UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
UPSC has invited applications for Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 for recruitment to IAS, IPS, IFS, and Central Services Group A and Group B posts.
Important dates
| Application Begin | 04 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 14 Feb 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 05 Mar 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Last Date for Apply Online | As per Official Notification |
| Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Pay Exam Fee Last Date | As per Official Notification |
| Correction Date / Edit Window | As per Official Notification |
| Exam City Available Date | Before Exam |
| Admit Card Available Date | Before Exam |
| Answer Key Available Date | As per Official Notification |
| Result Available Date | As per Official Notification |
Eligibility & pay
| Qualification | Graduate Degree in any stream from a recognized University |
|---|---|
| Job location | All India |
Notification details
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026: Notification Out for 1056 Posts
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the detailed notification for the prestigious Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026. Candidates aspiring to join India's esteemed administrative services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other Group 'A' and Group 'B' central services, can apply online. A total of 1056 vacancies have been announced for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
Eligible candidates holding a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university can submit their online applications starting from 14th February 2026 through the official UPSC portal. The last date to apply is 5th March 2026.
---UPSC CSE 2026 Key Overview
| Recruitment Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 1056 Posts |
| Job Location | All India |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Event / Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Date | 14th February 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 14th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Online Application | 05th March 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| CSE Mains Exam Date | To be announced |
Vacancy Details & Eligibility Criteria
1. Educational Qualification
- Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any stream or discipline from a recognized University or deemed Institution.
- Candidates appearing in the final year of their graduation degree are also eligible to apply provisionally for the Preliminary Examination.
2. Age Limit (As of August 1, 2026)
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years
- Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1994 and not later than 1st August 2005.
Age Relaxation Norms:
| Category | Age Relaxation | Maximum Permissible Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | No relaxation | 6 Attempts |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 Years | 9 Attempts |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years | Unlimited (up to age limit) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 Years | 9 Attempts (General/OBC) / Unlimited (SC/ST) |
Application Fees
Candidates can pay the application fee online using SBI Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI payment gateways, or offline via SBI Bank Challan.
- General / OBC / EWS Candidates: ₹100/-
- SC / ST / PwBD / Female Candidates: Exempted (Nil)
UPSC Civil Services Selection Process 2026
The recruitment process for UPSC CSE involves three successive stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to move to the next level:
-
Stage I: Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- General Studies Paper-I (200 Marks)
- General Studies Paper-II / CSAT (200 Marks - Qualifying with minimum 33%)
-
Stage II: Civil Services Main Examination (Written / Descriptive)
- Consists of 9 papers including qualifying language papers, Essay, 4 General Studies papers, and 2 Optional Subject papers (Total 1750 Marks).
-
Stage III: Personality Test / Interview (275 Marks)
- Assessment of leadership abilities, critical thinking, moral integrity, and social awareness by the UPSC Board panel.
Step-by-Step How to Apply for UPSC CSE 2026
- One Time Registration (OTR): Visit the official UPSC application portal at
upsconline.nic.in. If you haven't registered previously, complete your One Time Registration by filling in basic profile details. - Log In to Account: Log in using your registered Email ID, Mobile Number, or OTR ID along with your password/OTP.
- Fill Application Form (Part I): Fill in personal details, select examination centers, enter educational qualification info, and confirm the details.
- Pay Fee (Part II): Pay the required application fee of ₹100 (if applicable) through the preferred online payment mode.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your passport-sized photograph, signature, and valid government photo photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Driving License, etc.) adhering to specified dimensions.
- Select Exam Center: Choose your preferred examination center for the Preliminary Examination (allocated on a first-apply-first-allot basis).
- Final Submission: Review the completed application form carefully, agree to the declaration, and submit.
- Print Confirmation: Download and print out a hard copy of the submitted application form for future reference.
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