UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 has officially released the notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026.
This is the most prestigious examination in India, opening doors to elite services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and various other Central Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ services.
For the year 2026, the commission has announced approximately 933 vacancies. The online application process has commenced on February 04, 2026, and will remain open until February 24, 2026.
If you dream of serving the nation and becoming a part of the steel frame of India’s administration, this article provides you with every single detail you need—from eligibility criteria and age limits to the new “Live Photo” application rule and the complete selection procedure.
Exam Overview
Here is a quick summary of the UPSC CSE 2026 notification for a glance:
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification No. | 05/2026-CSE |
| Post Types | All India Services (IAS, IPS, IFS) & Central Civil Services |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 933 |
| Application Mode | Online (via upsconline.nic.in) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Selection Stages | Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview) |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
Important Dates Schedule
Candidates must strictly adhere to the following timeline to avoid missing important deadlines:
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | February 04, 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | February 04, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | February 24, 2026 (Till 06:00 PM) |
| Correction Window | Available for 7 days after the closing date |
| e-Admit Card Release | Last week of April / May 2026 (Tentative) |
| Prelims Exam Date | May 24, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mains Exam Date | September 2026 |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
Vacancy Details
For 2026, the UPSC has notified a total of 933 vacancies. This number is subject to change based on the final requirements received from the Cadre Controlling Authorities.
| Category | Details |
| Total Posts | 933 (Approx.) |
| PwBD Reserved | 33 Posts (Reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) |
| Breakup of PwBD | 07 (Blindness/Low Vision), 11 (Deaf/Hard of Hearing), 08 (Locomotor Disability), 07 (Multiple Disabilities) |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
Application Fee
Candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs. 100/-. The fee can be paid via cash at SBI branches or online using Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI.
| Category | Fee Amount |
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹ 100/- |
| Female Candidates | FREE (Nil) |
| SC / ST Candidates | FREE (Nil) |
| PwBD Candidates | FREE (Nil) |
List of Participating Services: Recruitment will be made to the following categories of services:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Information Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’
- Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), Group ‘A’
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes), Group ‘A’
- Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax), Group ‘A’
- Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III)
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’
- DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, etc. Civil Service), Group ‘B’
- DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, etc. Police Service), Group ‘B’
- Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS) & Police Service (PONDIPS)
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the UPSC CSE 2026, candidates must satisfy the following eligibility conditions regarding nationality, age, and education.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
A. Educational Qualification
- Minimum Degree: The candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from any recognized University (incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India) or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under the UGC Act, 1956.
- Final Year Students: Candidates who have appeared for a qualifying examination (Graduation final year) and are awaiting results can also apply for the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of passing the requisite examination along with their Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I) for the Main Examination.
- Professional Degrees: Candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications (like B.E., B.Tech, MBBS, etc.) recognized by the Government as equivalent to a professional and technical degree are also eligible.
- Medical Graduates: Candidates who have passed the final professional MBBS examination but have not completed their internship can also apply provisionally.
Age Limit (As on 01 August 2026)
The candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years.
- Date of Birth Range: The candidate must have been born not earlier than 02nd August 1994 and not later than 01st August 2005.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation | Max Age Limit |
| SC / ST | 5 Years | 37 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years | 35 Years |
| Defence Services Personnel | 3 Years | 35 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 Years | 37 Years |
| PwBD (General/EWS) | 10 Years | 42 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years | 45 Years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 Years | 47 Years |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
Number of Attempts
| Category | Max Attempts |
| General / EWS | 06 Attempts |
| OBC | 09 Attempts |
| PwBD (General/EWS/OBC) | 09 Attempts |
| SC / ST | Unlimited (Till age limit) |
Note: Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The Civil Services Examination consists of two successive stages:
Stage 1- Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
This is a screening test consisting of two objective-type papers (Multiple Choice Questions).
| Date | May 24, 2026 |
| Paper I (General Studies) | 200 Marks (Merit is decided based on this paper) |
| Paper II (CSAT) | 200 Marks (Qualifying nature; minimum 33% marks required) |
| Negative Marking | There will be negative marking of 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer in both papers. |
Stage 2 – Civil Services (Main) Examination
Candidates who qualify Prelims will be eligible for Mains. It consists of a Written Examination and an Interview.
| Written Examination | Consists of 9 papers of conventional essay type |
| Qualifying Papers | Paper A (Indian Language) & Paper B (English) – 300 Marks each |
| Papers Counted for Merit | Essay (250 Marks) General Studies I, II, III, IV (250 Marks each) Optional Subject Paper 1 & 2 (250 Marks each) |
| Total Written Marks | 1750 |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 Marks |
| Grand Total | 2025 Marks |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)
Candidates are required to apply online using the website upsconline.nic.in. Follow these steps carefully:
- OTR (One Time Registration)
- If you are applying for the first time, you must register on the OTR platform.
- If you are already registered, log in using your OTR ID/Email/Mobile and Password/OTP.
- Note: Modification in the OTR profile is allowed only once in a lifetime.
- Fill Application Form
- Go to “Latest Notifications” and select Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026.
- Fill in Part-I of the application form with personal and educational details.
- Upload Documents
- Photograph: This year, UPSC requires Live Photo Capture. You must capture your live photograph using a webcam/mobile camera during the application process. Ensure the background is plain and light. You also need to upload a scanned photograph.
- Signature: Upload a scanned image of your signature on white paper with black ink.
- Photo ID: Upload a PDF of the Photo ID card (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, etc.) whose number you have mentioned in the form.
- Select Exam Centre
- Centres are allotted on a “First-Apply-First-Allot” basis. Apply early to get your preferred centre.
- Pay Fee
- Complete the payment process (if not exempted).
- Final Submission
- Review all details and click on “Submit”.
- Note: No changes are allowed after final submission. There is no withdrawal facility for applications.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
| Important | Links |
|---|---|
| Apply Link | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
| View Results | Click Here |
| Join Telegram Channel | Click Here |
FAQs-UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the UPSC CSE 2026:
Q1: When will the UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims exam be conducted? Ans: The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 is scheduled to be held on May 24, 2026 (Sunday).
Q2: What is the last date to apply for UPSC 2026? Ans: The last date to submit the online application is February 24, 2026, till 06:00 PM.
Q3: Can final year college students apply? Ans: Yes, candidates who are in the final year of their graduation and awaiting results are eligible to appear for the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of passing the examination when applying for the Main Examination.
Q4: Is there any change in the application process this year? Ans: Yes, candidates are now required to capture a Live Photograph while filling out the application form, in addition to uploading a standard photograph. The live photo ensures the candidate’s presence and identity matches.
Q5: How many vacancies are there in UPSC 2026? Ans: The notification mentions approximately 933 vacancies, which include 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
Q6: What is the age limit for General category candidates? Ans: For General and EWS category candidates, the age limit is 21 to 32 years as on August 01, 2026.
Q7: Can I withdraw my application if I am not prepared? Ans: No. The Commission has clearly stated that candidates will not be allowed to withdraw their applications after submission.
Q8: If I apply but do not sit for the exam, is my attempt counted? Ans: No. An attempt is counted only if you actually appear in at least one paper of the Preliminary Examination. Merely filling out the form does not count as an attempt.
Q9: Can I change my optional subject later? Ans: No. You must choose your Optional Subject for the Mains Examination carefully at the time of filling out the exam-specific application form now. No request for a change in details will be entertained later.
Q10: What is the OTR profile? Ans: OTR stands for One Time Registration. It is a mandatory step where you register your basic details with UPSC once. This profile is used to apply for all future UPSC examinations without re-entering basic data.
Q11: Are there any restrictions for candidates already in service? Ans: Yes. A candidate who has been appointed to the IAS or IFS based on an earlier examination and continues to be a member of that service is not eligible to appear for CSE 2026.
Q12: What ID proof is required? Ans: You must provide details of one Photo ID Card (Aadhaar, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence, etc.) in the application form and carry the same original ID to the exam hall.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026
