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
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Level | National-Level Exam |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Purpose | Recruitment to IAS, IPS, IFS & Central Services |
| Medium of Exam | English & Hindi |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
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)
| Paper | Type | Marks | Duration |
| General Studies Paper I | MCQ | 200 | 2 hours |
| CSAT (Paper II) | MCQ | 200 | 2 hours |
- 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
- Go through official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
- Tap on Apply Online UPSC Online.
- Complete Registration Part 1 (personal & academic details).
- Proceed to Registration Part II (centre selection, uploads, fee).
- Upload the scanned documents and photograph, signature, and ID proof.
- 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.