The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Notification 2026, announcing a total of 933 vacancies for premier national administrative services. Aspirants aiming to join prestigious bodies like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) can now review the detailed guidelines and submit their forms. Notably, the application window has been extended until 27th February 2026 (6 pm), giving eligible candidates extra time to complete their submissions.
In addition to the 933 civil services positions, 80 vacancies have been announced for the Forest Service Examination. Candidates can download official reference documents including the UPSC CSE Notification 2026 PDF and the UPSC IFS Notification 2026 PDF.
UPSC 2026 Notification Overview
Here is a quick snapshot of the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 |
| Exam Level | National |
| Vacancy | 933 |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Last Date to Register | 27th February 2026 |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Main Exam, Interview |
| 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 |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates
Candidates must keep track of key milestones throughout the recruitment timeline:
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 4th February 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 4th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27th February 2026 (6 pm) |
| Last Date to Pay the Application Fee | 27th February 2026 (6 pm) |
| UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026 | 11th May 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21st August 2026 onwards |
UPSC 2026 Vacancies & PwBD Breakdown
Out of 933 total vacancies, 66 positions are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Compared to previous cycles (1129 vacancies in 2025 and 1056 in 2024), the 2026 cycle continues robust recruitment into All India Services like IAS, IPS, and IFoS, alongside Central Civil Services such as IFS and IRS.
| Category | Reserved vacancies |
|---|---|
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 33 |
| Blindness and low vision | 7 |
| Deaf and hard of hearing | 11 |
| Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy | 8 |
| Multiple disabilities among persons | 7 |
| Total | 66 |
Eligibility Criteria & Age Limits
Candidates must ensure they fulfill all eligibility requirements before applying:
- Education Qualification: Graduate or relevant degree from any Central or State University recognized by the Indian legislature, or an institution deemed to be a university.
- Age Limit: 21 to 32 years. Applicants must have been born no earlier than 2nd August 1993 and no later than 1st August 2004.
- Nationality: Citizenship of India is mandatory for IAS and IPS. For other services, citizenship of India, subject of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugee settled permanently before Jan 1, 1962, or person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, or Ethiopia. Note: Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan refugees are ineligible for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Age Relaxations
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations | 3 Years |
| Ex-servicemen (5 years service) | 5 Years |
| PwD | 10 Years |
*Note: No age relaxation is applicable for candidates under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
Application Fee & Guidelines
The application fee is Rs. 100/- for eligible categories. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are entirely exempt.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD | Exempted |
| Other Categories | Rs. 100/- |
Documents Required & Permissible Size Checklist
- Scanned Signature: Black or blue ink signature on white paper; scanned image in JPG/JPEG format; file size usually 20–50 KB; signature should be clear & neat.
- Scanned Photograph: File format & size: JPG, usually 20–300 KB; photo should be recent (taken within about 10 days of application start); name and date when photo was taken should be visible on the image itself.
How to Register & Apply for UPSC CSE Exam 2026?
Follow these step-by-step instructions to complete your registration before the deadline:
- Visit the official UPSC website (www.upsc.gov.in) or use the direct portal to Register & Apply for UPSC CSE Exam 2026.
- Look for the “Apply Online” link on the homepage.
- If you are a first-time applicant, you will need to register by providing basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number.
- After successful registration, a unique registration ID and password will be generated. Note them down for future use.
- Log in using the registration ID and password.
- Fill in the required details in the online application form, including personal information, educational qualifications, choice of examination centre, etc.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee online using the available payment options.
- Review the filled-in application form before submission to ensure accuracy.
Exam Pattern & Selection Process
Selection follows a rigorous three-tier process: Prelims, Mains, and a final Personality Test (Interview). The final merit list is determined by cumulative performance in the Mains and Interview stages. You can Check UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2026 and View Detailed UPSC IAS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026.
| Paper | Subjects | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | General Studies (GS) | 200 |
| II | CSAT | 200 |
| Paper-A | One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate | 300 |
| Paper-B | English | 300 |
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography) | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice) | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Environment) | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test | 275 | |
| Grand Total | 2025 |
Next Steps After Application
Once you have successfully submitted your application before the 27th February 2026 deadline, focus on your preparation for the preliminary examination scheduled for 24th May 2026. Keep your login credentials secure, and look out for the UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026 releasing on 11th May 2026. You can also bookmark UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026 - Download Here for immediate access when hall tickets go live.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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