The official UPSC CSE 2026 Notification was released on February 4, 2026, for approximately 933 vacancies. While the notification was originally scheduled for mid-January, it was deferred due to administrative reasons before being published on the official UPSC website.
Key Dates & Application Details
Application Window: Candidates can apply online at the official application portal from February 4 to February 24, 2026 (until 6:00 PM).
Prelims Exam Date: The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is scheduled for May 24, 2026.
Mains Exam Date: The Main Examination is set to begin on August 21, 2026, and will span five days.
One-Time Registration (OTR): Completing the OTR process is a mandatory first step before filling out the application form.
Eligibility Highlights
Age Limit: Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1, 2026. This means applicants must be born between August 2, 1994, and August 1, 2005.
Attempts: General and EWS candidates are permitted 6 attempts, OBC candidates 9 attempts, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts within the age limit.
Education: A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university is required; final-year students may also apply provisionally.
Notable Updates for 2026
Serving Officers: The 2026 notification clarifies that candidates already appointed to the IAS or IFS from a previous exam are not eligible to appear in the 2026 cycle.
Cadre Allocation: A revised Cadre Allocation Policy has been introduced, replacing the older zonal system with a more flexible rotational approach for All India Services.
Integrity Measures: New protocols such as face authentication and live photo capture during the examination process have been introduced to strengthen integrity.
Would you like to review the detailed category-wise age relaxation rules or the specific list of Group A and B services included in this year’s vacancies?
