The official notification for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 was released on February 4, 2026.
This recruitment drive aims to fill approximately 933 vacancies (including 33 reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability) across services like IAS, IPS, and IFS.
1. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | February 4, 2026 |
| Application Period | February 4 – February 24, 2026 (until 6:00 PM) |
| Prelims Exam Date | May 24, 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | August 21, 2026 (Start Date) |
2. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026 cycle, candidates must meet the following as of August 1, 2026:
- Nationality: * For IAS and IPS: Must be a citizen of India.
- For other services: Can be a citizen of India, Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee (arrived before 1962).
- Age Limit: 21 to 32 years.
- General/EWS: 32 years
- OBC: 35 years (+3 years relaxation)
- SC/ST: 37 years (+5 years relaxation)
- PwBD: 42 years (+10 years relaxation)
- Educational Qualification: A Bachelor's degree from any recognized university. Final-year students can apply for Prelims but must show proof of passing before the Mains exam.
- Number of Attempts:
- General/EWS: 6
- OBC/PwBD (Gen/OBC): 9
- SC/ST: Unlimited (within the age limit)
3. Application Details
- Registration: Mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR) must be completed at upsconline.nic.in.
- Fees: ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS (Male). Exempted for SC, ST, PwBD, and all Female candidates.
4. Examination Pattern
The selection involves three distinct stages:
- Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- Paper I (GS): 200 Marks (Merit-based)
- Paper II (CSAT): 200 Marks (Qualifying only – 33% required)
- Stage II: Main Examination (Descriptive Type)
- Total 9 papers, including Essay, GS I-IV, and Optional Subject.
- Stage III: Personality Test (Interview)
- Carries 275 marks. Final merit is based on Mains + Interview scores.
5. Recruitment Services
This exam is the gateway to 21+ services, including:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
- Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
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