Table of Contents
The Union Public Service Commission has been anticipated to announce the UPSC Notification 2026 soon on their official website platforms – upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in. Earlier, the notification was to be made available on 14th January 2026, but that has been postponed for some administrative reasons. This would be declared later by the UPSC.
This notification is very crucial for all the aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination 2026 and the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026, as it has all the information related to the examination schedule, vacant positions, eligibility criteria, application process, fee, format, and guidelines.
Aspiring candidates who will be participating in the UPSC in the year 2026 must always be aware of the latest updates and be prepared with the necessary documents, like photographs, signatures, and identification proof, to make the online submission process of submission easier and smoother.
UPSC Notification 2026
The notification regarding UPSC Recruitment 2026 for CSE and IFS, which was scheduled to be released on 14th January 2026, has been postponed. As per a notification by the Commission, this delay in notification issuance has occurred due to administrative reasons. The date will be notified soon.
However, the UPSC Preliminary Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on 24th May 2026, while the UPSC Mains Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on 21st August 2026. Aspirants can continue their preparations undisturbed, as the dates for the exams have not been altered.
| UPSC 2026 Overview | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper based) |
| Stages of Exam | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Language | English & Hindi |
| Vacancies | To be announced |
| Application Fee | ₹100 (General/OBC/EWS Male), Nil for others |
UPSC Notification 2026 PDF
The UPSC Notification 2026 PDF will be released soon by the Union Public Service Commission on its official website, upsc.gov.in. It will contain complete details about the Civil Services Examination 2026, including exam dates, number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, age limit, application process, fee structure, exam pattern, syllabus, reservation rules, and list of services. Candidates must download and carefully read the notification PDF before applying online to avoid any mistakes and ensure eligibility.
UPSC Notification 2026 PDF Link (Inactive)
How to Download UPSC Notification 2026 PDF?
Follow these simple steps to download the UPSC Notification 2026 PDF:
- Visit the official UPSC website – www.upsc.gov.in
- On the homepage, go to the “Examination” section.
- Click on “Notifications”.
- Look for “Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Notification”.
- Click on the PDF link given against the notification.
- The UPSC Notification 2026 PDF will open on your screen.
- Click on the Download icon and save it on your device.
UPSC Vacancy 2026
The exact number of vacancies for UPSC 2026 will be announced in the notification. Generally, vacancies range between 900 to 1100 posts, including IAS, IPS, IRS, IFS, and other allied services.
Reservation is applicable as per Government of India rules:
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SC
-
ST
-
OBC
-
EWS
-
PwBD
The category-wise and service-wise vacancy details will be released officially.
UPSC Posts 2026
The UPSC CSE 2026 encompasses multiple prestigious Group A and Group B services within administration, diplomacy, law enforcement, finance, defence, railways, and territorial governance. While filling out the application form, candidates will make their preferred service choices. Final allotment shall be strictly based on rank secured in the list, preference of the services chosen, medical fitness, and reservation rules. These posts provide leadership roles in policy making, governance, public administration, and national development.
| Service Name | Group | Domain / Nature of Work |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) | A | Administration, policy making, governance |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) | A | Diplomacy, foreign relations |
| Indian Police Service (IPS) | A | Law enforcement, internal security |
| Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS) | A | Government auditing, financial accountability |
| Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) | A | Public financial management |
| Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) | A | Corporate regulation and governance |
| Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) | A | Defence financial management |
| Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) | A | Defence land and property administration |
| Indian Information Service (IIS) | A | Media, information and communication |
| Indian Postal Service (IPoS) | A | Postal administration and logistics |
| Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS) | A | Telecom and postal finance |
| Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) | A | Railway security |
| Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) | A | Indirect taxation and customs |
| Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) | A | Direct taxation |
| Indian Trade Service (ITS) | A | International trade and commerce |
| Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) | A | Railway operations and management |
| Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (AFHQCS) | B | Defence administration |
| DANICS | B | UT administration and civil services |
| DANIPS | B | UT police services |
| Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS) | B | Territorial civil administration |
| Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS) | B | Territorial police administration |
UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026
Nationality
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Indian citizens for IAS and IPS
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Indian citizens or eligible nationals for other services
Age Limit
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Minimum: 21 years
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Maximum: 32 years (as on 1 August 2026)
Age Relaxation:
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OBC: 3 years
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SC/ST: 5 years
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PwBD: 10 years
Educational Qualification
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Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
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Final year students may apply provisionally
Number of Attempts
| Category | Attempts |
|---|---|
| General | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC/ST | Unlimited |
| PwBD | As per category rules |
UPSC Exam Date 2026
UPSC has already released the exam calendar for 2026. The important dates are:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC Notification 2026 | To be announced (Postponed from 14 Jan 2026) |
| Application Start Date | To be announced |
| Application Last Date | To be announced |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21 August 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | One week before exam |
| Result Declaration | To be announced |
| Interview Schedule | To be announced |
| Final Result | To be announced |
UPSC Exam Pattern 2026
The UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 breaks down into three components: the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and the Personality Test, commonly called the Interview. The three components test different skills of a candidate, such as general knowledge, analytical skills, writing skills, and personal qualities. The Prelims test the candidates for screening, the Mains for the knowledge base and writing abilities, and the Interviews for the qualities of a leader. The detailed UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 is given in the following table.
| UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 | ||
| Stage | Paper/Component | Details |
| Prelims | Paper I: General Studies | 200 questions, 200 marks, objective type, negative marking (–⅓ per wrong answer) |
| Paper II: CSAT | 80 questions, 200 marks, qualifying with 33% minimum, objective type | |
| Note | Marks of Paper I count for qualification; CSAT is only qualifying | |
| Mains | Total Papers: 9 | Descriptive type, total 1750 marks |
| Compulsory Language Papers | 2 papers (English + Indian Language), qualifying only | |
| Essay Paper | 1 paper, 250 marks | |
| General Studies Papers (I–IV) | 4 papers, 250 marks each | |
| Optional Subject Papers (I & II) | 2 papers, 250 marks each (based on candidate’s chosen optional subject) | |
| Interview | Personality Test | 275 marks, tests mental alertness, communication skills, decision-making |
| Final Merit | Total | Mains (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 marks used for final ranking |
UPSC Selection Process 2026
UPSC Selection Procedure 2026: This is a three-step selection process designed to help pick up the most deserving candidates for different vacancies in different Civil Services. All stages have a qualifying nature, which has to be cleared by the candidates to proceed to other stages. The merit list will be formed by compiling scores in the Mains Exams along with those in the Personality Test.
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Preliminary Examination (Prelims)
This is the first stage and acts as a screening test. It consists of two objective-type papers:
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General Studies Paper I (counts for merit)
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CSAT Paper II (qualifying with 33% marks)
Marks obtained in Prelims are not added to the final merit but are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Mains.
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Main Examination (Mains)
Candidates who qualify Prelims appear for the Mains. It is a descriptive written examination consisting of 9 papers:
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2 qualifying language papers
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7 merit-based papers (Essay, GS I–IV, Optional I & II)
The Mains exam tests analytical ability, depth of understanding, and writing skills. Total marks: 1750.
-
Personality Test (Interview)
Candidates who clear the Mains are called for the Interview, which carries 275 marks.
It evaluates:
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Personality traits
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Communication skills
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Leadership qualities
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Decision-making ability
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Overall suitability for civil services
Final Merit List
The final ranking is prepared based on:
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Mains Marks (1750) + Interview Marks (275) = 2025 marks
Only candidates who qualify all three stages are included in the final selection and service allocation is done based on rank, preference, and reservation rules.
UPSC Exam Centres 2026
Candidates can choose three preferred exam centres. Major cities include:
| Exam Centre City | State |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Delhi |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| Kolkata | West Bengal |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| Patna | Bihar |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| Hyderabad | Telangana |
| Guwahati | Assam |
Note: Candidates can select up to three preferred exam centres while filling out the application form. The final allotment of the UPSC Exam Centre 2026 is done by the Commission based on availability and first-come-first-serve basis.
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