UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 OUT
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UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
1. Basic Details
- Examination Notice No.: 05/2026-CSE
- Notification Date: 04 February 2026
- Last Date to Apply Online: 24 February 2026 (6:00 PM)
- Mode of Application: Online only via https://upsconline.nic.in
- Preliminary Exam Date: 24 May 2026
2. Application Process (Non-Negotiable Rules)
- UPSC portal has 4 modules:
- Account Creation
- Universal Registration Number (URN) – one-time, lifetime
- Common Application Form (CAF)
- Examination-specific form
- Once submitted:
- No withdrawal
- No correction
- Live photo capture + uploaded photo mandatory
- Signature must be signed 3 times on white paper and uploaded
- Aadhaar strongly recommended for seamless verification
3. Services Covered
- Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ services including:
- IAS, IPS, IFS
- IRS (IT & Customs)
- Indian Railway Management Services
- DANICS, DANIPS, PONDICS, PONDIPS
- Total expected vacancies: ~933
- PwBD vacancies: 33 (category-wise breakup provided)
4. Exam Structure
- Two stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Objective)
- Main Examination (Written + Interview)
Preliminary Exam
- GS Paper I – 200 marks
- GS Paper II (CSAT) – 200 marks (Qualifying, 33%)
- Negative marking: 1/3rd penalty
- Screening only (marks not counted for final merit)
Main Exam
- 9 Written papers:
- 2 Qualifying (Indian Language + English)
- 7 Merit papers (Essay + GS I–IV + Optional ×2)
- Interview / Personality Test: 275 marks
- Final merit = Written + Interview
5. Eligibility Conditions
Nationality
- IAS/IPS/IFS: Citizen of India only
- Other services: Includes Nepal, Bhutan, PIOs, Tibetan refugees (with certificate)
Age Limit
- 21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026
- DOB range: 2 Aug 1994 – 1 Aug 2005
- Relaxations:
- SC/ST: +5 years
- OBC: +3 years
- PwBD: up to +10 years
- Ex-servicemen: as per rules
Educational Qualification
- Graduation from recognized university
- Final-year students eligible (proof required later)
6. Number of Attempts
- General/EWS: 6
- OBC: 9
- SC/ST: Unlimited
- PwBD: 9 (Gen/OBC/EWS), Unlimited (SC/ST)
- Appearing in any one Prelims paper = one attempt
7. Fees
- Prelims Fee: ₹100
- Mains Fee: ₹200
- Exempted:
- Women
- SC/ST
- PwBD
- Fee once paid = non-refundable
8. Examination Centres
- Prelims: 80+ cities across India
- Mains: Limited centres
- Allotment: First-apply-first-allot
- No request for centre change entertained
9. Admit Card & Verification
- e-Admit Card only (no post/email)
- Released one week before exam
- Face authentication mandatory at centre
- Carry same Photo ID used during application
10. PwBD & Scribe Provisions
- Scribe allowed for eligible PwBD categories
- Compensatory time: 20 minutes per hour
- Medical fitness mandatory as per service requirements
11. Discipline & Prohibitions
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices strictly banned
- Possession = disqualification + possible ban
- Misconduct can lead to permanent debarment
12. PRABHITA SETU Portal
- Non-recommended candidates (after interview) may opt to share biodata with PSUs/private firms
- Consent mandatory
- No partial disclosure option
13. Strategic Takeaway (Read This Twice)
- UPSC has zero tolerance for errors, excuses, or casual applicants
- URN + CAF accuracy is mission-critical
- This is a compliance-heavy, precision game—sloppy execution = instant exit
