UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) 2026

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) annually for recruitment to prestigious posts like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A & B services. It is one of India's most competitive national-level examinations. UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 has been officially released, giving aspirants clarity on the complete timeline.

UPSC CSE 2026 Highlights

UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates

• Notification Release: 14 January 2026
• Application Deadline: 3 February 2026
• Prelims Exam Date: 24 May 2026 (Sunday)
• Mains Exam Start Date: 21 August 2026 (5-day schedule)
• Interview (Tentative): January–March 2027
• Final Result: Expected by April 2027

UPSC CSE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.

Nationality: For IAS/IPS/IFS: Candidate must be an Indian citizen. For other services: Citizenship rules vary as per UPSC guidelines.

Age Limit: General Category: 21 to 32 years with Relaxations for OBC: +3 years, SC/ST: +5 years, and PwD: Up to 10 years.

Number of Attempts: General: 6 attempts, OBC: 9 attempts, and SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (within age limit).

UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern

UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

• CSAT Paper is qualifying (minimum 33% required), and GS Paper I marks determine the Prelims cutoff.

2. Mains Examination (Descriptive)

Total Papers: 9

• Qualifying: 2 (Language & English)
• Merit-Based: 7 (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional Paper I & II)

3. Interview / Personality Test

• Conducted for candidates who clear Mains.
• Total Marks: 275
• Final Merit = Mains (1750) + Interview (275)

UPSC CSE 2026 Application Process

1. Go through official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
2. Tap on Apply Online UPSC Online.
3. Complete Registration Part 1 (personal & academic details).
4. Proceed to Registration Part II (centre selection, uploads, fee).
5. Upload the scanned documents and photograph, signature, and ID proof.
6. Fill the application form and download the confirmation page.

UPSC CSE 2026 Syllabus 

• Prelims GS I- History, Polity & Governance, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science & Technology and Current Affairs. 
• Prelims CSAT-Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, and Mathematics (Class 10 level). 
• Mains- Essay, General Studies I–IV, Optional Subject (2 Papers), and Compulsory Language & English. 

UPSC CSE 2026 Preparation Tips

• Start NCERTs (Class 6–12).
• Use books (Laxmikanth, Spectrum, GC Leong, etc.).
• Follow current affairs from reliable sources.
• Practice PYQs & mocks regularly.
• Choose subject based on interest & scoring potential.

UPSC CSE 2026 Expected Vacancies

• It will announced with the notification.
• Based on trends, expected range: 950–1100 vacancies.