UPSC CSE Notification 2026 To Be Out Soon

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification and registration details soon on its official website. Once the notification is published, eligible candidates will be able to apply online through the UPSC portal. The notification was earlier expected on 14 January, but it was postponed due to administrative reasons. As per the schedule, the CSE 2026 examination is planned for May 2026.

After the notification is released, candidates can check important details such as the number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam dates, syllabus and application process. As per UPSC rules, the minimum age limit is 21 years and the maximum age limit is 32 years for general category candidates. Applicants must hold a graduation degree from a recognized university and six attempts are allowed for candidates belonging to the general category.

In 2025, the UPSC announced a total of 979 vacancies for the Civil Services Examination and received nearly 13.5 lakh applications. Out of these, 14161 candidates successfully qualified for the Mains examination. In comparison, the 2024 recruitment cycle offered 1056 vacancies, with around 13.4 lakh candidates registering for the exam, showing a consistently high level of competition for India’s top civil services posts.

How to Apply for UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) 2026?

• Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website and complete One Time Registration (OTR).
  
• Step 2: Log in and open the CSE 2026 application form.
  
• Step 3: Fill in personal and educational details and choose exam preferences.
  
• Step 4: Upload required documents such as a photograph, signature, and ID proof.
  
• Step 5: Pay the application fee through online payment modes.
  
• Step 6: Review the form and submit it.
  
• Step 7: Download the confirmation page for future use.

UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) follows a three-stage selection process for the Civil Services Examination, which includes Prelims, Mains, and the Interview. Each stage is designed to test candidates on different skills, ranging from basic knowledge to analytical ability and personality traits.

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I (200 marks) and CSAT (General Studies Paper II) (200 marks). The Prelims carry a total of 400 marks, but they are qualifying in nature and used only to shortlist candidates for the next stage. Candidates who clear the Prelims move on to the Main Examination, which includes nine descriptive papers.

Out of these, seven papers are counted for merit, carrying a total of 1750 marks, while two language papers are qualifying. The final stage is the Personality Test (Interview), which carries 275 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks of the Mains and Interview, totaling 2025 marks.

UPSC CSE 2026 Application Fee

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) application fee is kept simple and affordable for candidates. Applicants belonging to the General and OBC categories are required to pay an application fee of INR 100. The fee can be paid through online modes such as debit card, credit card, UPI or net banking. Candidates may also choose the offline payment option by generating a challan at designated banks, as notified by UPSC. However, SC, ST, PwBD candidates and all female applicants are fully exempt from paying the application fee.

UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Centre

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted at exam centres across major cities in India to ensure easy access for candidates from different regions. The Preliminary Examination is held at a large number of centres nationwide, while the Main Examination is conducted at a limited number of selected cities.