The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC CSE Notification 2026, announcing 933 vacancies. The application window has been extended, allowing candidates to submit their online forms until 27th February 2026.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification has been formally released, inviting applications for 933 prestigious civil service positions. Graduate aspirants preparing for the UPSC CSE 2026 can now complete their registration until 27th February 2026 (6 pm), following the official extension of the application deadline.
UPSC Notification 2026 Out
The official notification outlines the comprehensive selection process and total vacancy breakdown for the 2026 Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. Selection follows a rigorous three-tier process: Prelims, Mains, and a final Personality Test (Interview). The final merit list is determined by the cumulative performance in the Mains and Interview stages.
| UPSC 2026 Notification- Overview | |
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 |
| Exam Level | National |
| Vacancy | 933 |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Last Date to Register | 27th February 2026 |
| Exam Stages | Prelims, Main Exam, Interview |
| Education Qualification | Graduate or relevant degree |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
| Exam Frequency | Once in a year |
| No. of Attempts | General- 6 attempts OBC- 9 attempts SC/ST- No restrictions |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE Notification 2026 PDF
Candidates holding a degree, aged between 21 and 32 years, are eligible to apply for various All India and Central Civil Services. Before proceeding with the application, candidates are strongly advised to download and thoroughly review the official notification PDF to understand the eligibility requirements, vacancy distributions, and critical application timelines.
In addition to the UPSC CSE 2026 notification, 80 vacancies have been announced for the Forest Service Examination. Access further details via the link provided below.
UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates
The registration dates are specified in the UPSC Notification 2026, while the Prelims and Mains examination dates were previously announced in the UPSC Calendar 2026. Review the complete UPSC CSE 2026 exam schedule provided in the tables below.
| Events | Dates |
| Notification Release Date | 4th February 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 4th February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27th February 2026 (6 pm) |
| Last Date to Pay the Application Fee | 27th February 2026 (6 pm) |
| UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026 | 11th May 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21st August 2026 onwards |
UPSC 2026 Vacancies & Posts
The UPSC CSE Notification 2026 confirms 933 total vacancies across various civil services, with 66 positions reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
| Category | Reserved vacancies |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 33 |
| Blindness and low vision | 7 |
| Deaf and hard of hearing | 11 |
| locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy | 8 |
| multiple disabilities among persons | 7 |
| Total | 66 |
UPSC Vacancy Trend
The current vacancy count is slightly lower than those reported in the previous two years.
- 2026- 933
- 2025- 1129
- 2024- 1056
Posts to Be Filled through UPSC CSE 2026
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to select candidates for prestigious roles, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central government services.
All India Services
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS): IAS officers hold key positions in the government and are responsible for the overall administration of the country.
- Indian Police Service (IPS): IPS officers are responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crimes, and managing police forces.
- Indian Forest Service (IFoS): IFoS officers work in the management and conservation of forests and wildlife.
The recruitment also covers various Central Civil Services, including the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS), among others.
UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria
Understanding eligibility is crucial for every UPSC aspirant. The primary criteria include nationality, age limit, educational qualification, and the number of permitted attempts. Candidates should verify these requirements against the official UPSC CSE 2026 guidelines before applying.
UPSC IAS Nationality
For positions in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), citizenship of India is mandatory. For all other services, applicants may be a citizen of India or:
1. A subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
2. A Tibetan refugee who settled in India permanently before January 1, 1962.
3. A person of Indian origin who migrated from countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, or Ethiopia with the intention of permanent settlement in India.
Note: Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan refugees are ineligible for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
UPSC IAS Age Limit
Candidates must be aged between 21 and 32 years. Applicants must have been born no earlier than 2nd August 1993 and no later than 1st August 2004.
Please refer to the table below for detailed UPSC CSE 2026 age relaxation categories:
| Age Relaxation | |
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof | 3 Years |
| Ex-servicemen including commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years of military service | 5 Years |
| PwD [(a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and hard of hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness] | 10 Years |
Note: No age relaxation is applicable for candidates under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
UPSC IAS Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from any Central or State University recognized by the Indian legislature, or from an institution deemed to be a university.
Number of Attempts
General category candidates are allowed 6 attempts, while OBC candidates are permitted 9 attempts. There is no limit on the number of attempts for SC/ST candidates. Candidates should note that appearing in the UPSC CSE Prelims counts as an attempt.
UPSC Apply Online 2026
Aspirants preparing for the 2026 exam must submit their applications through the official portal. The online registration window will remain open until 27th February 2026 (6 pm).
UPSC Examination Fees 2026
The application fee is Rs. 100/-, payable via SBI branches, internet banking, or credit/debit cards. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempt from paying this fee.
| Category | Application Fee |
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD | Exempted |
| Other Categories | Rs. 100/- |
How to Register & Apply for UPSC CSE Exam 2026?
Ensure you meet all specified educational, age, and nationality requirements before applying. Follow the official instructions carefully to complete your UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 registration.
- Visit the official UPSC website (https://www.upsc.gov.in/).
- Look for the “Apply Online” link on the homepage.
- If you are a first-time applicant, you will need to register by providing basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number.
- After successful registration, a unique registration ID and password will be generated. Note them down for future use.
- Log in using the registration ID and password.
- Fill in the required details in the online application form, including personal information, educational qualifications, choice of examination centre, etc.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee online using the available payment options.
- Review the filled-in application form before submission to ensure accuracy.
Documents Required & Permissible Size
| Parameters | Details |
| Scanned Signature | File format & size: JPG, usually 20–300 KB The photo should be recent (taken within about 10 days of application start) Your name and date when photo was taken should be visible on the image itself |
| Scanned Photograph | Black or blue ink signature on white paper Scanned image in JPG/JPEG format File size usually 20–50 KB Signature should be clear & neat |
UPSC 2026 Selection Process
The UPSC 2026 selection process comprises three distinct stages, each designed to evaluate different competencies.
- Preliminary Exam (Prelims): Objective-type questions to filter candidates for the Mains exam.
- Main Exam (Mains): Descriptive papers to assess in-depth knowledge and analytical ability.
- Interview/Personality Test: Evaluates the candidate’s personality, decision-making, and overall suitability for civil services.
UPSC Prelims, Mains & Interview Exam Pattern
| UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 | ||
| Paper | Subjects | Marks |
| I | General Studies (GS) | 200 |
| II | CSAT | 200 |
| UPSC Mains Exam 2026 | ||
| Qualifying Papers | Marks | |
| Paper-A | One of the Indian languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution |
300 |
| Paper-B | English | 300 |
| Papers Counted for Merit | ||
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test | 275 | |
| Grand Total | 2025 | |
UPSC Notification 2026- FAQs
Is UPSC CSE Notification 2026 Out?
The official UPSC CSE 2026 notification has been released and is available at www.upsc.gov.in.
How many vacancies will be filled through UPSC CSE 2026?
This notification confirms 933 vacancies for the 2026-27 recruitment cycle.
How many stages are there in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026?
The examination consists of three stages: the Objective-type Prelims, the Descriptive-type Mains, and the final Interview/Personality Test.
Also Read:
- UPSC Notification 2026 Released: Apply for 933 Civil Services Posts (Deadline Extended to Feb 27)
- UPSC Mains Result 2024 Released at upsc.gov.in: Direct Link to Download PDF
- UPSC Prelims Result 2026 Declared: Download Merit List PDF at upsc.gov.in
- UPSC CMS 2026 Notification Released: Apply Online for 1358 Medical Officer Vacancies
- UPSC Calendar 2027 Released: Check IAS, CDS, NDA & Official Exam Dates
- UPSC ESE Admit Card 2026 Released: Download Hall Ticket Now