the easiest places to gain marks over candidates who ignore it.
🎯 Crack SSC, UPSC & Railway faster! Join the 100 Hour GS Course 2026 (रामबाण Batch) by Akshay Sir.
Cover the full General Studies syllabus in a fixed, structured schedule.
General Hindi — do not treat it as an afterthought
General Hindi carries 37 questions and 74 marks, almost exactly the same weight as General Knowledge, yet it is routinely the least prepared section. Candidates assume that speaking Hindi fluently is the same as scoring in a Hindi grammar paper. It is not.
The section tests grammar and usage rather than conversation: sandhi and samas, tatsam and tadbhav words, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and proverbs, spelling corrections, sentence correction, and comprehension of a short passage. All of it is learnable from a standard Hindi grammar book, and previous-year papers repeat question patterns closely.
Given the weight, a few weeks of focused grammar work here typically returns more marks than the same time spent pushing an already-strong section further.
Eligibility, age and physical standards
The educational qualification is a 12th pass, or intermediate, from a recognised board. The age band is generally 18 to 25 years for male candidates and 18 to 28 for female candidates, with relaxations as per Uttar Pradesh government rules for reserved categories and other notified groups. Domicile and reservation rules differ from central exams, so read the state notification directly.
After the written stage, candidates face document verification followed by the Physical Standard Test measuring height and chest, and then the Physical Efficiency Test, which is a timed run — the distance and time limits differ for male and female candidates.
The PET is qualifying rather than competitive, but it is where a large number of otherwise successful candidates are eliminated. Start running early. The gap between the written result and the physical stage is short, and stamina built over months cannot be replicated in weeks.
A study plan that matches an even split
Because the four sections carry near-equal weight, the efficient strategy is to raise your weakest section rather than perfect your strongest. A candidate scoring evenly across all four will beat one who is excellent at two and weak at two.
For General Knowledge, start with Static GK since it is finite and permanent — organisations and headquarters, countries and currencies, national parks, important days, classical dances. Add school-level general science, then history, polity and geography through short notes and previous-year questions. Keep two separate sheets running from day one: one for Uttar Pradesh GK and one for police-related awareness.
For General Hindi, work through a standard grammar book systematically and solve previous-year sections weekly. This is the highest-return section for most candidates precisely because it is the most neglected.
For Numerical Ability and Reasoning, daily timed practice matters more than theory, and negative marking means accuracy beats speed — attempt only where you can eliminate options confidently.
Aspirants also preparing for SSC GD Constable or Delhi Police Constable will find the General Knowledge and reasoning base transfers directly. For structured General Studies coverage, see the Crazy GkTrick course catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many General Knowledge questions come in UP Police Constable?
General Knowledge carries 38 questions worth 76 marks out of 150 questions and 300 marks. All four sections carry near-equal weight, so General Knowledge is important but cannot be relied on alone to clear the cutoff.
Is there negative marking in UP Police Constable?
Yes, half a mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Since each correct answer carries 2 marks, the penalty is proportionally smaller than in SSC exams, but blind guessing across many questions still costs more than it gains.
What is the qualification and age limit?
A 12th pass or intermediate from a recognised board is required. The age band is generally 18 to 25 years for male candidates and 18 to 28 for female candidates, with relaxations as per Uttar Pradesh government rules stated in each notification.
Which section should I focus on first?
General Hindi, if you have been neglecting it. It carries 37 questions and 74 marks, nearly as much as General Knowledge, and it is the section most candidates underprepare because they assume speaking Hindi is enough. It tests grammar, and grammar is learnable quickly.
Is UP-specific GK asked in the exam?
Yes. Questions cover Uttar Pradesh's districts, rivers, historical sites such as Sarnath, Fatehpur Sikri and Varanasi, folk arts, festivals, state schemes and administrative structure. Police-related awareness including basic IPC, CrPC and cybercrime topics also appears regularly.