Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
Important Dates
Eligibility
Indian citizen between 21 and 32 years of age (as on August 1, 2026) with a graduate degree from any recognized university. Age relaxation: 35 years for OBC (3 years extra), 37 years for SC/ST (5 years extra), 42 years for persons with benchmark disabilities (10 years extra). Final-year graduation students can also apply. Serving IAS/IPS/IFS officers are not eligible to apply.
Syllabus
Prelims GS Paper I: Current Affairs, History of India & Freedom Struggle, Indian & World Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economic & Social Development, Environmental Ecology & Climate Change, General Science. Prelims CSAT Paper II: Reading Comprehension, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Logical Reasoning & Analytical Ability, Decision Making & Problem Solving, General Mental Ability, Basic Numeracy (Class X level). Mains: Essay (250 marks); GS I — Indian Heritage, History, Geography (250); GS II — Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, IR (250); GS III — Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Disaster Management (250); GS IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (250); Optional Paper I & II (250 each, from 48 optional subjects); Indian Language and English (qualifying papers only, 300 marks each).
Official Links
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 — Complete Guide
If you are serious about joining the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, or Indian Foreign Service, UPSC CSE is the exam you need to crack. This is India's most competitive examination, and it selects officers for over 20 Central Services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, IRTS, IAAS, and many more.
In 2026, UPSC has notified 933 vacancies across all services. Prelims was conducted on May 24, 2026. If you have qualified Prelims, the Mains exam is coming up on August 21, 2026.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | February 4, 2026 |
| Application Opens | February 4, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Extended) | February 27, 2026 |
| Prelims Exam | May 24, 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card | May 15, 2026 |
| Prelims Result | Expected June–July 2026 |
| Mains Exam | August 21, 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card | ~7 days before Mains |
| Personality Test (Interview) | Expected January–April 2027 |
| Final Result | Expected May–June 2027 |
Vacancies
UPSC CSE 2026 has 933 vacancies across the following major services:
- IAS — Indian Administrative Service (most sought-after)
- IPS — Indian Police Service
- IFS — Indian Foreign Service
- IRS — Indian Revenue Service (IT and C&CE)
- IRTS — Indian Railway Traffic Service
- IAAS — Indian Audit and Accounts Service
- IDAS — Indian Defence Accounts Service
- IPoS — Indian Postal Service
- And 15+ more Group A & B Central Services
Exact service-wise vacancy distribution is published in the official notification at upsc.gov.in.
Eligibility
Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen (or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with intent to settle permanently).
Age Limit (as on August 1, 2026):
| Category | Minimum | Maximum | Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 21 years | 32 years | 6 |
| OBC | 21 years | 35 years (3-year relaxation) | 9 |
| SC / ST | 21 years | 37 years (5-year relaxation) | Unlimited till age limit |
| PwBD (General) | 21 years | 42 years (10-year relaxation) | 9 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 21 years | 45 years | 9 |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 21 years | 47 years | Unlimited |
Education: A degree from any central/state or deemed university or any equivalent qualification. Final-year students can also apply provisionally.
Note: Serving IAS, IPS, and IFS officers are not eligible to apply for UPSC CSE 2026.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC (Male) | ₹100 |
| SC / ST | Nil (Free) |
| Women (All categories) | Nil (Free) |
| PwBD | Nil (Free) |
Payment is made online via SBI Net Banking, credit/debit cards, or SBI Bank Challans. Apply at upsconline.nic.in.
Exam Structure
UPSC CSE has three stages. You must clear each stage to reach the next.
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
Prelims is a screening test — your marks here do not count for the final merit list. Only your GS Paper I marks are used to decide who qualifies for Mains.
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I (General Studies) | 100 MCQs | 200 | 2 hours |
| CSAT Paper II | 80 MCQs | 200 | 2 hours |
CSAT is qualifying only — you need just 66 marks (33%) to pass it. GS Paper I determines your Prelims rank and Mains cutoff. Negative marking applies: each wrong answer in GS Paper I costs you 0.666 marks.
2026 Prelims was held on May 24. Results expected in June–July 2026.
Stage 2: Main Examination (Mains)
Mains is where the real competition begins. It is a descriptive (written) exam with 9 papers, of which 7 count for merit.
| Paper | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Language | 300 | Qualifying |
| English | 300 | Qualifying |
| Essay | 250 | Merit |
| GS I — History, Heritage, Geography | 250 | Merit |
| GS II — Governance, Polity, IR | 250 | Merit |
| GS III — Economy, Technology, Environment | 250 | Merit |
| GS IV — Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude | 250 | Merit |
| Optional Paper I | 250 | Merit |
| Optional Paper II | 250 | Merit |
| Total (Merit) | 1750 |
You choose one optional subject (both papers are from the same subject). Popular optionals include PSIR (Political Science), Public Administration, History, Sociology, Geography, and Anthropology. Pick based on your background and genuine interest, not popularity.
Mains 2026 is scheduled for August 21, 2026.
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates who clear Mains are called for a Personality Test, conducted at UPSC Bhavan in New Delhi. It carries 275 marks. This is not a test of bookish knowledge but of your personality, decision-making ability, leadership qualities, and awareness of current affairs.
The Interview panel typically has 5 members. Interviews are usually 20–30 minutes long.
Total marks for final merit = Mains (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 marks.
How Posting Happens
After the final merit list is published, candidates are allotted services based on:
- Your rank in the final merit list
- Your service preference (you fill a preference form)
- Vacancy availability in each service/cadre
Top rankers typically secure IAS, IFS, or IPS. Lower ranks get Group A Central Services (IRS, IRTS, IAAS, etc.), which are also excellent positions.
Preparation Strategy
For Prelims (if you're preparing for future cycles):
- Study NCERT books (Class 6–12) first — they build the foundation
- Follow a good newspaper daily (The Hindu or Indian Express) for current affairs
- Practice previous year questions — UPSC repeats concepts even if questions change
- Solve at least 5,000 MCQs before the exam
For Mains:
- Write daily — answer writing practice is the single biggest factor in Mains performance
- Structure your answers: Introduction → Body (with headings) → Conclusion
- Use data, examples, government schemes, and diagrams wherever relevant
- Read the Economic Survey and Union Budget carefully every year
For Interview:
- Know your DAF (Detailed Application Form) inside out
- Stay updated on current events, especially those linked to your home state and optional subject
- Practice mock interviews 2–3 months before
Official Links
- Main Website: upsc.gov.in
- Apply Online: upsconline.nic.in
- Official Notification PDF: Available on upsc.gov.in under "What's New"