UPSC 2026 Exam Date: Complete Calendar, Schedule & Eligibility Guide for UPSC Notification 2026

Last Updated: December 9, 2024 | Next Update: January 14, 2026 (Notification Release)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the UPSC 2026 exam date in its official calendar. The UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date is scheduled for May 24, 2026 (Sunday), while the UPSC Mains 2026 exam date will commence from August 21, 2026 (Friday). This comprehensive guide covers all important dates, eligibility criteria, and complete information about the civil services examination 2026.

 

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🗓️ UPSC 2026 Key Dates at a Glance

 

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📅 UPSC Calendar 2026: Complete Exam Schedule

The UPSC calendar 2026 includes not just the Civil Services Examination (CSE) but also other prestigious exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Here's the complete UPSC exam schedule for 2026:

UPSC Exams in India 2026

Source: Union Public Service Commission official website (upsconline.nic.in)

 

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📋 UPSC 2026 Notification Release Date

The UPSC 2026 notification release date is confirmed as January 14, 2026. The official notification will be published on the Union Public Service Commission website at upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in.

What to Expect in UPSC 2026 Notification:

• UPSC exam dates 2026 (Prelims, Mains, Interview)

• UPSC vacancies for various services

• Eligibility for UPSC examination

• UPSC online application process details

• Age criteria for UPSC candidates

• Examination schedule and pattern

• UPSC CSE syllabus overview

• List of jobs from UPSC (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.)

The notification PDF will be available for download from the official website of UPSC.

 

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📝 UPSC Online Application Process 2026

How to Apply for UPSC 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

The UPSC online application process begins on January 14, 2026 and ends on February 3, 2026 (21 days window).

Step 1: Visit Official Website

• Go to upsconline.nic.in

• Click on "Online Application for Various Examinations of UPSC"

Step 2: Complete OTR (One Time Registration)

• Register with basic details

• Valid email ID and mobile number required

• Note down Registration ID

Step 3: Fill Part-I of Application

• Personal details

• Educational qualifications

• Category and special category (if applicable)

Step 4: Fill Part-II of Application

• Choice of examination center

• Optional subject selection

• Medium of examination

• Detailed address information

Step 5: Upload Documents

• Recent color photograph (JPG format, 20-300 KB)

• Signature (JPG format, 20-300 KB)

• Photo identity proof

• Category certificate (if applicable)

Step 6: Pay Application Fee

• General/OBC/EWS candidates: ₹100

• Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates: No fee (Exempted)

• Payment modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI

Step 7: Final Submission

• Review all details carefully

• Submit application

• Download confirmation page

• Save Registration ID and password

Important Documents Required:

1. 10th Certificate (for Date of Birth proof)

2. Graduation Degree/Provisional Certificate

3. Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)

4. PwBD Certificate (if applicable)

5. Recent photograph

6. Signature specimen

7. Valid Photo ID proof

 

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🎯 UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Date: Complete Details

When is UPSC Prelims 2026?

The UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date is Sunday, May 24, 2026. The Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will be conducted across multiple cities in India.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Date: Paper-wise Schedule

UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern 2026:

Paper-I (General Studies):

• Total Questions: 100

• Total Marks: 200

• Duration: 2 hours

• Negative Marking: -0.66 marks for each wrong answer

• Qualifying: Merit-based (counts for final selection)

Paper-II (Civil Services Aptitude Test - CSAT):

• Total Questions: 80

• Total Marks: 200

• Duration: 2 hours

• Negative Marking: -0.83 marks for each wrong answer

• Qualifying: 33% (66 marks) required to qualify

• Nature: Qualifying only (does not count for final merit)

UPSC Prelims 2026 Admit Card Date:

The UPSC Prelims 2026 admit card will be released approximately 10-15 days before the exam date, expected around May 10-15, 2026. Candidates can download their admit cards from upsconline.nic.in.

When Does Prelims Start?

The UPSC Prelims 2026 date marks the beginning of the civil services examination journey. The prelims exam starts at 9:30 AM sharp on May 24, 2026. Candidates must report to their exam center by 9:00 AM.

UPSC Prelims Result 2026:

The UPSC Prelims 2026 result is expected to be declared by June 30, 2026 or early July 2026. The result will be available on the Union Public Service Commission website.

 

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📚 UPSC Mains 2026 Exam Date: Detailed Schedule

When is UPSC Mains 2026?

The UPSC Mains 2026 exam date is scheduled from August 21, 2026 (Friday) to August 25, 2026 (Tuesday). The UPSC Mains exam date 2026 spans 5 consecutive days.

UPSC Mains 2026: Day-wise Paper Schedule

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern:

Total Papers: 9 (7 merit-based + 2 qualifying)

Qualifying Papers (300+300=600 marks):

• Paper-A: Indian Language (Any one from 22 languages)

• Paper-B: English (Compulsory)

Merit-Based Papers (1750 marks):

• Paper-I: Essay Writing (250 marks)

• Paper-II: General Studies-I - Indian Heritage, History & Geography (250 marks)

• Paper-III: General Studies-II - Governance, Constitution, Polity (250 marks)

• Paper-IV: General Studies-III - Technology, Economy, Environment (250 marks)

• Paper-V: General Studies-IV - Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude (250 marks)

• Paper-VI: Optional Subject Paper-I (250 marks)

• Paper-VII: Optional Subject Paper-II (250 marks)

Total Marks for Mains: 1750 marks

UPSC Mains 2026 Admit Card:

The UPSC Mains admit card 2026 will be available for download in early August 2026, approximately 10-15 days before the UPSC Mains 2026 exam date.

UPSC Mains Result 2026:

The UPSC Mains result 2026 is expected to be announced in January 2027. Candidates who qualify the Mains examination will be called for the Personality Test (Interview).

 

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🎤 UPSC 2026 Interview Date (Personality Test)

When is UPSC Interview 2026?

The UPSC 2026 Interview date is expected to fall between February 2027 and May 2027. The Personality Test is the final stage of the civil services examination.

UPSC Interview Process:

Interview Duration: 20-35 minutes Marks Allocated: 275 marks Board Members: 4-5 members including Chairman Nature: Personality and suitability assessment

DAF-II (Detailed Application Form-II):

Candidates who qualify the Mains examination must submit their DAF-II in January-February 2027. This form contains:

• Detailed educational background

• Work experience details

• Hobby and interests

• Preference of services

• Cadre preference (for IAS/IPS/IFoS)

Interview E-summon Letter:

The e-summon letter for the interview is sent 2-3 weeks before the scheduled interview date via email and SMS.

 

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👥 UPSC 2026 Vacancies & Posts

How Many Vacancies in UPSC 2026?

The UPSC vacancies for 2026 are expected to be approximately 950-1,100 posts based on government requirements. The exact UPSC vacancy will be mentioned in the official notification on January 14, 2026.

UPSC Recruitment 2026: Service-wise Vacancies (Expected)

Category-wise Reservation in UPSC:

 

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✅ UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026

Who Can Apply for UPSC 2026?

The eligibility for UPSC examination includes age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and number of attempts. Let's understand each criterion in detail.

 

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🎂 UPSC Age Limit 2026: Complete Details

What is the Age Limit for UPSC 2026?

The UPSC age limit is one of the most critical eligibility criteria. The age criteria for UPSC varies based on category.

UPSC Age Limit General Category:

Minimum Age: 21 years Maximum Age: 32 years

For UPSC 2026 exam date, candidates must be born between:

• Not earlier than: August 2, 1994

• Not later than: August 1, 2005

Age Limit for IAS and Other Services (Category-wise):

IAS Age Limit & Civil Services Exam Age Limit:

The IAS age limit is the same as the civil services exam age limit. For Indian Administrative Service age limit, General category candidates can appear between ages 21-32 years.

UPSC Age Limit Latest News:

As of December 2024, there are no changes in the UPSC examination age limit. The UPSC latest news on age limit indicates that the current age criteria will continue for UPSC 2026.

Age Eligibility for IAS:

The age eligibility for IAS and IAS examination age limit follows the same rules as the Union Public Service Commission age limit. The IAS civil services age limit is 21-32 years for General category.

IAS Preparation Age Limit:

While the IAS preparation age limit is technically 21-32 years (for General category), candidates can start preparing for the IAS exam age limit from any age. Many successful candidates begin their preparation in graduation itself (19-20 years).

Civils Exam Age Limit:

The civils exam age limit refers to the same criteria as the UPSC CSE. The civil service examination age limit and civil services examination age limit are identical.

 

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🎓 UPSC Qualification 2026: Educational Eligibility

What is the Minimum Qualification for UPSC?

The UPSC qualification requirement is straightforward:

Educational Qualification:

• Bachelor's degree from a recognized university

• Any discipline (Science, Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Medical)

• Government-recognized institutions only

Can Final Year Students Apply?

Yes! Candidates appearing in the final year of graduation can also apply for the UPSC examination. However, they must produce proof of passing by the time of the interview.

Recognized Universities:

Universities recognized by:

• University Grants Commission (UGC)

• State governments

• Central government

• Professional bodies (AICTE, MCI, BCI, etc.)

Note: Distance education and correspondence degrees are accepted if from UGC-recognized institutions.

 

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🔢 UPSC Attempts 2026: How Many Times Can You Appear?

Number of Attempts in UPSC Examination:

Important Points about Attempts:

1. An attempt is counted if you appear in Paper-I of Prelims

2. Absence from Paper-I does NOT count as an attempt

3. Appearing only in Paper-II (CSAT) counts as an attempt

4. Disqualified attempts also count toward total attempts

 

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🇮🇳 UPSC Nationality Criteria

Who Can Apply Based on Nationality?

1. For All Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.):

• Indian citizens

2. For Services Except IAS and IPS:

• Citizens of Nepal

• Citizens of Bhutan

• Tibetan refugees (came to India before January 1, 1962)

• Persons of Indian origin from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam

3. IFS (Indian Foreign Service):

• Only Indian citizens

Note: Candidates in categories 2 and 3 above must have a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India.

 

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📖 UPSC CSE Syllabus 2026

UPSC CSE Full Form:

UPSC CSE stands for Union Public Service Commission - Civil Services Examination. It is conducted annually to recruit candidates for various jobs from UPSC including IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A and Group B services.

UPSC CSE Syllabus Overview:

The UPSC CSE syllabus is divided into three stages:

1. Prelims Syllabus:

Paper-I: General Studies

• Indian History & Culture

• Indian Polity & Governance

• Economy & Sustainable Development

• General Science & Technology

• Environment & Ecology

• Current Affairs

• Geography (Indian & World)

Paper-II: CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)

• Comprehension

• Logical Reasoning

• Analytical Ability

• Decision Making

• Problem Solving

• Basic Numeracy

• Data Interpretation

2. Mains Syllabus:

Paper-I: Essay (250 marks) Paper-II to V: General Studies (250 marks each)

• GS-I: Indian Heritage, History, Geography

• GS-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice

• GS-III: Technology, Economy, Environment, Security

• GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude

Paper-VI & VII: Optional Subject (250 marks each)

• 48 optional subjects available

• Popular choices: Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, PSIR

3. Interview (275 marks):

• Personality assessment

• Suitability for civil services

• General awareness

• Communication skills

UPSC CSE Syllabus PDF Download:

The complete UPSC CSE syllabus PDF is available on the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. You can download the detailed syllabus after the UPSC 2026 notification release date.

 

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📍 UPSC Exam Centers 2026

Where Will UPSC Exams Be Conducted?

The Union Public Service Commission exams are conducted across multiple cities in India.

UPSC Prelims Exam Centers (80 Cities):

Major cities include:

• North: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun

• South: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi

• East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati

• West: Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur

• Central: Bhopal, Indore, Raipur

UPSC Mains Exam Centers (24 Cities):

Selected major cities for Mains examination including all state capitals and metropolitan areas.

Center Selection Tips:

1. Choose a center closest to your location

2. Consider accommodation availability

3. Check past exam center locations

4. Apply early for better center availability

 

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🏆 UPSC Exam Pattern 2026: Complete Structure

Three-Stage Selection Process:

Final Merit Calculation:

Final Rank = Mains Marks (1750) + Interview Marks (275) = 2025 marks

Note: Prelims marks are NOT counted in final merit; they're only for qualification.

 

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📊 UPSC Cut-Off Trends (2022-2025)

UPSC Prelims Cut-off Analysis:

UPSC Mains Cut-off (2023):

Final Cut-off (Including Interview):

The final cut-off includes both Mains and Interview marks (out of 2025).

 

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📚 How to Prepare for UPSC 2026 Exam

Preparation Timeline:

For Beginners: Start 12-15 months before UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date For Repeaters: 6-8 months intensive preparation

Step-by-Step Preparation Strategy:

Phase 1: Foundation Building (4-5 months)

• Read NCERT books (Class 6-12)

• Standard reference books

• Newspaper reading habit

• Basic note-making

Phase 2: Advanced Preparation (4-5 months)

• Advanced reference books

• Previous year question analysis

• Subject-wise deep study

• Current affairs compilation

Phase 3: Revision & Practice (3-4 months)

• Multiple revisions

• Mock tests (weekly)

• Answer writing practice

• Time management drills

Best Books for UPSC 2026:

Polity:

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth

History:

• India's Ancient Past by R.S. Sharma

• Medieval India by Satish Chandra

• Modern India by Bipin Chandra

• India's Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra

Geography:

• Certificate Physical Geography by G.C. Leong

• Geography of India by Majid Husain

Economy:

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh

• Economic Survey (latest)

Environment:

• Environment by Shankar IAS

Science & Technology:

• Science & Technology by Ravi P. Agrahari

Current Affairs:

• The Hindu (Daily)

• Indian Express

• Vision IAS Monthly Magazine

• Insights IAS Current Affairs

 

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💡 Important Tips for UPSC Aspirants

Exam Day Checklist:

Documents to Carry:

• ✅ UPSC Admit Card

• ✅ Valid Photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Voter ID/Passport)

• ✅ Two passport-size photographs

• ✅ Pen (black ballpoint)

• ✅ Water bottle (transparent)

Items NOT Allowed:

• ❌ Mobile phones

• ❌ Electronic gadgets

• ❌ Calculators

• ❌ Books or study material

• ❌ Bags

Time Management Strategy:

For Prelims Paper-I:

• Spend 1 minute per question

• Attempt easy questions first

• Leave difficult questions for later

• Keep 20 minutes for revision

For Mains Papers:

• Read all questions first (10 minutes)

• Plan answers (5 minutes)

• Write answers (2 hours 30 minutes)

• Review and revise (15 minutes)

 

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🔗 Important Links & Resources

Official UPSC Links:

1. UPSC Official Website: https://upsc.gov.in

2. UPSC Online Application: https://upsconline.nic.in

3. UPSC Syllabus Download: Available on official website

4. UPSC Previous Papers: Available in UPSC archives

5. UPSC Calendar 2026: Will be published in January 2026

Government of India Resources:

• Ministry of Personnel Website

• Department of Personnel and Training

• LBSNAA (Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration)

 

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📞 UPSC Contact Information

Union Public Service Commission Headquarters:

Address: Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069

Phone: 011-23385271, 011-23381125, 011-23098543 Fax: 011-23387310 Email: upsc-mail@nic.in

Helpdesk Timings: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. When is UPSC 2026 exam date?

Answer: The UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date is May 24, 2026 (Sunday), and UPSC Mains 2026 exam date is August 21-25, 2026 (Friday to Tuesday).

Q2. What is the UPSC 2026 notification release date?

Answer: The UPSC 2026 notification will be released on January 14, 2026 (Tuesday) on the official website upsconline.nic.in.

Q3. What is the last date to apply for UPSC 2026?

Answer: The last date to apply for UPSC 2026 is February 3, 2026 (6:00 PM). The application window opens on January 14, 2026.

Q4. What is the UPSC age limit for 2026?

Answer: The UPSC age limit for General category is 21-32 years. For OBC, it's 21-35 years, and for SC/ST, it's 21-37 years. Candidates must be born between August 2, 1994, and August 1, 2005 (for General category).

Q5. Can I apply for UPSC 2026 if I was born in 2004?

Answer: Yes, candidates born in 2004 (before August 2, 2004) can apply for UPSC 2026 as they will be at least 21 years old by August