Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for Civil Services Examination 2026. This is one of the most prestigious examinations in India for recruitment to various All India Services and Central Services including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and many other Group A and Group B services. Approximately 933 vacancies have been announced including reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD categories. The Preliminary Examination will be held on 24th May 2026. Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official UPSC portal before the last date. This jobsarkariupdate provides complete information about UPSC CSE 2026 including eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, application process, important dates and how to apply online. This is a golden opportunity for aspirants who dream of serving the nation through civil services. Don’t miss this Govt Job opportunity and apply online as soon as possible.

Important Note: Fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Age Relaxation:

Educational Qualification:

• For All Services: Graduate Degree from a recognized University
• Candidates appearing in final year can also apply
• Degree certificate must be produced at the time of Interview

Nationality:

• For IAS, IFS, IPS: Citizen of India only
• For Other Services: Citizen of India, or Subject of Nepal, or Subject of Bhutan, or Tibetan Refugee (who came before 01.01.1962), or Person of Indian Origin from specified countries (with eligibility certificate from Government of India)

Number of Attempts:

Total Approximate Vacancies: 933

Breakdown by Disability Category (PwBD – Horizontal Reservation):

Services Included in CSE 2026:

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
2. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
3. Indian Police Service (IPS)
4. Indian Audit and Accounts Service (Group A)
5. Indian Civil Accounts Service (Group A)
6. Indian Corporate Law Service (Group A)
7. Indian Defence Accounts Service (Group A)
8. Indian Defence Estates Service (Group A)
9. Indian Information Service (Group A)
10. Indian Postal Service (Group A)
11. Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (Group A)
12. Indian Railway Management Service – Traffic, Personnel, Accounts (Group A)
13. Indian Railway Protection Force Service (Group A)
14. Indian Revenue Service – Customs & Indirect Taxes (Group A)
15. Indian Revenue Service – Income Tax (Group A)
16. Indian Trade Service (Group A – Grade III)
17. Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Group B)
18. DANICS – Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (Group B)
19. DANIPS – Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (Group B)
20. Pondicherry Civil Service – PONDICS (Group B)
21. Pondicherry Police Service – PONDIPS (Group B)

Note: Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD categories will be as per Government rules. Final vacancies may change as per notifications from Cadre Controlling Authorities.

The Civil Services Examination consists of TWO successive stages:

Stage 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination

• Type: Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions)
• Purpose: Qualifying / Screening Test
• Exam Date: 24 May 2026

Paper Pattern:

Negative Marking: 1/3 (0.33) marks deducted for each wrong answer

Qualifying Marks for Paper-II (CSAT): Minimum 33% (66 marks out of 200)

Shortlisting: About 12-13 times the total vacancies will be called for Mains

Stage 2: Civil Services (Main) Examination

• Type: Written (Conventional Essay Type) + Interview
• Total Papers: 9 Papers (7 counted for ranking + 2 qualifying language papers)

Shortlisting for Interview: About 2 times the total vacancies will be called

Final Selection: Based on marks in Main Exam (Written) + Interview

Medium: Candidates can answer papers (except language papers) in any language from 8th Schedule or English

Optional Subjects Available: Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History, Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology, and Literature of 22 languages.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply online by following these steps:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: https://upsconline.nic.in
2. Click on “Online Application” or “Civil Services Examination 2026” link
3. Read the detailed notification and instructions carefully
4. One-Time Registration (OTR): If first time, create account with valid Email ID and Mobile Number
5. Get your Universal Registration Number (URN) – This is permanent for all UPSC exams
6. Complete Part-I: Personal Details (Name, DOB, Category, PwBD status, etc.)
7. Complete Part-II: Address and Photo ID details
8. Upload recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, 100-200 KB)
9. Upload signature (JPEG, 50-150 KB) – Sign 3 times on white paper
10. Capture live photograph as per instructions
11. Complete Part-III: Educational Qualification details
12. Complete Part-IV: Exam-specific details (Centre preference, Optional subject, Medium, etc.)
13. Pay application fee through Net Banking / Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI
14. Submit the application form
15. Take printout of the confirmation page and fee receipt for future reference
16. Note down your Registration ID and Application Number

Q1. What is the total number of vacancies for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026?

Answer: Approximately 933 vacancies have been announced for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026, which may change as per final notifications from Cadre Controlling Authorities.

Q2. When is the last date to apply for UPSC CSE 2026?

Answer: The last date to submit online application is 27 February 2026 (06:00 PM). Candidates are advised to apply well before the deadline.

Q3. What is the educational qualification required for UPSC Civil Services Exam?

Answer: Candidates must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognized University. Even final year students can apply, but must produce the degree certificate at the time of Interview.

Q4. What is the age limit for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026?

Answer: Minimum age is 21 years and maximum age is 32 years as on 01.08.2026. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD (10-15 years) and Ex-Servicemen categories.

Q5. What is the application fee for UPSC CSE 2026?

Answer: For Preliminary Exam: Rs. 100/- for General/OBC/EWS male candidates. For Main Exam: Additional Rs. 200/-. SC/ST/PwBD/Female candidates are exempted from fee payment.

Q6. When will UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2026 be conducted?

Answer: The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 will be held on 24 May 2026 in two sessions – Paper-I (General Studies) and Paper-II (CSAT).

Q7. How many attempts are allowed for UPSC Civil Services Exam?

Answer: General/EWS candidates: 6 attempts, OBC candidates: 9 attempts, SC/ST candidates: Unlimited attempts (up to age limit). PwBD candidates get additional attempts as per category.

Q8. Which services are included in UPSC Civil Services Examination?

Answer: UPSC CSE includes IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS (IT & C&IT), Indian Audit & Accounts Service, Indian Foreign Service, and 18 other Group A and Group B Central Services.

Q9. What is the exam pattern for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026?

Answer: The exam has 3 stages: (1) Preliminary Exam – 2 objective papers (qualifying), (2) Main Exam – 9 written papers (7 for merit + 2 qualifying), (3) Personality Test/Interview (275 marks).

Q10. How to apply online for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026?

Answer: Visit https://upsconline.nic.in, complete One-Time Registration, fill Common Application Form, upload photo & signature, pay fee online, and submit before 27 February 2026 (06:00 PM).

Q11. Can final year students apply for UPSC CSE 2026?

Answer: Yes, candidates who are appearing in their final year graduation examination can also apply. However, they must produce the degree certificate at the time of Interview/Personality Test.

Q12. Is there negative marking in UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam?

Answer: Yes, there is negative marking in both Paper-I and Paper-II of Preliminary Exam. One-third (0.33) marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

Q13. What are the subjects in UPSC Main Examination?

Answer: Main Exam has 2 language papers (qualifying), Essay, 4 General Studies papers, and 2 Optional Subject papers. Candidates can choose from 26 optional subjects including Literature.

Q14. What is the official website for UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026?

Answer: The official websites are www.upsc.gov.in (for notifications) and https://upsconline.nic.in (for online application). All updates, admit cards and results are published on these websites only.

Q15. Is Aadhaar Card mandatory for UPSC CSE 2026?

Answer: While Aadhaar is not mandatory, UPSC strongly recommends using Aadhaar Card as Photo ID for easy verification. Candidates can use any valid Government Photo ID (PAN, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License, etc.).