IES ISS Recruitment 2026 – Union Public Service Commission

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service (IES/ISS) Examination 2026. This is a golden opportunity for Economics and Statistics graduates to join prestigious Central Government services. The recruitment offers job security, excellent career growth, competitive salary, and the chance to contribute to national economic policy and statistical analysis.

Candidates holding Post-Graduate degrees in Economics or Bachelor’s/Master’s degrees in Statistics can apply for these coveted positions. The examination will be conducted in two stages – Written Examination and Personality Test/Interview.

Organization & Recruitment Details

The UPSC conducts this prestigious examination annually to recruit talented professionals for economic and statistical roles in various ministries and departments of the Government of India. Selected candidates will work on crucial policy formulation, economic analysis, and statistical research at the national level.

Important Dates

Application Fee

Common Mistake to Avoid: Many candidates forget to complete the payment process. After payment, always download the payment receipt and take a screenshot as proof. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be held in reserve for any other examination.

Age Limit

Age Calculation: Your date of birth should be between 02 August 1996 and 01 August 2005 for general category. Only the date of birth mentioned in your Matriculation/10th certificate will be considered – no changes are allowed later.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Important Note for ISS: For Indian Statistical Service, studying Statistics as a component of multidisciplinary course for just one or two semesters does NOT qualify as eligibility. Statistics must be studied in all years of the Bachelor Degree Course.

Common Eligibility Mistakes:

• Applying for ISS with Statistics studied only in 2-3 semesters
• Not having the degree certificate ready at the interview stage
• Applying with degrees from non-recognized universities
• Foreign degree holders not getting prior approval from UPSC

Nationality

A candidate must be:

• A citizen of India, OR
• A subject of Nepal, OR
• A subject of Bhutan, OR
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01 January 1962, OR
• A person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with intention of permanent settlement in India

Vacancy Details

Competition Insight: With only 44 vacancies and thousands of applicants, the competition is intense. IES typically sees a selection ratio of 1:100 or higher, while ISS competition is equally tough. Quality preparation over 8-12 months is essential for success.

Reservation is provided for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD categories as per Government norms. The numbers mentioned above are tentative and liable to change.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of two stages:

Stage 1: Written Examination (1000 Marks)

For Indian Economic Service:

For Indian Statistical Service:

Negative Marking: For objective type papers (Statistics I & II), there is negative marking of 0.33 marks for each wrong answer. No negative marking for descriptive papers.

Stage 2: Personality Test/Interview (200 Marks)

Candidates who qualify the written examination will be called for Personality Test. The interview assesses intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, social cohesion, integrity, and leadership capacity. The Board will have your complete academic record and will test both general and specialized knowledge.

Preparation Tips for Selection:

• Start preparation at least 8-10 months before the exam
• Focus equally on General English and General Studies – they are qualifying in nature
• For IES: Build strong conceptual clarity in Economics theory and Indian economy
• For ISS: Master both theoretical statistics and computational skills
• Practice previous year papers extensively
• Keep updated with current economic policies and statistical surveys

Salary / Pay Scale

Allowances & Benefits:

• Dearness Allowance (DA) – Currently around 50% of basic pay
• House Rent Allowance (HRA) – 24%/16%/8% based on city classification
• Transport Allowance
• Medical facilities for self and family
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Pension benefits under New Pension Scheme

In-hand Salary: The approximate in-hand salary at Junior Time Scale is ₹85,000 to ₹95,000 per month depending on city of posting and allowances. With promotion to Senior Time Scale (Level 12) and higher levels, salary increases significantly.

Career Growth: Officers can reach Selection Grade (Level 13), Super Time Scale (Level 14), and even Higher Administrative Grade (Level 15 & 16) with excellent career progression. Senior positions offer pay scales exceeding ₹2.5 lakh per month.

How to Apply

Candidates must apply ONLINE only through the official UPSC website. Follow these steps carefully:

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Registration: Visit https://upsconline.nic.in and create Universal Registration Number (URN) if you haven’t already. This URN is permanent for all UPSC exams.
2. Fill Common Application Form (CAF): Complete your personal details, educational qualifications, category, etc. Upload scanned photograph (20-200 KB in JPG format) and signature (20-100 KB in JPG format).
3. Live Photo Capture: Capture your live photograph using webcam/mobile camera as per instructions.
4. Fill Examination Specific Module: Select IES or ISS, choose examination centre, fill service preferences.
5. Payment of Fee: Pay ₹200 through Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI (exempted categories skip this).
6. Submit Application: Review all details carefully and submit. Take printout for future reference.
7. Note Application Number: Save your Application Number and URN for all future correspondence.

Important Documents Required (Scanned):

• Recent photograph (JPG, 20-200 KB)
• Signature on white paper (JPG, 20-100 KB)
• Photo ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Driving License/Voter ID)

Important Instructions for Candidates

Expert Tips

Examination Centres

The examination will be conducted at the following 21 centres across India:

Note: Centres have capacity limits except Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur and Kolkata. Allocation is on first-apply-first-allot basis. PwBD candidates can opt for desired centre. Apply early to get your preferred centre!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. What is the educational qualification for IES ISS 2026?

Answer: For IES – Post-Graduate degree in Economics/Applied Economics/Business Economics/Econometrics. For ISS – Bachelor’s degree with Statistics as subject OR Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics.

Q2. What is the age limit for IES ISS examination?

Answer: Minimum 21 years and maximum 30 years as on 01 August 2026. Age relaxation available for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD (10 years) and Ex-servicemen (5 years).

Q3. Is there application fee for IES ISS 2026?

Answer: Yes, ₹200 for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. Female candidates and SC/ST/PwBD candidates are exempted from fee payment.

Q4. How many vacancies are there in IES ISS 2026?

Answer: Total 44 vacancies – 16 in Indian Economic Service and 28 in Indian Statistical Service. Numbers are tentative and may change.

Q5. What is the salary of IES and ISS officers?

Answer: Pay Level 11 with basic pay range of ₹67,700 to ₹2,08,700. In-hand salary approximately ₹85,000 to ₹95,000 per month including allowances at entry level.

Q6. When is the last date to apply for IES ISS 2026?

Answer: Last date for online application is 03 March 2026 till 18:00 hours (6:00 PM). Apply early to avoid last minute rush.

Q7. Can I apply for both IES and ISS?

Answer: No, candidates can apply for only one service – either IES or ISS. Choose according to your educational qualification and interest.

Q8. Is there negative marking in IES ISS exam?

Answer: Yes, for objective type papers (Statistics I & II for ISS), there is negative marking of 0.33 marks for each wrong answer. No negative marking for descriptive papers.

Q9. What is the exam pattern for IES ISS 2026?

Answer: Written examination of 1000 marks (6 papers) + Interview of 200 marks. Total 1200 marks. IES papers are all descriptive. ISS has 2 objective and 4 descriptive papers.

Q10. When will IES ISS 2026 examination be conducted?

Answer: Written examination will commence from 19 June 2026. Exact dates and schedule will be mentioned on the Admit Card.

Q11. How can I download IES ISS admit card 2026?

Answer: E-Admit Card will be available on UPSC website (upsconline.nic.in) on last working day of preceding week of examination. No admit card is sent by post.

Q12. What documents are required at the time of interview?

Answer: Original certificates of age, educational qualification, caste certificate (if applicable), EWS certificate (if applicable), PwBD certificate (if applicable), mark sheets, degree certificate, photo ID proof, etc.