UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026: Prestigious 933 Vacancies Announced for IAS, IPS & Allied Services
Introduction
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Notification, inviting online applications for one of India’s most prestigious and competitive recruitment examinations. Conducted annually, the UPSC CSE is the gateway to elite Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and several Central Civil Services.
As per Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE dated 04 February 2026, a total of approximately 933 vacancies are expected to be filled through this examination cycle. Eligible graduates can submit their applications online through the UPSC portal up to 24 February 2026. This examination not only offers unmatched authority and responsibility but also provides a platform to directly participate in nation-building at the highest administrative levels.
Table of Contents
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 – Highlights
- Conducting Authority: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Examination Name: Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
- Total Vacancies: Approximately 933
- Services Covered: IAS, IPS, IFS & 20+ Allied Services
- Application Mode: Online only
- Preliminary Exam Date: 24 May 2026
- Eligibility: Any Graduate
- Job Location: All India
- Pay Scale: As per the 7th Central Pay Commission
- Selection Stages: Prelims, Mains, Interview
Total Vacancies
- Approximate Vacancies: 933
- Includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
- Final vacancy count may change based on cadre-wise confirmation by authorities.
Advertisement Number
- Examination Notice No.: 05/2026-CSE
- Issued on: 04 February 2026
Short Description – UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 is conducted to recruit candidates to All India Services, Central Group ‘A’ Services, and select Group ‘B’ Services under the Government of India. The examination is conducted in three successive stages—Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test (Interview). Selection is strictly merit-based and subject to eligibility verification as per the notified rules.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has invited applications for recruiting officers for UPSC CSE. Detailed eligibility, terms of reference, and application instructions are available in the UPSC CSE Notification (PDF) .
Important Dates and Application Fee – UPSC CSE 2026
Important Dates
- Application Begins: 04 February 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: 24 February 2026 (till 6:00 PM)
- Admit Card (Prelims): Last working day of the week preceding the exam
- Preliminary Examination Date: 24 May 2026
- Main Examination: As notified later
Application Fee
- General / EWS / OBC: ₹100
- SC / ST / PwBD / Women: Nil
Mode of Payment
- Net Banking
- Debit Card / Credit Card
- UPI
Posts, Vacancy, Age Limit, Pay Scale & Qualification Details – UPSC CSE 2026
Major Services Offered
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Revenue Service (IT & Customs)
- Indian Audit & Accounts Service
- Indian Railway Management Service
- DANICS / DANIPS
- Pondicherry Civil & Police Services
(and other allied services)
Educational Qualification for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
- A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university
- Final-year candidates may apply provisionally
Pay Scale
- As per the 7th Central Pay Commission
- Entry-level IAS/IPS Officers start at Level 10 (₹56,100 basic pay) plus allowances
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years (as on 01 August 2026)
Cut-off Date for Age Calculation
- 01 August 2026
Age Relaxation
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
- PwBD: Up to 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen & Defence Personnel: As per rules
Updated UPSC CSE 2026 Eligibility Information:
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has included important eligibility conditions in the official Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Notification, particularly regarding age limits, number of attempts, and rules for serving officers such as IAS, IFS, and IPS. The notification clarifies that candidates already appointed to IAS or IFS will not be eligible to appear in CSE 2026 and that IPS officers have specific restrictions if they wish to reappear for service allocation again. Aspirants must carefully review the official UPSC CSE 2026 notification to understand these eligibility rules before applying. 🔗 Official UPSC CSE 2026 Notification and Eligibility Details
How to Apply – UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
- Visit the official UPSC online application portal.
- Complete a One-Time Registration (OTR) to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) carefully.
- Complete the Exam-Specific Application Module for CSE 2026.
- Upload a photograph, live photo capture, and signature as per guidelines.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable).
- Submit the application and retain the application number & URN.
No correction or withdrawal is permitted after final submission.
Documents Required: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Live photograph (captured during application)
- Scanned signature
- Photo ID proof (Aadhaar recommended)
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Disability certificate (for PwBD candidates)
- Educational qualification proof (at later stages)
Selection Process – UPSC CSE 2026
- Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- GS Paper I & CSAT
- Main Examination (Written)
- 9 descriptive papers
- Personality Test / Interview
- 275 marks
Final selection is based on Mains + Interview marks.
Important Instructions for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
- Mobile phones and electronic devices are strictly prohibited.
- Face authentication will be conducted at exam centres.
- Centre allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
- Eligibility verification occurs at the interview stage.
- Misconduct may lead to permanent debarment.
Why This Job Is Perfect For You
The UPSC Civil Services is not merely a job—it is a lifelong commitment to public service, leadership, and governance. It offers unparalleled authority, social respect, career stability, and the opportunity to influence policy and administration at the highest levels. For aspirants with integrity, perseverance, and a vision for national development, this UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 opens doors to roles that define the future of India.
Centres of UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026
The UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 will be conducted at the following examination centers across India:
List of Examination Centres for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
| Sl. No. | Examination Centre | Sl. No. | Examination Centre | Sl. No. | Examination Centre |
| 1 | Agartala | 30 | Gurugram | 59 | Patna |
| 2 | Agra | 31 | Gwalior | 60 | Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) |
| 3 | Ahmedabad | 32 | Hyderabad | 61 | Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
| 4 | Aizawl | 33 | Imphal | 62 | Puducherry |
| 5 | Ajmer | 34 | Indore | 63 | Pune |
| 6 | Aligarh | 35 | Itanagar | 64 | Raipur |
| 7 | Almora (Uttarakhand) | 36 | Jabalpur | 65 | Rajkot |
| 8 | Ananthapuru | 37 | Jaipur | 66 | Ranchi |
| 9 | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad, Maharashtra) | 38 | Jammu | 67 | Sambalpur |
| 10 | Bareilly | 39 | Jodhpur | 68 | Shillong |
| 11 | Bengaluru | 40 | Jorhat | 69 | Shimla |
| 12 | Bhopal | 41 | Kanpur | 70 | Siliguri |
| 13 | Bhubaneswar | 42 | Kargil | 71 | Srinagar |
| 14 | Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) | 43 | Kochi | 72 | Srinagar (Uttarakhand) |
| 15 | Chandigarh | 44 | Kohima | 73 | Surat |
| 16 | Chennai | 45 | Kolkata | 74 | Thane |
| 17 | Coimbatore | 46 | Kozhikode (Calicut) | 75 | Thiruvananthapuram |
| 18 | Cuttack | 47 | Leh | 76 | Tiruchirappalli |
| 19 | Dehradun | 48 | Lucknow | 77 | Tirupati |
| 20 | Delhi | 49 | Ludhiana | 78 | Udaipur |
| 21 | Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) | 50 | Madurai | 79 | Varanasi |
| 22 | Dharwar | 51 | Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) | 80 | Vellore |
| 23 | Dispur | 52 | Meerut | 81 | Vijayawada |
| 24 | Faridabad | 53 | Mumbai | 82 | Visakhapatnam |
| 25 | Gangtok | 54 | Mysuru | 83 | Hanumakonda (Warangal Urban) |
| 26 | Gautam Buddh Nagar | 55 | Nagpur | ||
| 27 | Gaya | 56 | Nasik | ||
| 28 | Ghaziabad | 57 | Navi Mumbai | ||
| 29 | Gorakhpur | 58 | Panaji (Goa) |
Important Note
- UPSC will decide the allotment of examination centers.
- Requests for a change of center will not be entertained.
- UPSC reserves the right to add or cancel examination centers depending on administrative requirements.
FAQs: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
Q1. What is the last date to apply for UPSC CSE 2026?
24 February 2026 till 6:00 PM.
Q2. How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CSE?
General/EWS: 6, OBC: 9, SC/ST: Unlimited (within age limits).
Q3. Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?
Yes, one-third of the marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
Q4. Is there a separate UPSC corrigendum or notification issued for CSE 2026 eligibility clarification?
No. As of now, the Union Public Service Commission has not released any separate corrigendum or standalone notice specifically titled as an “eligibility clarification” for UPSC CSE 2026. All eligibility conditions, including rules related to age limit, number of attempts, and restrictions for serving officers, are already mentioned in the official UPSC CSE 2026 notification published on the UPSC website.
Q5. Where can candidates check the official eligibility rules for UPSC CSE 2026?
Candidates must refer only to the official UPSC CSE 2026 notification and application portal available on the UPSC website. The eligibility criteria mentioned in the notification are final and legally binding, and aspirants are advised not to rely on unofficial sources, social media claims, or unverified news reports for eligibility-related information.
Q6. Does the eligibility clarification affect candidates who have already applied for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026?
No. Since there is no separate corrigendum or change in rules, candidates who have already applied as per the eligibility conditions mentioned in the official UPSC CSE 2026 notification remain unaffected. However, applicants should carefully re-check their eligibility details to ensure full compliance with the rules stated in the notification to avoid disqualification at later stages.
Important Links
- Apply Online: UPSC Online Application Portal
- Official Notification PDF: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Notice
- UPSC Official Website
- UPSC Application Portal
- Syllabus
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