The official UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 has been published at www.upsc.gov.in, covering key recruitment drives including Civil Services, NDA, CDS, CMS, and CAPF AC. Aspirants are advised to download the exam schedule immediately to align their study plans with the official timeline.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Calendar 2026, providing much-needed clarity for candidates aiming for prestigious government positions. The revised Annual Exam Calendar 2026 PDF is accessible on the official portal, www.upsc.gov.in. By reviewing these dates, aspirants can formulate a robust preparation strategy and stay ahead of the competition.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Out
Every year, the UPSC conducts a series of rigorous national-level examinations, drawing lakhs of applicants for various government services. The UPSC Calendar 2026 features a comprehensive list of exam dates, including the Civil Services Examination, National Defence Academy (NDA), Combined Defence Services (CDS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), Engineering Services, Combined Medical Services, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: Notification & Registration Dates
UPSC will issue official notifications and open registration portals for the Civil Services (Prelims), NDA & NA, CDS, and other major exams throughout the year according to the 2026 schedule. Refer to our detailed table below for the specific notification release dates and registration windows for all UPSC-conducted exams in 2026.
| Exam Names | Notification Release Dates | Registration Dates |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 14th January 2026 | 14th January to 3rd February 2026 |
| Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P) Examination | 14th January 2026 | 14th January to 3rd February 2026 |
| I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, 2026 | 11th February 2026 | 11th February to 3rd March 2026 |
| Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026 | 18th February 2026 | 18th February to 10th March 2026 |
| Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 | 18th March 2026 | 18th March to 7th April 2026 |
| N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II), 2026 | 20th May 2026 | 20th May to 9th June 2026 |
| C.D.S. Examination (II), 2026 | 20th May 2026 | 20th May to 9th June 2026 |
| S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 16th September 2026 | 16th September to 6th October 2026 |
UPSC Annual Calendar 2026: Exam Dates
UPSC organizes various examinations throughout the 2026 calendar year, spanning from January to December. The detailed exam dates, as specified in the official UPSC Exam Calendar 2026, are provided in the table below for your convenience.
| SNo. | Exam Names | Exam Date & Day | No. of Days |
| 1 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 10th January 2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 2 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 18th January 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 3 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 8th February 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 4 | CBI (DSP) LDCE | 24th January 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 5 | CISF AC(EXE) LDCE–2026 | 1st March 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 6 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), 2026 | 12th April 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 7 | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2026 | 12th April 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 8 | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 24th May 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 9 | Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P) Examination | 24th May 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 10 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 6th June 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 11 | I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, 2026 | 26th June 2026 (Friday) | 3 Days |
| 12 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2026 | 20th June 2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 13 | Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | 28th June 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 14 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 4th July 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 15 | Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026 | 9th August 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 16 | Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 | 23rd August 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 17 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 5th September 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 18 | Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | 18th September 2026 (Friday) | 5 Days |
| 19 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II), 2026 | 6th September 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 20 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2026 | 6th September 2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| 21 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 26th September 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 22 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 3rd October 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 23 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 10th October 2026 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
| 24 | Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026 | 21st November 2026 (Saturday) | 10 Days |
| 25 | S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 12th December 2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 26 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 19th December 2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 27 | Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination | 26th December 2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 PDF
For your reference, we have provided the official UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF directly from www.upsc.gov.in. We recommend downloading this file to bookmark the crucial exam dates relevant to your targeted career path.
Major UPSC Exams in 2026
UPSC NDA 1 & 2 Exam 2026 Dates |
||
| Activity | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Notification Release Date | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Start of Application Process | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 30th December 2025 | 9th June 2026 |
| UPSC NDA Admit Card 2026 | April 2026 | September 2026 |
| UPSC NDA Exam 2026 | 12th April 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
UPSC CDS 1 & 2 Exam 2026 Dates |
||
| Activity | NDA 1 | NDA 2 |
| Notification Release Date | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Start of Application Process | 10th December 2025 | 20th May 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 30th December 2025 | 9th June 2026 |
| UPSC CDS Admit Card 2026 | April 2026 | September 2026 |
| UPSC CDS Exam 2026 | 12th April 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
UPSC CSE & IFS 2026 Dates |
|
| Notification Release Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Start of Application Process | 14th January 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 3rd February 2026 |
| UPSC CSE Prelims Exam 2026 | 24th May 2026 (1 day) |
| UPSC CSE Mains Exam 2026 | 18th September 2026 (5 days) |
UPSC CAPF 2026 Dates |
|
| Notification Release Date | 18th February 2026 |
| Start of Application Process | 18th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 10th March 2026 |
| UPSC CAPF Exam 2026 | 9th August 2026 |
Why UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Important?
The UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 outlines critical dates, including notification release, application submission windows, and the schedule for both Preliminary and Main stages of various national-level exams. Mastering this schedule is vital for every serious aspirant.
- Candidates can create an effective study plan that they can follow smoothly if they know the notification release date and exam dates beforehand.
- Candidates have sufficient time to cover each subject, revise it thoroughly, and practice mock tests & previous year question papers.
- The annual calendar helps the candidates who are preparing for multiple examinations conducted by UPSC or other organisations to avoid any clashes.
- Candidates can prepare in a calm environment without any sudden announcement of the exam dates.
FAQs
Is UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Out?
Yes, the official UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 was released on 15th May 2025, detailing all the important dates for the upcoming academic and recruitment year.
When is UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 to be held?
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is officially scheduled to take place on 24th May 2026.
What’s Included in the UPSC Exam Calendar PDF?
The UPSC calendar includes essential information such as notification release dates, registration timelines, and exam durations for premier services including the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFoS), NDA, CDS, and CAPF.
Also Read:
- UPSC Exam Calendar 2024: Download Revised Annual Schedule & Key Dates
- UPSC Drug Inspector Recruitment 2026: Apply for 186 Vacancies (Notification PDF)
- UPSC Recruitment 2026: Apply for 450 Drug Inspector, AE & Other Vacancies
- UPSC Mains Result 2024 Released at upsc.gov.in: Direct Link to Download PDF
- UPSC Prelims Result 2026 Declared: Download Merit List PDF at upsc.gov.in
- UPSC Notification 2026 Released: Apply for 933 Civil Services Posts (Deadline Extended to Feb 27)