UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification is officially out! The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the detailed notification on February 4, 2026, for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 (also covering the Indian Forest Service Preliminary via a common prelims). This marks the start of the recruitment cycle for prestigious services like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A/B central services.
Key Details from the Notification
- Total Vacancies: 933 (across various services; includes reservations as per norms, e.g., 66 reserved in some breakdowns).
- Preliminary Exam Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026.
- Mains Exam Date: Commences from August 21, 2026 (Friday), spanning five days (as per the UPSC Annual Calendar 2026).
- Application Period: Online applications opened on February 4, 2026, and the last date to apply is February 24, 2026 (till 6:00 PM).
- Application Mode: Fully online via the UPSC portal at https://upsconline.nic.in (new OTR - One Time Registration system; candidates need to create/register a Universal Registration Number (URN) if not already done).
How to Apply Online
- Visit the official UPSC application portal: https://upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete One Time Registration (OTR) if you haven't (generates a permanent URN).
- Log in, go to the "Latest Notification" tab, select Civil Services Examination 2026.
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF), upload scanned documents (photo, signature, ID proof like Aadhaar recommended for easy verification), choose exam center preferences, and pay the fee.
- Application Fee: INR 100 (exempt for female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates; pay via online modes like net banking, card, or UPI).
Submit and download the confirmation page (retain Application Number and URN for future reference). Prepare documents in advance (educational certificates, category proofs) to avoid last-minute issues.
Eligibility Criteria (as per 2026 Notification)
- Age Limit (as on August 1, 2026): 21–32 years (relaxations: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, etc.).
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university (final-year students can apply provisionally).
- Attempts: General – 6; OBC – 9; SC/ST – unlimited (till age limit); additional rules for already allotted services (new restrictions: no second chance for serving IAS/IFS officers; stricter for IPS/Group A).
- Nationality: Indian citizen (or specified categories like subjects of Nepal/Bhutan).
Exam Structure (Quick Overview)
- Prelims: Two objective papers (GS Paper I & CSAT) – qualifying nature for Mains.
- Mains: Nine descriptive papers (including Essay, GS I-IV, Optional, Language papers).
- Interview/Personality Test: 275 marks.
- Face authentication at exam venues for all candidates.
Important Notes & Changes in 2026
- Stricter rules for serving officers (e.g., no re-attempts for IAS/IFS; limited one-time improvement window for others).
- Download the full official notification PDF from upsc.gov.in (under "Examination Notifications" or direct link in the What's New section) for complete rules, syllabus, vacancy breakdown, and instructions.
- The notification was slightly postponed from earlier calendar expectations (originally around mid-January) due to administrative reasons.