UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Notification

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Examination Notice No: 05/2026-CSE Date: 04.02.2026

The Union Public Service Commission has released the official notification for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026. This prestigious exam serves as the gateway to elite services like IAS, IFS, IPS, and various Group 'A' and Group 'B' central services.

1. Important Dates

2. Application Fee and Mode of Payment

• General/OBC/EWS Male Candidates: ₹100/-

• Female/SC/ST/PwBD Candidates: Nil (Exempted)

• Mains Exam Fee: ₹200/- (for those who qualify Prelims, except exempted categories)

• Mode of Payment: Net Banking of any bank, or by using Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment.

3. Age Limit (As on 01.08.2026)

A candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1994 and not later than 1st August 2005.

• Minimum Age: 21 Years

• Maximum Age: 32 Years

4. Vacancy Details

The total number of vacancies is expected to be approximately 933. This includes reservations for various categories as per Government rules.

Service-Wise Posts

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

2. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

3. Indian Police Service (IPS)

4. Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’

5. Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’

6. Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’ ... (Includes a total of 23 different services/posts)

Category-Wise Reservation (Approximate)

5. Educational Qualification

• Degree Required: A candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from any recognized University.

• Appearing Candidates: Candidates who have appeared for the final year exam and are awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the Preliminary exam. However, they must provide proof of passing while applying for the Main Examination.

• Professional Degrees: Candidates with professional and technical qualifications (like MBBS/BDS/Veterinary) are also eligible.

6. Physical Standards & Efficiency

Unlike uniform-based exams (like CAPF), the UPSC CSE primarily focuses on medical fitness. However, specific services like IPS, DANIPS, and RPF have stringent physical requirements.

Physical Standard Test (PST) - Brief Overview

Medical standards are detailed in Appendix-III of the Gazette Notification.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

Note: The Civil Services Exam does not have a standard PET (like a race or long jump) as part of the initial recruitment stages. Physical endurance and fitness are assessed during the medical examination and during the foundation training at the academy for specific services like IPS.

7. Mode of Selection

The selection process consists of three successive stages:

1. Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

   • Two papers (General Studies-I and CSAT).

   • Qualifying in nature (GS Paper-II/CSAT requires 33%).

2. Stage II: Main Examination (Written/Descriptive Type)

   • 9 Papers (2 Qualifying Language papers + 7 Merit-based papers).

   • Total Marks: 1750.

3. Stage III: Personality Test (Interview)

   • Marks: 275.

   • Final Merit is based on: Main Exam + Interview (Total 2025 Marks).

8. Reservation Criteria

• Community Reservation: Available for SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories.

• OBC Candidates: Must produce a Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued between 01.04.2025 and 24.02.2026.

• EWS Candidates: Must possess the Income & Asset Certificate based on FY 2024-25.

• PwBD: Reservation for blindness, deaf/hard of hearing, locomotor disability, etc.

9. Age Relaxation

10. Number of Attempts

• General/EWS: 6 Attempts

• OBC: 9 Attempts

• SC/ST: Unlimited (until age limit)

• PwBD (General/EWS/OBC): 9 Attempts

11. Syllabus (Brief)

Preliminary Examination

• Paper I (GS): Current Events, History, Geography, Polity, Economic/Social Development, Environment, General Science.

• Paper II (CSAT): Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Basic Numeracy (Class X level).

Main Examination

• Qualifying: Indian Language (300) & English (300).

• Merit: Essay, GS I (History/Geo/Society), GS II (Polity/Gov), GS III (Eco/Tech/Env), GS IV (Ethics), Optional Paper I & II.

12. How to Apply

1. Visit the official UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in.

2. Registration (URN): Create a Universal Registration Number (valid for life).

3. Filling CAF: Fill the Common Application Form with personal and educational details.

4. Photo & Signature:

   • Upload a recent photograph.

   • Live Photo Capture: A live photo is mandatory during application.

   • Signature: Sign 3 times (one below another) on white paper with black ink and upload.

5. Exam Specific Module: Select Civil Services Exam 2026, pay the fee, and select your exam center.

6. Final Submission: Check all details and click submit. (Note: No withdrawal or correction allowed after submission).

Government strives to have a workforce which reflects gender balance and women candidates are encouraged to apply.