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UPSC Civil Services 2026 - Notification, Application Form, Syllabus, Admit card, Eligibility
Edited By Meghana Mohana Krishnan | Updated on Apr 14, 2025 10:11 AM IST | #UPSC CSE
Upcoming Event
UPSC CSE Exam Date : 25 May' 2025 - 25 May' 2025
Union Public Service Commission conducts the UPSC Civil Service exam every year. The UPSC Civil Services exam is conducted to recruit potential civil servants for the government of India. The UPSC CSE notification 2026 will be released on the official website, upsc.gov.in /upsconline.nic.in.
The UPSC Civil Services exam is the toughest exam in India with lakhs of candidates applying every year. With determination and consistent preparation, candidates can clear the UPSC CSE 2026 exam. The below articles give all the basic details related to the UPSC Civil Services exam 2026 -
UPSC Civil Services 2026 - Overview
Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Exam |
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
Official website | upsc.gov.in/ upsconline.nic.in |
Vacancies | TBA |
Exam level | National |
Exam mode | Offline |
Application fee | Rs 100 |
Languages | English & Hindi |
Number of papers | Prelims - 2 paper Mains - 9 papers |
Stages in the exam |
|
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Dates
All the UPSC Civil Services exam dates 2026 will be announced by the commission. The UPSC Civil Services exam dates will be available in the official notification. Candidates are recommended to keep track of the important UPSC CSE exam date regularly. The below table shows the UPSC 2026 Civil Services exam dates -
UPSC 2026 Important Dates
Events | Prelims dates | Mains dates |
UPSC Civil Services Notification date | To be announced | To be announced |
Application Form | To be announced | To be announced |
Application form last date | To be announced | To be announced |
Application form correction facility | To be announced | To be announced |
Admit card | To be announced | To be announced |
Exam date | To be announced | To be announced |
Result date | To be announced | To be announced |
Personality test | To be announced | |
Final result | To be announced | |
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Posts
Under the UPSC Civil Services exam, there are several posts for which candidates can apply for. While applying for the exam, candidates can choose the UPSC CSE 2026 post of their choice in the application form. All of these positions come under Group a or B posts. Below are all the UPSC Civil Services posts 2026 released by the commission -
Indian Administrative Service
Indian Foreign Service
Indian Police Service
Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Information Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’
Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’
Indian Railway Protection Force Service, Group ‘A’ \
Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) Group ‘A’
Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Group ‘A’
Indian Trade Service, Group ‘A’ (Grade III)
Indian Railway Management Service, Group ‘A’
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’ (Section Officer’s Grade)
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’
Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’
Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS), Group ‘B’
Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS), Group ‘B’
This Story also Contains
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 - Overview
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Dates
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Posts
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Notification
- UPSC Civil Services Application Form 2026
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Pattern
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Syllabus
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Selection Process
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Centres
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Admit Card
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Answer Key
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Cut Off
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Question Paper
- UPSC Civil Services 2026 Vacancy
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Notification
The UPSC Civil Services notification 2026 will be released by the commission on the official website. The UPSC Civil Services notification date will be announced through the UPSC Annual Calendar. The UPSC CSE 2026 notification contains all the essential information related to the examination like the eligibility, vacancies, steps to submit the application form, etc.
UPSC Civil Services Application Form 2026
The UPSC CSE 2026 application form date will be announced by the commission well in advance. Candidates are required to submit the UPSC Civil Services 2026 application form within the deadline. Before filling the application form, candidates have to do the UPSC civil Services registration. All the information and documents related to the candidate must be entered correctly.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who are interested to apply for the exam must meet the UPSC Civil Services 2026 eligibility criteria.The eligibility criteria are the essential requirements which a candidate must possess to succeed in the exam. The UPSC Civil Service eligibility 2026 includes Nationality, age limit, minimum educational qualification and the number of attempts. The UPSC CSE eligibility criteria is as follows -
Nationality - Candidate must be an Indian citizen.
Age limit - Candidate must be between 21 to 32 years.
Educational qualification - Candidate must hold a Graduate degree.
Number of attempts - General - 6 attempts
OBC/PwBD ( for GL/EWS/OBC) - 9
SC/ST - Unlimited
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Pattern
The UPSC Civil Services exam pattern 2026 is the model in which the exam will be conducted. The UPSC Civil Service Exam 2026 exam pattern consists of the stages in the exam, the total marks, duration, etc. The UPSC Civil Services exam pattern is as follows -
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam Pattern
Type of exam | Objective type |
Total marks | 400 marks (200 marks for each paper) |
Number of papers | 2 papers |
Number of questions | 200 in each paper |
Language | English & Hindi. |
Qualifying marks | 33% |
UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam Pattern
Type of exam | Descriptive type |
Total marks | 1750 marks |
Total duration | 3 hours per paper |
Number of papers | 9 papers |
Number of questions | 20 questions per paper |
Language | English & Hindi. |
Qualifying marks | 25% in each paper |
Personality test - The UPSC Civil Services personality test is conducted for 275 marks.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Syllabus
The UPSC CSE syllabus will be specified in the official notification. The detailed UPSC Civil Services 2026 syllabus of both the prelims and mains will be available. Before starting the preparation, aspirants are recommended to go through the UPSC CSE syllabus 2026 and the exam pattern.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Selection Process
The UPSC CSE selection process 2026 will be given in the official notification. After each stage of the UPSC Civil Services 2026 selection process, a certain percentage of the candidates fail to proceed to the next stage. Candidates will be selected based on their qualifying percentage, performance and the cut off marks. The UPSC Civil Services selection process includes the following stages -
Preliminary stage.
Mains stage.
Personality interview.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Exam Centres
Candidates have to choose their desired UPSC CSE exam centre 2026 while filling the application form. Candidates will be given the option to choose at least 3 UPSC Civil Services 2026 exam centres while filling the prelims application form. The choice to choose the UPSC CSE mains exam centre may vary. There are a total of 80 upsc Civil Services prelims exam centres and 24 exam centres for the Mains exam.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Admit Card
The UPSC CSE admit card is like an entry pass to appear in the examination. The UPSC CSE 2026 admit card will be released at least 7 days before the exam date. Candidates are advised to download the UPSC Civil Services admit card 2026 well in advance. Along with the admit card, a valid photocopy also needs to be carried.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Answer Key
The commission releases the UPSC CSE answer key 2026 on the official
website. The UPSC Civil Services answer 2026 answer key will be released after the conduction of all the stages of the examination. The UPSC Civil Services answer key is released for the candidates to know the correct answers. The commission does not provide an answer key or objection facility.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Result
The UPSC CSE result 2026 will be released on the official website.. The UPSC Civil Services 2026 result will be released in PDF format. The UPSC Civil Services prelims result will take a month or more to be released. The steps to check the UPSC Civil Services results 2026 are -
Go to the official website, upsc.gov.in.
On the homepage, there will be a result section or candidates can click on ‘Examinations’ and click on ‘Active examination’.
Click on the exam you were looking for.
Click on it and click on the ‘result PDF’.
Search for the roll number by using ‘Ctrl + F’.
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookUPSC Civil Services 2026 Cut Off
The UPSC CSE cut off 2026 will be released after the conclusion of the entire selection process. The UPSC Civil Services cut of marks will be released for all the stages of the exam at once. The UPSC Civil Services 2026 cut off marks are the minimum marks which a candidate must attain to clear the exam. The UPSC Civil Services cut off varies by category.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Question Paper
The commission will release the UPSC Civil Services question paper 2026 on the official website. The UPSC CSE 2026 question paper will be released a few weeks after the completion of the exam. Candidates will also be able to find the UPSC CSE previous year question paper for practice. Practicing at least the past 10 UPSC CSE previous year question papers is good enough to clear the exam.
Steps to check the question papers -
Go to the official website, upsc.gov.in.
On the homepage, click on ‘Examinations’.
Under that, click on Previous Question papers’
All the UPSC Civil Services subjects and papers will be available.
UPSC Civil Services 2026 Vacancy
Candidates can check the UPSC Civil Services vacancies 2026 in the official notification. However, the UPSC CSE final vacancies might vary and will be announced after the completion of the examination. The UPSC Civil Services vacancies 2026 vary by category. Candidates can understand the level of the competition by referring to the UPSC Civil services 2026 vacancies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is eligible for the UPSC exam 2026?
Those who have a graduate degree and are between the age 21 - 32 are eligible to apply for the UPSC Civil Services exam.
2. What is the UPSC CSE notification date?
The UPSC Civil Services 2026 notification date is yet to be announced.
3. When will the UPSC Civil Services exam be conducted?
The UPSC CSE exam date 2026 is not known yet.
4. Is 27 too late for UPSC Civil Services?
No, those who are 27 are eligible to apply and succeed in the UPSC Civil Services examination.
5. What is the UPSC Civil Services salary 2026?
The UPSC CSE salary is in accordance with the 7th pay commission. The salary may be around Rs 56,100.
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Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
Hello!!
That's a great goal—and your background as a research scholar can actually be a big asset in preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), which is the path to becoming an IAS officer.
Step-by-Step Guide to Become an IAS Officer:
1. Understand the Exam Structure
The UPSC CSE has three stages:
Prelims: Objective (GS Paper + CSAT)
Mains: Descriptive (9 papers)
Interview: Personality Test
2. Check Eligibility
Age: 21 to 32 (for General category)
Degree: Any graduate degree (you already qualify)
3. Choose Your Optional Subject
Choose something you’re comfortable with (can be from your research field if it's available).
Popular optionals: Sociology, Geography, PSIR, Anthropology, etc.
4. Build a Study Plan
Since you're a research scholar, time management is key.
Daily 4–6 hours of focused study can work if you're consistent.
Focus on:
NCERTs (6th–12th)
Standard books (like Laxmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for History)
Current Affairs (The Hindu, Indian Express, or PIB + Monthly compilations)
5. Join a Test Series (Optional but Helpful)
For Prelims and Mains: to build speed, writing skills, and clarity.
6. Practice Answer Writing
Mains is all about articulation. Practice with previous year questions and mock tests.
7. Appear for the Exam
Notification comes out around February.
Prelims is in May/June, Mains in September, and Interview early next year.
How to Align This With Your Research Schedule:
Create a realistic time-table that includes 2–3 hours on weekdays, and more on weekends.
Use your research experience for deeper understanding and essay writing.
NITYAM MAHUR 12 April,2025
If your goal is to become an IAS officer, choose a degree that supports UPSC preparation and also provides a good backup:
BA in Political Science, History, Geography, or Economics is ideal for IAS.
BSc or BCom is fine too, but you'll need to study humanities separately for UPSC.
For backup, pick a subject with good job prospects like BBA or Computer Science.
KCET is required only if you're planning professional courses like Engineering or Agriculture. It's not needed for BA or general degrees.
Rubina Naseer 04 April,2025
Hello aspirant,
For becoming IAS , you have to first complete your graduation from any background from any recognised university or college. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible. After that you have to give an entrance exam name UPSC . If you will clear this exam then according to your marks you may get the IAS position.
To know about UPSC entrance exam, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
All the best!!
Sakshi Sharma 31 March,2025
Hello Rishika,
You can take any stream for becoming IAS. As per the eligibility criteria of UPSC IAS , student have to graduate from any stream from any recognised university or college. So it's doesn't matter from which stream you choose. But if you really want to become IAS, then humanities , arts related subject helps you alot.
To know more, kindly go through the given link:
https://competition.careers360.com/exams/upsc-cse
Good luck!
Sakshi Sharma 31 March,2025
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query
To start your prep for IAS exams without any coaching and free of cost here are some pointers you can follow :-
1.Understand the exam- To get started with IAS prep, first grab the official UPSC syllabus for both the first exam (Prelims) and the main exam (Mains) from their website. Understand what you need to study and how important each topic is.
Next, learn how the exam is set up. There are three parts: a multiple-choice test (Prelims), a written exam with long answers (Mains), and an interview. Know how many papers are in each, how you get marks, and how much time you get.
Finally, look at old exam papers from the last 5 to 10 years. This will give you an idea of how tough the exam is, what kinds of questions they ask, and which topics you should really focus on.
2.Build a strong foundation-Begin your IAS study with NCERT books from classes 6 to 12 for subjects like History, Geography, Civics, Economics, and Science. These will give you a basic understanding. Once you know the basics well, switch to standard books for each subject. You can find lists of recommended books online from people who've cleared the exam. Some popular ones are mentioned for Polity, Economy, Modern History, and Geography.
3.Stay updated with current affairs- To stay updated for IAS, read a good national newspaper every day (like The Hindu or Indian Express) and jot down important news from India and the world. Also, read magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra to understand social and economic topics deeply. Check websites like PIB and those of research groups for info on government plans and reports.
4.Utilize free online resources-For IAS prep help, check out websites like BYJU'S, ClearIAS, and Mrunal. They have free study stuff. Also, watch YouTube channels by teachers and ex-IAS officers for tips and lessons. Join online groups to ask questions and learn from others preparing for the exam.
5.Mock tests and self assessment-Take free practice tests online for both Prelims and Mains to see how ready you are and what you need to work on. After each test, check what you did wrong and focus on fixing those things. Remember to study regularly, believe in yourself, and take breaks so you don't get too tired. Consistency is more important than studying for many hours at once.
I hope this helps . Financial problems can never stop one from dreaming and achieving things in their life. Stay motivated!!!
SUKRITI GUPTA 04 April,2025
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