Here’s a **complete and up-to-date summary of all key information about the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 (based on official updates, media reports, and the UPSC exam calendar):
---
📌 1. What is UPSC CSE 2026?
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 is a nationwide competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit officers for various Central Government services including:
IAS (Indian Administrative Service)
IPS (Indian Police Service)
IFS (Indian Foreign Service)
IRS and other Group A/B services.
---
📅 2. Important Dates (2026 Cycle)
Event Date
Official Notification Released 4 February 2026
Application Start Date 4 Feb 2026
Last Date to Apply 24 Feb 2026 (6:00 PM)
Preliminary Exam (CSE + IFS) 24 May 2026 (Sunday)
Main Exam (Written) 21 Aug 2026 onward
Personality Test / Interview Late 2026 to Early 2027 (expected)
🔎 The UPSC exam calendar originally listed 14 Jan 2026 as the notification date, but the actual notification was issued on 4 Feb 2026.
---
📊 3. Vacancies & Category Details
Total Vacancies: ~933 posts (slight decrease compared to last year).
Reservation: Some posts are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) across different categories.
---
🎓 4. Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification:
A candidate must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent. Final-year students can usually apply if they complete their degree before the interview stage.
Age Limit (as on 1 Aug 2026):
Minimum: 21 years
Maximum: 32 years
Relaxations:
OBC +3 years,
SC/ST +5 years,
PwBD +10 years (subject to standard UPSC rules).
Number of Attempts:
General: 6 attempts
OBC: 9 attempts
SC/ST: Unlimited (up to age limit)
Note: Certain new rules apply for candidates already in service or recently selected — e.g., restrictions on re-attempts after joining training — so refer to the official notification for details.
---
📝 5. Selection Process
The UPSC CSE follows a three-stage selection process:
1. Preliminary Examination (Objective)
Two papers: General Studies I and CSAT
CSAT is qualifying (33% qualifying marks).
2. Main Examination (Descriptive)
Consists of 9 papers including Essay, GS papers, and optional subjects.
Only written papers count for ranking (Interview weightage added later).
3. Personality Test / Interview
Final stage; total marks added to Main score to determine final ranking.
---
💻 6. How to Apply
1. Visit upsconline.nic.in (UPSC’s official application portal).
2. Register / log in with your details.
3. Fill the UPSC CSE application form online.
4. Upload required documents/photos/signature.
5. Pay the application fees (if applicable).
6. Submit & download the confirmation.
---
💰 7. Application Fee
General / OBC: Standard UPSC application fee (usually ₹100; female/SC/ST/PwBD often exempt) — check the official notification for exact fee structure.
---
📌 8. Key Updates & Rule Changes
This year’s notification also brought some important policy changes, including:
✔ Restrictions on re-attempts for candidates already serving as IAS/IFS, etc.
✔ Language paper exemptions and updated eligibility rules for certain candidates.
---
🗂 9. Official Sources
Always rely on the official UPSC sites for latest updates and downloads:
🔗 Official UPSC website: upsc.gov.in
🔗 Application portal: upsconline.nic.in
---
If you’d like, I can also provide the full official notification PDF link and a summary of the detailed syllabus & exam pattern for Prelims and Mains.
