UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026: The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC Notification 2026 on 04 February 2026 at the official website at upsconline.nic.in. The notification provides important information, including exam dates, eligibility criteria, vacancies, application fee, and exam pattern. Check the complete details below.
UPSC Civil Service Recruitment 2026
The UPSC Civil Service Exam is one of the most prestigious and competitive examinations in India. It opens doors to a career in the esteemed Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and other Group A and Group B services. Aspiring candidates must be well-prepared and equipped with the necessary information to tackle this challenging exam. In this blog, we will provide an overview of the UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026, including the notification, important dates, eligibility criteria, syllabus, and exam pattern.
UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 Notification
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases the official notification for the Civil Service Exam every year. The notification for the UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 was released on 04 February 2026. The UPSC 2026 Notification contains detailed information about the exam, including eligibility criteria, application process, examination dates, and other relevant instructions.
UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 Overview
Candidates appearing for the UPSC Civil Service exam can check the highlights below.
| UPSC CSE Notification 2026 | Important Details | |
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Service Examination 2026 |
| Exam Level | National |
| UPSC Civil Service 2026 Vacancy | 933 Posts |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Last Date Apply Online | 24 February 2026 |
| Pre Exam Date | Notify Later |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Stages | Preliminary Mains Interview/Group Discussion |
| Education Qualification | Graduate or relevant degree |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| No. of Attempts | General- 6 attempts OBC- 9 attempts SC/ST- No restrictions |
| UPSC Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Civil Service Exam Important Dates
The important dates for the UPSC Civil Service 2026 exam are given below in a tabular form. Check out the complete schedule of the UPSC recruitment 2026 process here:
| Event | UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates | UPSC CSE 2024 Important Dates |
| Official Notification Release Date | 04 February 2026 | 14/02/2024 |
| Application Start Date | 04 February 2026 | – |
| Last Date of Application Form Submission | 24 February 2026 | 06/03/2024 |
| UPSC CSE Exam Date – Preliminary Examination | 24th May 2026 | 16/06/2024 |
| Admit Card Available | Notify Later | 07/06/2024 |
| Pre Exam Result | Notify Later | 01/07/2024 |
| IAS Mains Exam Date | 21st August 2026 onwards | 20-29 September 2024 |
| Admit Card Available | Notify Later | 13/09/2024 |
| IFS Mains Admit Card Available | Notify Later | 14/11/2024 |
| IAS Mains Exam Result | Notify Later | 09/12/2024 |
| Final UPSC CSE Interview Date | Notify Later | 17 April 2025 |
| UPSC CSE Final Result | Notify Later | 22 April 2025 |
UPSC CSE Notify Later
UPSC has announced 933 vacancies to be filled through the UPSC CSE Exam 2026. Through the UPSC Civil Service Examination 2026. These vacancies are spread across various central services. The final number may change based on government requirements.
| UPSC Vacancy 2026 | |
| Year | Number of Vacancies |
| 2026 | 933 |
| 2025 | 979 |
| 2024 | 1056 |
| 2023 | 1105 |
| 2022 | 1022 |
| 2021 | 712 |
| 2020 | 796 |
| 2019 | 829 |
UPSC Civil Service Exam Application Fee
To apply online for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026, an individual will have to pay the application fee of 100 rupees using a debit card, credit card, NET banking, or UPI.
UPSC Civil Service Exam Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- Age Limit: The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age, with relaxation for certain categories.
- Educational Qualification: A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Number of Attempts: General category candidates can attempt the exam six times, with relaxations for reserved category candidates.
UPSC Civil Service Exam Selection Process
The selection process for the Combined Civil Services 2026 consists of three stages, which are Prelims, Mains, and Interviews.
Prelims Written Exam
- Mode: Offline
- Question Type: Objective
- Papers:
- General Studies Paper I
- General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
- Number of Questions:
- General Studies Paper I: 100 questions
- General Studies Paper II: 80 questions
- Total Marks: 400 marks
- Duration: 2 hours each for both papers
- Negative Marking: Yes (For every incorrect answer)
Note: For the Prelims, it’s important to note that the General Studies Paper II is qualifying in nature with a minimum qualifying mark fixed at 33%. Those who score in Paper I and meet or exceed the cut-off will be called for Mains.
Mains Written Exam:
- Mode: Offline
- Question Type: Descriptive
- Papers:
- Compulsory Indian language
- English
- Essay
- General Studies I (Indian Heritage & Culture, History & Geography of the World & Society)
- General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Welfare Initiatives, Social Justice & International Relations)
- General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Security & Disaster Management)
- General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)
- Optional Subject – Paper I
- Optional Subject – Paper II
- Total Marks: 2025 marks (1750 for Mains papers + 275 for Interview)
- Duration: 3 hours for each paper
- Negative Marking: No (Since it’s a descriptive exam)
Interview (275 Marks).
- It is also known as the Personality Test, it carries 275 marks.
Note: Candidates who will clear the Second stage of the selection process will be called for it, and then the final selection list will be prepared as per their performance in Prelims, Mains, and Interviews (Personality Test).
UPSC Civil Service Exam Exam Pattern
- Preliminary Examination: It consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (popularly known as CSAT). Both papers were conducted on the same day. Paper I covers subjects like History, Geography, Polity, Economy, and Current Affairs. Paper II assesses the candidate’s comprehension, analytical ability, and decision-making skills.
- Main Examination: It is a written examination consisting of nine papers, including one qualifying paper on Indian languages and one on English. The other papers cover subjects like Essays, General Studies (I, II, III, and IV), and optional subjects chosen by the candidate.
- Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who clear the Main Examination are called for the Personality Test, which assesses their personality traits, communication skills, and overall suitability for a career in civil services.
Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Paper | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 |
Mains Exam Pattern
| Name of the Paper | Subject | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language | 300 |
| Paper B | English | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional I | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional II | 250 |
UPSC Syllabus For IAS Prelims Exam
The UPSC Prelims exam is the first stage of the civil services examination, and clearing this stage will make you eligible for the mains exam stage. So, first, you must understand the UPSC Civil Services Syllabus for the Prelims exam so that you can crack and become eligible for the main stage.
The prelims stage includes two papers, namely, GS 1 and GS 2 (also known as CSAT). Both these papers are objective in nature and are conducted on the same day. Both papers are qualifying in nature, ie. The marks obtained in these prelims papers are not counted in the final merit.
- GS Paper 1
- It is the first paper of the preliminary exam stage.
- It is conducted to test candidates’ general awareness of a wide range of subjects like History, Indian Economy, Geography, Indian Polity, Sci & Technology, Environment & Ecology, International Relations, and Current Affairs.
- GS Paper 2 (CSAT)
- It is the second paper of the preliminary exam stage.
- It is conducted to assess the candidate’s general aptitude, reasoning ability, and decision-making skills.
- Candidates need to score a minimum qualifying mark of 33% in this paper.
Now, we will look at the UPSC Exam Syllabus for Prelims which includes Prelims GS Paper 1 syllabus and CSAT Syllabus.
UPSC CSE Syllabus for Prelims – GS Paper 1
The UPSC IAS Syllabus for Prelims GS Paper 1 includes topics from mixed subjects. There will be 100 objective questions in this paper, and the marks of this paper will be counted in the merit. In the table below, you can have a look at the latest IAS Syllabus for Prelims GS Paper 1 as per the official notification.
- Current events of national and international importance.
- History of India and Indian National Movement.
- World and Indian Geography – Social, Physical, and Economic Geography of India and the World.
- Indian Polity and Governance – Political System, Constitution, Public Policy, Panchayati Raj, Rights Issues, etc.
- Economic and Social Development- Social Sector Initiatives, Poverty, Inclusion, Sustainable Development, Demographics, etc.
- General issues on Environmental ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change
- Subject specialization.
- General Science.
Also, check out the Ancient History Syllabus for UPSC Prelims here.
UPSC CSE Syllabus for Prelims – GS Paper 2 (CSAT)
As explained above, the IAS Prelims GS Paper 2 is also known as the CSAT paper. There are 80 objective questions and the marks are not counted in the Merit. Have a look at the UPSC CSAT Syllabus mentioned in the table below.
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision-making and problem-solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy
- Interpretation
Candidates preparing for the exam must know the subject-wise weightage of all the topics of the UPSC Exam Syllabus. Understanding this will help candidates know which topics are more important. Have a look at the topic-wise weightage for the prelims exam by clicking on the links given in the table below.
UPSC Civil Service 2026 Result
The results of the UPSC Civil Service Exam will released on the offficial website. Candidates must refer to the official website for further details. Candidates can download their pre or mains results from the link given below. which provides direct result link.
- Step 1: Visit the official website at “upsc.gov.in” for roll number and name-wise results. After the release of the marksheet visit “upsconline.nic.in”
- Step 2: On the home page the prelims result 2026 link will appear in the ‘What’s New’ section, and click on ‘UPSC Final Result 2026.
- Step 3: Click on the UPSC Result 2026 PDF link to download the roll number and name-wise list for UPSC CSE Exam 2026.
- Step 4: The UPSC CSE Result 2026 will appear on the screen.
- Step 5: Download the UPSC Result 2026 by clicking on the ‘download’ icon in the top right corner.
- Step 6: Instead of scrolling down the entire sheet, use the CTRL+F Keyboard option to check their Name or roll number in the UPSC Result 2026 PDF
UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 Books
| Book Name | Book Type | Book Link |
| UPSC IAS Prelims (Civil Services) book by AS Pandit Sir for Exam in English | Solved paper | View Book |
| UPSC IAS Prelims (Civil Services) book by AS Pandit Sir for Exam In Hindi | Solved Papers | View Book |
| UPSC Prelims Book for Exam In Hindi | Solved Papers | View Book |
| UPSC Prelims Book for Exam In English | Solved Papers | View Book |
UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 FAQs
Ans. The UPSC IAS Prelims exam is to be held on 24th May 2026 and UPSC Mains is to be held from 21st August 2026 onwards.
Ans. The UPSC 2026 Notification has been released on 4th February 2026
Ans. The educational qualification required for UPSC CSE is a graduation degree from a recognized university.
Ans. If a candidate has applied more than one application, then the last application will be accepted by the commission.
