The Union Public Service Commission has officially issued the notification for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, inviting applications for 933 vacancies across various Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services under the Government of India. The Civil Services Examination (CSE) remains one of the most prestigious and competitive recruitment processes in the country, serving as the gateway to India’s top administrative, diplomatic, and law enforcement services.

Candidates who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria may submit their applications online through the official UPSC portal. The application process commenced on 4 February 2026, and the last date for submission of online applications is 24 February 2026 (6:00 PM). The Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be conducted on 24 May 2026.

Examination Overview – UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026

Services Covered Under Civil Services Examination

The Civil Services Examination facilitates recruitment to several prominent services of the Government of India, including:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

• Indian Police Service (IPS)

• Indian Audit and Accounts Service

• Indian Civil Accounts Service

• Indian Corporate Law Service

• Indian Defence Accounts Service

• Indian Defence Estates Service

• Indian Information Service

• Indian Postal Service

• Indian Railway Management Services (Traffic, Personnel, Accounts)

• Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax and Customs & Indirect Taxes)

• Indian Trade Service

• Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service

• DANICS and DANIPS

• Pondicherry Civil Service and Pondicherry Police Service

These services involve key responsibilities in governance, administration, financial management, diplomacy, public safety, and policy implementation at national and state levels.

Important Dates

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 1 August 2026)

A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years. Accordingly, candidates should have been born not earlier than 2 August 1994 and not later than 1 August 2005.

Age Relaxation

Educational Qualification

Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from:

• A university established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, or

• An institution recognized as a deemed university under the UGC Act, 1956, or

• Any equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of India.

Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying examination are also eligible to apply, subject to submission of proof of qualification before the interview stage.

Examination Scheme

The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three successive stages:

Preliminary Examination

An objective-type examination intended to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.

Main Examination

A written descriptive examination assessing analytical ability, subject knowledge, and expression.

Personality Test (Interview)

The final stage evaluates leadership qualities, decision-making ability, and overall suitability for public service.

Examination Centres in Assam

Candidates may opt for examination centres at:

• Jorhat

• Dispur

Application Fee

The application fee may be paid through the online payment modes specified in the application portal.

Procedure for Online Application

Candidates may follow the steps below to complete the application process:

1. Visit the official UPSC online application portal.

2. Select the Civil Services Examination 2026 application link.

3. Complete registration with basic personal details.

4. Fill in educational and communication details carefully.

5. Upload photograph and required documents.

6. Pay the application fee, if applicable.

7. Submit the application form and retain a printed copy for future reference.

Important weblinks for UPSC Exam Form