UPSC IES / ISS Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for Economic & Statistical Services

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Examination, 2026. This prestigious national-level examination seeks to recruit highly qualified professionals for specialized administrative roles in the Government of India.

1. Heading & Advertisement Details

• Advertisement Name: Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2026

• Examination Notice No: 07/2026-IES/ISS

• Date of Notification: 11.02.2026

• Recruiting Body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

• Official Website: [suspicious link removed]

2. Important Dates

3. Application Fee and Mode of Payment

• Mode of Payment: "Pay by Cash" at any SBI Branch, or via Net Banking (SBI), Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, or UPI.

4. Age Limit (as on 1st August, 2026)

• Minimum Age: 21 Years

• Maximum Age: 30 Years

• Birth Date Criteria: Candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1996 and not later than 1st August, 2005.

5. Vacancy Details

The estimated number of vacancies to be filled on the results of this examination are:

Note: Vacancies include reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD (4% horizontal reservation).

6. Educational Qualification

• For IES: A Post-Graduate degree in Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics/Econometrics from a recognized University.

• For ISS: A Bachelor's Degree with Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics as one of the subjects, OR a Master's degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics.

7. Physical Standard Test (PST) / Medical Standards

Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination, 2026 as per the regulations given in the Appendix of the notification. A medical examination will be conducted for candidates who qualify in the written examination and interview.

8. Mode of Selection (Detailed)

The examination comprises two successive stages:

1. Stage I: Written Examination (1000 Marks)

   • Six papers (MCQ and Descriptive).

   • Duration: 3 hours per paper.

2. Stage II: Viva Voce (200 Marks)

   • Candidates who obtain minimum qualifying marks in the written exam will be called for a personality test.

   • Tests leadership, intellectual curiosity, and mental caliber.

9. Reservation Criteria

• Reservations are provided for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD.

• OBC Certificates: Must be based on the income for Financial Years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25.

• EWS Certificates: Must be based on the income for FY 2024-25 and valid for the year 2025-26.

10. Age Relaxation

11. Syllabus (Written Examination)

IES Syllabus:

• General English (100 Marks)

• General Studies (100 Marks)

• General Economics I, II, & III (200 Marks each)

• Indian Economics (200 Marks)

ISS Syllabus:

• General English (100 Marks)

• General Studies (100 Marks)

• Statistics I & II (Objective - 200 Marks each)

• Statistics III & IV (Descriptive - 200 Marks each)

Penalty for wrong answers applies in Statistics I & II (ISS).

12. Detailed Vacancy Breakdown

Specific category-wise (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) bifurcation is finalized by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation following the preliminary results, however, the 4% PwBD reservation covers:

• Blindness and low vision.

• Deaf and hard of hearing.

• Locomotor disability (CP, LC, Dwarfism, Acid Attack).

13. How to Apply in Detail

1. One Time Registration (OTR): Register on the UPSC portal upsconline.nic.in. OTR is a lifetime registration.

2. Fill Application: Login with OTR ID and navigate to "Active Examinations."

3. Upload Documents: Upload scanned photo, signature, and a valid Photo ID (Aadhar, Voter ID, etc.).

4. Pay Fee: Complete payment online or via cash at SBI.

5. Center Selection: Select your preferred examination center (Allotment is on 'First-Apply-First-Allot' basis).

6. Confirmation: Submit and take a printout of the application form.

Warning: Candidates should not send any hard copies/documents to the Commission at the time of application. Documents will be verified only for those who qualify for the Viva Voce.