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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 officially on its website upsc.gov.in. This calendar contains the entire schedule of UPSC examinations to be conducted in 2026, such as the much-awaited Civil Services Examination (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFS), NDA, CDS, CAPF, and other central government examinations.
If you’re looking to become an IAS, IPS, IFS, or serve in the Defence Forces, this calendar is your guide. Download the UPSC Calendar 2026 official PDF, grasp exam schedules, and plan your preparation accordingly.
UPSC Calendar 2026
The UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released officially on 15 May 2025, specifying the schedule of important exams such as Civil Services (CSE), NDA, CDS, IFS, and others. Candidates can now verify crucial dates for notifications, application last dates, and exam dates to organise their preparation accordingly.
Direct Link to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF
Applicants willing to plan their preparations can now easily download the UPSC Calendar 2026 official PDF directly. The calendar features vital dates of exams such as CSE, NDA, CDS, IFS, etc. Just visit the official website of UPSC or tap on the direct link below and download the calendar and remain up to date with all exam schedules and notifications of 2026.
Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF
How to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 From Official Website
If you would prefer to download the calendar from the UPSC official website, you can follow the simple steps as follows:
- Use your browser and visit https://www.upsc.gov.in.
- On the home page, locate the top menu bar and select “Examinations.”
- Select “Calendar” from the drop-down list.
- A window of available calendars will appear. Look for the “Annual Calendar 2026” or “UPSC Exam Calendar 2026.”
- Click on the link to open the PDF.
- Click on the download icon to download a PDF of the calendar onto your device.
- Open the PDF and review all the exam dates, notice releases, and application deadlines attentively.
UPSC 2026 Calendar Overview
UPSC has officially published the UPSC Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025. Candidates who are preparing for high-level exams like IAS, IPS, IFS, NDA, CDS, CAPF, and ESE can now view the full exam schedule and effectively plan their preparation. The calendar provides key dates such as notification releases, the last date to apply, and exam dates.
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
Calendar Released On | 15 May 2025 |
Mode of Release | Online PDF |
Exams Included | CSE, IFS, NDA, CDS, CAPF, ESE |
Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important UPSC Exam Dates 2026
UPSC released the UPSC Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025 officially. The calendar provides the exact dates of the various elite examinations such as the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFS), National Defence Academy (NDA), Combined Defence Services (CDS), and more. Now, candidates can plan their preparation strategies effectively following this calendar. The calendar gives important details like notification dates, application closing dates, and examination dates.
Exam | Notification Date | Last Date to Apply | Exam Date |
---|---|---|---|
Civil Services Exam (CSE) Prelims | February 2026 | March 2026 | June 2026 |
Civil Services Exam (CSE) Mains | September 2026 | October 2026 | December 2026 |
NDA I | January 2026 | February 2026 | April 2026 |
NDA II | June 2026 | July 2026 | September 2026 |
CDS I | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 |
CDS II | September 2026 | October 2026 | November 2026 |
Indian Forest Service (IFS) | February 2026 | March 2026 | June 2026 |
Engineering Services Exam (ESE) | January 2026 | February 2026 | April 2026 |
Combined Geo-Scientist Exam | March 2026 | April 2026 | June 2026 |
Broader Exam Coverage in UPSC 2026 Calendar
The UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 includes a wide range of examinations:
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Civil Services Examination (CSE)
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Indian Forest Service (IFS)
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Engineering Services (ESE)
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Combined Defence Services (CDS)
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National Defence Academy (NDA)
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Combined Geo-Scientist
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Combined Medical Services (CMS)
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CAPF Assistant Commandants (ACs)
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S.O./Steno LDCE
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CBI DSP LDCE, CISF AC(EXE) LDCE
Reserved Dates for UPSC Recruitment Tests (RTs)
UPSC has strategically marked several weekends in 2026 as “Reserved for RT/Examinations” including:
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January 10, 17
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June 6
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July 4
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August 8
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September 26
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October 10, 31
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December 19
These slots allow for departmental promotions, interviews, LDCEs, and new exams based on future requirements.
UPSC CSE Prelims Calendar 2026
Given below is the provisional UPSC CSE Prelims schedule 2026 for candidates studying for one of India’s most prestigious exams. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will issue the official notice in February 2026, and applicants need to remain informed about the key dates so that they won’t miss any deadlines. Here is an overview of the anticipated schedule for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026:
UPSC CSE Prelims Calendar 2026 | |
UPSC CSE Notification Release Date | February 2026 |
Apply Online Starts | February 2026 |
Last Date to Apply | March 2026 |
UPSC Prelims Exam Date | June 2026 |
UPSC CSE Mains 2026
Once they have cleared the Prelims round, the candidates move into UPSC Civil Services Mains 2026, which is the selection process’s most important step. This round examines a candidate’s deeper knowledge, analytical skill, and written communication. The Mains examination will start in August 2026 and will be held over the course of five consecutive days. The results will be out by the end of the year.
Event | Date |
---|---|
Mains Exam Start | 21st August 2026 (Friday) |
Mains Exam Duration | 5 Days |
Result Declaration | December 2026 (Expected) |
UPSC Calendar 2026 – Key Takeaways
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UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Date: 24th May 2026
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CSE Mains 2026 Date: 21st August 2026
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Notification Release Date: 14th January 2026
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Last Date to Apply: 3rd February 2026
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PDF Download: Available on upsc.gov.in