UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS (Preliminary) Exam 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026. This prestigious examination serves as the gateway for aspirants seeking to join the administrative backbone of India, including services such as the IAS, IPS, and IFS. The commission has announced a combined total of vacancies, with the online application window opening immediately upon the release of the February 4, 2026 notification. Interested candidates must complete their One Time Registration (OTR) and submit their application forms by February 24, 2026. The Preliminary examination is scheduled to be conducted nationwide in May 2026.
UPSC IAS/IFS 2026 Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) & Indian Forest Service (IFS) Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification No. | 05/2026-CSP & 06/2026-IFoS |
| Notification Date | February 4, 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online (via upsconline.nic.in) |
| Total Vacancies | CSE: 933 (Approx.) IFS: 150 (Approx.) |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview) |
| Job Location | All India |
| Official Website | [suspicious link removed] |
UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates
Candidates should mark the following dates to ensure they do not miss any critical deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | February 4, 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | February 4, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply (Online) | February 24, 2026 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Correction Window | To be notified (Usually 7 days after closing) |
| Admit Card Release (Prelims) | May 2026 (Tentative) |
| UPSC CSE & IFS Preliminary Exam | May 24, 2026 (Sunday) |
| UPSC CSE Mains Exam Start Date | August 21, 2026 |
| UPSC IFS Mains Exam Start Date | November 22, 2026 |
UPSC CSE 2026 Vacancy Details
The Union Public Service Commission has announced a total of 933 vacancies for the Civil Services Examination 2026. This number includes reservations for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD).
| Category | Vacancy Details |
| Total Vacancies (CSE) | 933 |
| PwBD Reserved Vacancies | 33 |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | 150 (Approx.)* |
*Note: The Indian Forest Service (IFS) vacancies are separate, though the Preliminary exam is common.
PwBD Vacancy Breakdown
Out of the 933 vacancies, 33 vacancies are reserved for candidates belonging to the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories as follows:
| Disability Category | Reserved Posts |
| Blindness and Low Vision | 07 |
| Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 11 |
| Locomotor Disability (Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims, Muscular Dystrophy) | 08 |
| Multiple Disabilities (From amongst persons under above categories) | 07 |
| Total PwBD Vacancies | 33 |
Participating Services (Service-Wise Posts)
While the exact number of vacancies for each specific service (like IAS, IPS, IRS) is finalized after the cadre allocation, the recruitment will be made for the following Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ services:
1. All India Services:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Forest Service (IFS) (Recruited via separate notification)
2. Group ‘A’ Civil Services:
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- 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 Service (IRMS)
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes)
- Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax)
- Indian Trade Service (Grade III)
3. Group ‘B’ Civil Services:
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer’s Grade)
- DANICS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, etc. Civil Service)
- DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, etc. Police Service)
- Pondicherry Civil Service
- Pondicherry Police Service
Note: The final breakup of vacancies for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS categories is usually detailed in the final result or service allocation list.
UPSC CSE 2026: Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- For IAS posts: Any Bachelor’s Degree in any stream from any recognized university in India can submit the application form.
- For IFS Posts: Bachelor’s Degree with one of Subject as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology, Agriculture or Equivalent
Age Limit as on 1st August, 2026
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years
Date of Birth Criterion: Candidate must have been born not earlier than August 2, 1994, and not later than August 1, 2005.
Age Relaxation:
- OBC: Up to 3 years (Max 35 years)
- SC/ST: Up to 5 years (Max 37 years)
- PwBD: Up to 10 years (Max 42 years)
Note: Defense Service Personnel and Ex-Servicemen are also eligible for relaxations as per government rules.
Selection Process
The selection of the candidates will be done on the basis of the following rounds
- PST
- PFT
- Written Exam
UPSC CSE 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹ 100/- |
| All Female Candidates | Exempted (Nil) |
| SC / ST Candidates | Exempted (Nil) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) | Exempted (Nil) |
| Payment Mode | Online (Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card) or by Cash (SBI Challan). |
UPSC CSE 2026 How to Apply
- Visit the official website
upsconline.nic.in. If you are a new user, complete the One Time Registration (OTR) platform process. If already registered, log in using your OTR ID/Email/Mobile. - Go to the “Latest Notifications” tab and select “Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026”.
- Fill in basic details, select the exam centre, and choose your optional subject for Mains.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable), upload your photograph, signature, and photo ID card as per the specified dimensions.
- Review all details carefully and click on the “Final Submit” button.
- Download and print the submitted application form for future reference.
UPSC CSE 2026 Important Links
| UPSC Civil Services CSE 2026 IAS/IFS Exam Official Notification PDF | Click Here |
| UPSC Civil Services CSE 2026 IAS/IFS Exam Online Link | Click Here |
Exam Pattern
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
Paper I: General Studies (200 Marks) – Counts for Merit.
Paper II: CSAT (200 Marks) – Qualifying nature (Minimum 33% required).
Note: There is a penalty (negative marking) of 1/3rd marks for every wrong answer.
Stage 2: Main Examination (Descriptive Type)
Consists of 9 papers (2 Qualifying + 7 Merit-based).
Includes Essay, General Studies (I-IV), and Optional Subjects (Paper 1 & 2).
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview)
Assesses the candidate’s intellectual qualities, social traits, and interest in current affairs.
