The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially released the UPSC CSE 2026 Notification on 4th February 2026 on the official website upsc.gov.in — delayed from the originally scheduled date of January 14, 2026 due to administrative reasons.
The notification is the only authentic source of information on vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam dates, exam pattern, syllabus, selection procedure, and any changes in the upcoming examination. Candidates can download the official UPSC Notification 2026 PDF directly from upsc.gov.in.
The table below covers the key highlights of the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026.
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Name of the Exam |
UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2026 |
|
Conducted by |
Union Public Service Commission |
|
Level |
National |
|
Exam Frequency |
Annual |
|
Mode of the Exam |
Offline (Pen and Paper) |
|
Total Vacancies |
933 |
|
Exam Stages |
3 — Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Personality Test |
|
Application Fee |
₹100 (Exempted for Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates) |
|
Official Website |
upsc.gov.in |
The following exam calendar applies to UPSC CSE 2026. Registration has now closed — aspirants currently preparing should focus on the Prelims on May 24, 2026.
|
Event |
Date |
|
Release of UPSC Notification 2026 |
February 4, 2026 |
|
UPSC Online Registration Opens |
February 4, 2026 |
|
Original Application Deadline |
February 24, 2026 |
|
Extended Application Deadline |
February 27, 2026 (6:00 PM) |
|
Application Correction Window |
February 28, 2026 — March 3, 2026 |
|
UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 |
May 24, 2026 (Sunday) |
|
UPSC CSE Prelims Result |
June 2026 (Tentative) |
|
UPSC CSE Mains 2026 |
August 21, 2026 (Friday) onwards |
The application window is now closed. Candidates who have registered should download their confirmation slip and focus on Prelims preparation.
Candidates could apply online for UPSC CSE 2026 through the official portals upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in. The application window was open from February 4 to February 27, 2026. The step-by-step registration process is as follows:
Note on exam centre allotment: Centres are allotted on a "first-apply-first-allot" basis — once the capacity of a preferred centre is filled, it is frozen and candidates must choose from remaining centres.
The UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on May 24, 2026 (Sunday), while the Mains 2026 will commence from August 21, 2026 onwards. Prelims result is tentatively expected in June 2026. Admit cards will be available for download on upsconline.nic.in — no admit card will be sent by post.
The number of vacancies to be filled through CSE 2026 is 933, which includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability Category. These vacancies are spread across various services including IAS, IPS, IFS, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and more.
For reference, UPSC announced 979 vacancies in 2025. The 2026 vacancy count of 933 represents a decrease of 46 posts year-on-year.
|
Category |
Age Range |
|
General / EWS |
21 to 32 years (Born: Aug 2, 1994 — Aug 1, 2005) |
|
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) |
21 to 35 years |
|
SC / ST |
21 to 37 years |
|
PwBD |
21 to 42 years |
|
Defence Personnel (disabled in operations) |
Up to 3 years relaxation |
|
Ex-servicemen |
Up to 5 years relaxation |
Number of Attempts
|
Category |
Maximum Attempts |
|
General / EWS |
6 |
|
OBC |
9 |
|
SC / ST |
Unlimited (until age limit) |
|
PwBD (General/OBC) |
9 |
|
PwBD (SC/ST) |
Unlimited |
The Union Public Service Commission has implemented several major reforms in the Civil Services Examination 2026 application procedure, aimed at streamlining the process, improving verification efficiency, and introducing stricter eligibility regulations.
Key changes aspirants must know:
The UPSC Correction Window 2026 allowed candidates to make necessary corrections in their Civil Services application forms after the application process closed. The window was open from February 28, 2026 to March 3, 2026 and has now closed. Candidates who submitted their applications should verify their details and ensure their confirmation slip is saved.
Check out our UPSC Coaching Programs:
Check out our UPSC Online Coaching Programs here:
UPSC has announced 933 vacancies for the Civil Services Examination 2026, including 33 posts reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability. These cover IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, Indian Audit and Accounts Services, and other central Group A and B services. This is a decrease from 979 vacancies announced in 2025.
The UPSC CSE 2026 Notification was released on February 4, 2026 — delayed from the originally scheduled January 14, 2026 date. It is available for download at upsc.gov.in.
The application window closed on February 27, 2026 (6:00 PM) after a 3-day extension from the original deadline of February 24, 2026. The correction window ran from February 28 to March 3, 2026 and has also closed.
UPSC provided a correction window from February 28 to March 3, 2026. This window has now closed. No further corrections can be made. Ensure all details are accurate in any future UPSC applications before the correction window closes.
General category candidates must be between 21 and 32 years as of August 1, 2026 — born between August 2, 1994 and August 1, 2005. OBC candidates get 3 years relaxation (up to 35 years), SC/ST get 5 years (up to 37 years), and PwBD candidates get 10 years relaxation (up to 42 years).
The major new rule is that candidates already appointed to IAS or IFS and continuing in those services cannot apply for CSE 2026. IPS officers may appear but cannot be re-allocated IPS. A one-time improvement attempt is permitted for candidates allocated to Group A services under specific conditions. Face verification has been introduced at all exam centres.
The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026 (Sunday). The Prelims result is tentatively expected in June 2026. The Main Examination begins August 21, 2026.
No applications are accepted after the deadline. The UPSC CSE 2026 application window closed on February 27, 2026. Candidates who missed the 2026 cycle should begin preparing for UPSC CSE 2027, whose notification is expected in January 2027 as per the annual calendar pattern.