The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026, inviting applications for 933 posts across premier services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A & B central services. Graduates in any discipline aged 21–32 years (as on 01/08/2026) can apply online from 04 February to 24 February 2026. The Prelims exam is scheduled for 24 May 2026.

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The application fee is just ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, and free for SC/ST/PwD. The number of attempts is limited — plan your attempts strategically.

Important Dates

Event Date
Application Begin 04/02/2026
Last Date to Apply Online 24/02/2026 (up to 6:00 PM)
Prelims Exam Date 24/05/2026
Mains Exam Date 21/08/2026
Admit Card Available To be announced

Application Fee

Category Fee
General / OBC / EWS ₹100
SC / ST / PwD Free
Note: Fee payment accepted via Debit Card, Credit Card, and Net Banking only.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 01/08/2026)

Category Age Range Max Attempts
General / EWS 21 – 32 Years 6
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 21 – 35 Years 9
SC / ST 21 – 37 Years Unlimited (up to age limit)

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or Institution. Final-year students can also apply.

Vacancy Details — Total 933 Posts

Service Total Vacancies
Various Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.) 933
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Note: Service-wise allocation is done after the final merit list based on rank and candidate preference. The exact breakup is released separately.

Selection Process & Exam Pattern

The CSE is conducted in three stages. Only the Prelims marks from Paper I count for screening — the final merit is based on Mains + Interview (total 2,025 marks).

Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Objective — Screening Only)

Paper Questions Marks Duration Role
Paper I — General Studies 100 200 2 Hours Determines cut-off
Paper II — CSAT 80 200 2 Hours Qualifying (need 33% i.e. 66 marks)
Tip: Focus your energy on Paper I as it alone decides the Prelims cut-off. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying — you just need to score 66 out of 200. Negative marking of 1/3rd applies in both papers.

Stage 2: Mains Exam (Descriptive — 1,750 Marks)

The Mains consists of 9 papers — 2 qualifying language papers and 7 merit papers, each of 3 hours duration.

Qualifying Papers: English and one Indian Language (300 marks each — not counted in merit).

Merit Papers (1,750 marks total): Essay (250), GS Paper I (250), GS Paper II (250), GS Paper III (250), GS Paper IV (250), and two Optional Subject Papers (250 marks each).

Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test — 275 Marks

Final Merit = Mains (1,750) + Interview (275) = 2,025 Marks

Salary & Benefits

Starting Pay: Level 10 — ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 (7th Pay Commission).

Civil Services officers receive DA, HRA, medical facilities, travel allowance, pension, and other central government benefits. Career progression through regular promotions based on performance and seniority can take officers up to the level of Cabinet Secretary (Level 17).

Exam Centers

Candidates can choose from 80+ exam centers across all major cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and others. Center allocation is based on first preference, subject to availability.

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Change of exam center is not allowed after form submission. Choose your preferred center carefully.

How to Apply

  1. Visit the UPSC online portal at upsconline.nic.in.
  2. Register using your valid email ID and mobile number.
  3. Fill in Part I of the application (personal details, eligibility).
  4. Fill in Part II (exam center preference, optional subject, photo/signature upload).
  5. Pay the application fee online.
  6. Submit and download the confirmation page for your records.
Description Link
Apply Online Click Here
Download Notification Click Here
Official Website upsc.gov.in

The UPSC CSE remains one of India's most prestigious examinations. With the Prelims just about three months away, start your focused revision now and make every attempt count.