The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Notification has been officially released by the Union Public Service Commission on 4 February 2026. This examination is conducted to recruit candidates for prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A and Group B central services. Candidates planning to appear for UPSC CSE 2026 must clearly understand the eligibility rules, exam schedule, application process, fees, and vacancies before applying.
UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 04 February 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 04 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 24 February 2026 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Civil Services Preliminary Exam | 24 May 2026 |
| Admit Card Availability | Last working day of the preceding week |
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Vacancies
- Total expected vacancies: Approximately 933
- PwBD reserved vacancies: 33
(Blindness/Low Vision, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Locomotor Disability, Multiple Disabilities)
The final vacancy count may change after confirmation from cadre-controlling authorities.
Services Covered Under CSE 2026
Group ‘A’ Services
- IAS, IFS, IPS
- IRS (Income Tax & Customs)
- Indian Audit & Accounts Service
- Indian Civil Accounts Service
- Indian Corporate Law Service
- Indian Defence Accounts & Estates Service
- Indian Information Service
- Indian Postal Service
- Indian Railway Management Service (Traffic / Personnel / Accounts)
- Indian Trade Service
Group ‘B’ Services
- DANICS
- DANIPS
- AFHQ Civil Service
- Pondicherry Civil Service / Police Service
UPSC CSE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit (as on 01 August 2026)
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age | 32 years |
| Date of Birth Range | 02 Aug 1994 – 01 Aug 2005 |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Defence Services Personnel | 3 years |
| PwBD | Up to 10 years |
Educational Qualification
- A graduate degree from a recognised university is mandatory.
- Final-year students can apply but must produce proof of passing before the Interview stage.
- Candidates with professional or technical degrees recognised by the Government are also eligible.
Number of Attempts
| Category | Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited |
| PwBD | 9 (Gen/OBC/EWS), Unlimited (SC/ST) |
Appearing in any one paper of the Preliminary Examination counts as an attempt.
UPSC CSE 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Prelims Fee | Mains Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹100 | ₹200 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Women | Exempted | Exempted |
- Fee can be paid through Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card or UPI
- Fees once paid are non-refundable
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Exam Pattern & Examination Centres
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
- 2 Papers (Objective Type)
- Each Paper: 200 marks, 2 hours
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deducted
- GS Paper-II (CSAT): Qualifying (33% minimum)
Stage 2: Main Examination
- Written Examination: 9 papers
- 2 Qualifying
- 7 Merit-counting papers
- Interview / Personality Test: 275 marks
- Final Merit = Mains + Interview
Preliminary Exam Centres
- 80+ cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Ranchi, Siliguri, Prayagraj, etc.
Main Exam Centres
- 27 major cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, Ranchi, Shillong, Srinagar
Centres allotted on first-apply-first-allot basis
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Application Process (Mandatory Online)
- Apply only through https://upsconline.nic.in
- Universal Registration Number (URN) – generated once in lifetime
- Four Modules:
- Account Creation
- Universal Registration
- Common Application Form (CAF)
- Examination-specific form
Important Rules
- No withdrawal allowed after submission
- No correction allowed after final submission
- Live photo capture + uploaded photo mandatory
- Signature must be uploaded (3 times on white paper, black ink)
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Admit cards will be issued online only
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices are strictly prohibited in exam centres
- Face authentication will be conducted at the exam venue
- Candidates must verify all details from the official UPSC website
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Editor’s Note:
Written by Karmabandhan Editorial Team.
We encourage all aspirants to verify information from official sources and apply carefully.
Disclaimer: This is not an official government website. Candidates must verify details from the official notification.
I am Surojit Koiri, a professional content writer and digital publisher with over 5 years of experience in government job updates, recruitment analysis, and exam-related news. I am the founder of Karmabandhan.com, a dedicated platform that provides accurate and easy-to-understand information for job aspirants across India.