UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Apply for UPSC CSE 2026! Access complete details on 933 vacancies across IAS, IPS, and IFS. Find official dates, eligibility criteria, age limits, syllabus, and step-by-step application guide. Stay updated with the latest Union Public Service Commission recruitment news here.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | February 4, 2026 |
| Start Date for Online Application | February 4, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Till 6:00 PM) | February 24, 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date | May 24, 2026 |
| e-Admit Card Issuance | Last working day of the week preceding the exam |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Nationality | Must be a Citizen of India (for IAS, IFS, IPS). Other services allow subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan refugees. |
| Education | Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized University. |
| Final Year Students | Eligible to apply (must provide proof of passing for the Main exam). |
| Medical Students | Eligible if they have passed final MBBS but are yet to complete internship. |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Age Limit (As of August 1, 2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
| General / EWS | 21 Years | 32 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 Years | 35 Years |
| SC / ST | 21 Years | 37 Years |
| PwBD | 21 Years | 42 Years |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Vacancy Details
| Category | Vacancy Details |
| Total Expected Vacancies | 933 |
| General / OBC / SC / ST / EWS | Reservation will be made as fixed by the Government, but specific numbers for these categories are not detailed in this initial notice. |
| Total PwBD Vacancies | 33 (Reserved out of the total 933) |
| Total Expected Vacancies | Reserved for PwBD | Participating Services |
933 | 33 Vacancies | IAS, IFS, IPS, IRS, IRMS, DANICS, etc. (Total 23 Services) |
Note: The final number of vacancies is subject to change based on the firm numbers provided by the Cadre Controlling Authorities.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Selection Process & Exam Pattern
| Stage | Type | Marks | Details |
| Stage 1: Prelims | Objective (MCQs) | 400 | GS Paper I & CSAT (Qualifying 33%) |
| Stage 2: Mains | Descriptive (Written) | 1750 | 9 Papers including Essay, GS, and Optional |
| Stage 3: Interview | Personality Test | 275 | Assessment of intellectual and social traits |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Application Fee
| Category | Fee Amount | Payment Mode |
| Female / SC / ST / PwBD | Exempted (NIL) | N/A |
| All Other Candidates | ₹100 | Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay, or Cash at SBI |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : UPSC Salary Structure (Entry Level)
| Pay Component | Details | Amount (Approximate) |
| Pay Level | Level 10 of the Pay Matrix | — |
| Basic Pay | Starting basic salary at entry level | ₹56,100 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Adjusted periodically based on inflation | As per current Gov. norms |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Depends on the class of city (X, Y, or Z) | 8% to 24% of Basic Pay |
| Transport Allowance (TA) | Fixed amount for commuting | Varies by city and rank |
| Total Starting Gross | Sum of basic pay and all allowances | ₹80,000 – ₹95,000+ |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
| Step | Action |
| Step 1 | Visit the official portal: https://upsconline.nic.in. |
| Step 2 | Complete One Time Registration (OTR) to generate your Universal Registration Number (URN). |
| Step 3 | Log in and fill out the Common Application Form (CAF). |
| Step 4 | Capture a Live Photograph and upload a scanned clear photo and signature. |
| Step 5 | Select your preferred Examination Centre and pay the fee (if applicable). |
| Step 6 | Submit the form and print the confirmation page for future reference. |
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Important Links
Event | Date /Important Link |
Official Notification (if not open, open in desktop Mode) | |
Online Application Link | |
Official Website | |
Online Application start Date | 04-02-2026 |
Online Application Last Date | 24-02-2026 |
Last Date Of Payment Fee | 24-02-2026 May 24, 2026 |
FAQs
Can I withdraw my application? No, UPSC does not allow application withdrawal once submitted.
Is there negative marking? Yes, there is a penalty for wrong answers in the Preliminary objective papers.
How many attempts are allowed? 6 for General, 9 for OBC/PwBD, and Unlimited for SC/ST.
What is the minimum qualification? A graduate degree in any stream.
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 : Syllabus Overview in detail
As a professional government job content writer, I have detailed the UPSC Preliminary Examination 2026 stage below. This stage serves as a screening test and consists of two compulsory objective-type papers.
I. Preliminary Examination (Screening Stage)
| Feature | Paper I: General Studies (GS) | Paper II: CSAT (Aptitude) |
| Maximum Marks | 200 Marks | 200 Marks |
| Duration | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Number of Questions | 100 Questions (Standard Practice) | 80 Questions (Standard Practice) |
| Nature of Paper | Merit-ranking for Main Exam | Qualifying (Minimum 33% required |
| Question Type | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Negative Marking | 1/3rd (0.33) of marks assigned to the question | 1/3rd (0.33) of marks assigned to the question |
Detailed Syllabus for Prelims
| Subject Area | Paper I: General Studies Topics | Paper II: CSAT Topics |
| Core Topics | • Current events (National & International) | • Comprehension |
| History | • History of India & Indian National Movement | • Interpersonal skills including communication |
| Geography | • Physical, Social, Economic Geography (India & World) | • Logical reasoning & Analytical ability |
| Polity | • Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Rights | • Decision-making & Problem-solving |
| Economy | • Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Social Sector | • General mental ability |
| Environment | • Ecology, Bio-diversity, Climate Change (No specialization) | • Basic numeracy (Numbers, Orders of magnitude) – Class X level |
| General Science | • General Science developments and basic concepts | • Data interpretation (Charts, Graphs, Tables) – Class X level |
2. Merit Ranking Papers (Marks counted for final merit)
| Paper | Subject | Detailed Topics |
| Paper-I | Essay | Candidates write on multiple topics, expected to keep closely to the subject and express ideas orderly. |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I | Indian Heritage, Culture, History/Geography of the World and Society. |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II | Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations. |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III | Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management. |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV | Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude (Attitude, Probity in public life, Case studies). |
| Paper-VI | Optional Paper-I | Candidate’s chosen subject (e.g., Agriculture, Law, Geography, etc.). |
| Paper-VII | Optional Paper-II | Continuation of the chosen optional subject. |
How to Prepare for This Exam
Understand the Syllabus: Memorize the Prelims and Mains topics to filter your reading material.
NCERT Foundations: Start with Class 6-12 NCERTs for History, Geography, and Economy.
Current Affairs: Read a national daily (The Hindu/Indian Express) and follow monthly magazines.
Answer Writing: Practice daily descriptive writing for Mains, focusing on structure and clarity.
Mock Tests: Solve previous years’ papers and join a test series to improve speed and accuracy.
All The Best !
