Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released an official notification for the Civil Services Examination 2026 for recruitment to various Group A and Group B services including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official UPSC portal. The last date to submit the online application form is 24-02-2026. In this article, you’ll find UPSC CSE 2026 recruitment details, including eligibility criteria, age limit, vacancy count, selection process, application steps, and direct links to the official notification and online application form.

UPSC Recruitment 2026 – Civil Services Examination (CSE) Overview

Vacancy Details

Eligibility Details

Age Limit

• Minimum Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Age: 32 Years (as on 01 August 2026)
• SC/ST: 5 Years Relaxation
• OBC: 3 Years Relaxation
• PwBD: Up to 10 Years Relaxation

Application Fee

Selection Process

• Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Objective)
• Civil Services Main Examination (Written)
• Interview / Personality Test
• Document Verification

Important Dates

UPSC CSE 2026 – Preliminary Examination Pattern

The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is the first stage of the UPSC selection process. It is a screening test used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. Marks scored in Prelims are not counted in the final merit ranking.

Prelims Key Rules

• Both papers are objective type (Multiple Choice Questions).
• Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature – minimum 33% marks required.
• Marks of Paper I are considered for cutoff and shortlisting for Mains.
• Negative marking applies: 1/3rd mark deducted for each wrong answer.
• Leaving a question blank carries no penalty.

UPSC CSE 2026 – Main Examination Pattern

The Civil Services (Main) Examination is the second stage and consists of a written examination followed by an Interview/Personality Test. Marks obtained in the written papers and interview are counted for the final merit list.

Main Exam Structure

• Total Written Papers: 9
• Qualifying Papers: 2 (Indian Language & English)
• Merit Papers: 7
• Total Marks (Written): 1750

Interview / Personality Test

Final Merit Calculation

• Written Exam Marks: 1750
• Interview Marks: 275
• Total Merit Marks: 2025

Important Notes

• Prelims marks are used only for qualification, not for final ranking.
• Mains + Interview marks decide final service allocation.
• Negative marking applies in Prelims only.
• Candidates must qualify in both language papers to have their merit papers evaluated.

How to Apply

• Visit official website upsconline.nic.in
• Complete One-Time Registration (URN)
• Fill Civil Services Examination 2026 form
• Upload photo, signature, and documents
• Pay application fee (if applicable)
• Submit form before 24 February 2026

Important Links