UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 - Complete Information
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026. This year, approximately 933 vacancies have been announced across various Group A and Group B services including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other central services under the Government of India.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is considered one of the most competitive and prestigious examinations in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants compete for limited positions in various all-India services and central services. Success in this examination opens doors to a rewarding career in civil administration, offering opportunities to serve the nation, influence policy-making, and contribute to national development at the highest levels of governance.
About UPSC and the Civil Services
The Union Public Service Commission is India's premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting examinations for appointments to various civil services of the Government of India. Established in 1926, UPSC has been instrumental in selecting the brightest minds for administrative positions across the country. The commission operates with complete autonomy and maintains the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity in its recruitment process.
The Civil Services comprise various services with distinct roles and responsibilities. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers work in district administration, state secretariats, and central government ministries. Indian Police Service (IPS) officers handle law enforcement, intelligence, and internal security. Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers represent India in diplomatic missions worldwide. Other services like Indian Revenue Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and Indian Economic Service handle specialized functions in taxation, auditing, and economic policy formulation respectively.
Vacancy Details and Service-wise Distribution
The total number of vacancies for UPSC CSE 2026 is approximately 933 posts. This includes vacancies across 24 services - 3 All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS) and 21 Central Services. The distribution varies each year based on requirements projected by respective cadre controlling authorities. The final number of vacancies is approximate and may increase or decrease depending on actual requirements and administrative decisions.
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) typically has the highest number of vacancies, followed by Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS). Other major services include Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Civil Accounts Service, Indian Corporate Law Service, Indian Defence Accounts Service, Indian Defence Estates Service, Indian Information Service, Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Indian Postal Service, Indian Railway Accounts Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Railway Traffic Service, and various other specialized services.
The vacancies are distributed among different categories including Unreserved (UR), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Horizontal reservations are also provided for ex-servicemen in certain services where applicable. Category-wise and service-wise detailed vacancy information is available in the official notification published by UPSC.
Educational Qualification Requirements
To appear for the Civil Services Examination, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent qualification. Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results can also apply provisionally. However, they must produce proof of passing the degree examination before the commencement of the Personality Test (Interview) stage.
Degrees obtained through distance education or correspondence mode from UGC-recognized universities are acceptable. Professional qualifications like CA, ICWA, MBBS, Engineering degrees, etc., from recognized institutions are also valid. Foreign degrees must be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or relevant statutory body. There is no minimum percentage requirement in graduation for appearing in this examination.
Age Limit and Number of Attempts
The minimum age limit for UPSC CSE is 21 years, and the maximum age limit is 32 years as on 01 August 2026. This means candidates born between 02 August 1994 and 01 August 2005 are eligible to apply. Age is calculated based on the date mentioned in the matriculation or equivalent certificate issued by a recognized Board or University.
Age relaxation is provided as per Government of India rules: SC/ST candidates get relaxation up to 5 years (upper age limit 37 years), OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates get relaxation up to 3 years (upper age limit 35 years), Persons with Benchmark Disabilities get relaxation up to 10 years (up to 42 years for UR, 45 years for OBC, 47 years for SC/ST), Ex-servicemen, and Defense personnel get relaxations as per applicable rules.
Regarding number of attempts: General category candidates can attempt the examination 6 times until the age of 32 years. OBC candidates get 9 attempts until 35 years of age. SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts until 37 years of age. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities get 9 attempts (UR-PwBD), and unlimited attempts for SC/ST-PwBD categories. These provisions ensure that candidates from different backgrounds get adequate opportunities to clear this challenging examination.
Examination Pattern and Stages
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages - Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and Personality Test (Interview). The entire process spans approximately one year from the date of preliminary examination to the final declaration of results.
Preliminary Examination: This is the screening stage consisting of two objective type papers - General Studies Paper-I (200 marks) and General Studies Paper-II or CSAT (200 marks). Paper-I tests general awareness, current affairs, Indian polity, history, geography, economy, science, technology, and environment. Paper-II tests comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, and basic numeracy. Both papers are of 2 hours duration each. Candidates must secure minimum qualifying marks (33%) in CSAT (Paper-II), but the final Prelims merit is determined only based on marks scored in Paper-I. Approximately 10,000-12,000 candidates qualify for Mains based on Prelims performance.
Main Examination: This is the written examination consisting of 9 descriptive papers totaling 1750 marks. It includes one Essay paper (250 marks), four General Studies papers covering diverse topics like ethics, governance, polity, economy, international relations, science, technology, security, disaster management, etc. (250 marks each), and two Optional Subject papers (250 marks each) from a list of 48 subjects. Additionally, there are two qualifying language papers - one Indian language paper and one English paper (300 marks each, but marks not counted in final merit). The Mains examination tests in-depth knowledge, analytical ability, writing skills, and comprehension of complex issues.
Personality Test (Interview): Candidates qualifying in Mains are called for Personality Test conducted by a Board of competent and unbiased observers. The interview carries 275 marks and assesses the candidate's personality, intellectual ability, mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clarity of exposition, balance of judgment, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and moral integrity. The final merit list is prepared based on total marks obtained in Mains (1750) and Interview (275), aggregating to 2025 marks.
Application Fee Structure
The examination fee for Male candidates belonging to General, OBC, and EWS categories is Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only). Female candidates, SC/ST/PwBD candidates, and all candidates from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Lahaul & Spiti district, and Pangi sub-division of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh are exempted from paying the examination fee.
The fee can be paid through two modes - online payment using Net Banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card, or offline payment by generating SBI Challan and depositing cash at any branch of State Bank of India. Candidates opting for offline mode should note that the challan expires within validity period, and fee must be deposited before the last date. Fee once paid is neither refundable nor transferable under any circumstances. Candidates appearing for Civil Services Examination for the first time must pay the fee. Candidates appearing in subsequent attempts must also pay the fee each time.
Important Dates and Timeline
Online application registration and submission start date: 04 February 2026 (from 10:00 AM). Last date for online registration and submission: 24 February 2026 (until 6:00 PM). Last date for fee payment through online mode: 24 February 2026 (up to 11:59 PM). Last date for fee payment through offline mode (SBI Challan): 24 February 2026 (during banking hours). Candidates are advised not to wait for the last date and apply well in advance to avoid technical issues, server load, or payment gateway problems.
Civil Services Preliminary Examination date: Expected in May/June 2026 (exact date to be announced in admit card). Civil Services Main Examination: Expected in September/October 2026. Personality Test (Interview): Expected in February-April 2027. Final Result declaration: Expected in May/June 2027. The exact dates will be announced through official notifications and admit cards. Candidates must regularly check the UPSC official website for updates, announcements, and communications regarding the examination.
How to Apply Online - Complete Guide
Candidates must apply online through the official UPSC website only. Visit www.upsc.gov.in and look for the "ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS OF UPSC" link. Click on the link for Civil Services Examination 2026. Read the detailed notification and instructions carefully before proceeding with registration.
For first-time applicants: Click on "PART-I REGISTRATION". Fill in basic details including name, date of birth, gender, parent's/guardian's name, email ID, and mobile number. After successful submission of Part-I, a unique Registration ID will be generated and sent to registered email and mobile. This Registration ID remains valid for all future UPSC examinations.
After Part-I registration, proceed to "PART-II REGISTRATION" using your Registration ID. Login and fill detailed application form including educational qualifications, category details, correspondence address, optional subject choice (for Mains), examination center preference (for Prelims and Mains), medium of examination for Mains, and other relevant information. Upload scanned copies of recent passport size photograph (50 KB in JPG format) and signature (20 KB in JPG format) as per specifications.
After completing Part-II, proceed to fee payment. Select appropriate payment mode (online or offline) and complete the payment. For online payment, candidates will be redirected to payment gateway where they can pay using net banking, credit card, or debit card. After successful payment, submit the final application. Take multiple printouts of the filled application form along with fee payment receipt for future reference. Note down your Registration ID and Roll Number safely.
For candidates who have already registered earlier: If you have appeared for any UPSC examination previously and have a valid Registration ID, you need not register again in Part-I. Directly proceed to Part-II using your existing Registration ID. Update any changes in personal details, photograph, or signature if required. Complete the application and fee payment as mentioned above.
Examination Centers
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted at various centers across India in 97 cities. Candidates can choose any one center of their preference while filling the application form. However, UPSC reserves the right to cancel any of the centers and/or add new centers depending on administrative feasibility and number of candidates. No request for change of center will be entertained under any circumstances.
The Main Examination will be conducted at limited centers based on the number of candidates qualifying from Prelims. The center preference can be indicated during the application, and allotment will be done based on availability and candidate preference. Personality Test will be conducted at UPSC office in Dholpur House, New Delhi only. All travel and accommodation arrangements for interview must be made by candidates themselves.
Syllabus and Preparation Strategy
The UPSC CSE syllabus is vast covering almost all aspects of knowledge ranging from history, geography, polity, economy, science, technology, environment, ethics, current affairs, and international relations. For Prelims, candidates should focus on NCERT textbooks (Class 6-12), standard reference books for each subject, and daily current affairs from newspapers and magazines.
For Mains, in-depth study of each topic is essential along with answer writing practice. Candidates must develop analytical and evaluative skills to present balanced arguments in descriptive answers. Current affairs integration with static subjects is crucial. For optional subject, choose based on interest, availability of study material, and scoring potential. Practice previous year questions, take mock tests, and develop effective time management skills.
Admit Card and Examination Guidelines
Admit Cards for Preliminary Examination will be uploaded on UPSC website approximately 3 weeks before the exam date. Candidates can download their admit cards using Registration ID and date of birth. No physical admit card will be sent by post. Candidates must carry the printed admit card along with original photo ID proof to the examination center.
On examination day, candidates should report to the center at least 30 minutes before the commencement of examination. Mobile phones, electronic devices, calculators, watches, or any other communication devices are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall. Violation of any rule may lead to disqualification. Candidates must follow all instructions given on the admit card and by the invigilators.
Result Declaration and Document Verification
Results of Preliminary Examination will be declared approximately 6-8 weeks after the exam. Candidates can check their result on the UPSC website using Roll Number. The roll numbers of qualified candidates along with cutoff marks will be published. Qualified candidates will then be eligible to appear for the Main Examination.
After Mains result declaration, shortlisted candidates for Personality Test will be called for Document Verification at UPSC office. Candidates must carry original certificates and documents including educational certificates, age proof, category certificate, PwBD certificate (if applicable), character certificate, and other relevant documents. Any discrepancy or failure to produce documents may lead to rejection of candidature.
Final Merit List and Service Allocation
After completion of Personality Test for all candidates, UPSC prepares the final merit list based on total marks in Mains and Interview. The final result is usually declared 2-3 months after completion of interviews. Candidates securing ranks within the total number of vacancies in their respective categories are offered appointment.
Service allocation is done based on merit rank, preferences indicated by candidates, and availability of vacancies. Top rankers usually get IAS, followed by IFS, IPS, and other services. Candidates not getting their preferred service in the first attempt may re-appear while continuing in the allocated service. Selected candidates undergo foundation training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie for IAS, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad for IPS, and respective academies for other services.