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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to conduct the Civil Services Examination 2026 for recruitment into prestigious services like IAS, IPS, and IFS. While the official notification was scheduled for release on 14 January 2026, it has been temporarily postponed due to administrative reasons. The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 is confirmed for 24 May 2026. This is a golden opportunity for graduates across India to join the elite administrative framework of the country.
UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) Recruitment 2026 Overview
ProJobAlert.com |
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|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services (CSE) & Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2026 Advertisement No.:- 05/2026-CSP (Expected) | |
| Recruitment Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post Name | IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and Group A/B Services |
| Total Vacancies | 1000+ (Expected) |
| Job Location | All India |
| Start Date to Apply | January 2026 (To be Notified) |
| Last Date to Apply | February 2026 (To be Notified) |
| Qualification | Any Graduate Degree |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 Years |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Interview |
| Salary | Pay Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 - 2,50,000) |
| Application Fees |
General/OBC/EWS: Rs. 100/- SC/ST/PwBD/Female: Rs. 0/- Mode: Online (Net Banking/Card) |
| Application Mode | Online via upsc.gov.in |
| Official Notification | Download PDF (Soon) |
| Official Website | Union Public Service Commission |
|
👉 Apply Online Now Available Soon... | |
Important Date
- Notification Released: To be Announced
- Application Start: January 2026
- Last Date : February 2026
- Correction Window: 7 Days After Last Date
- Prelims Exam Date: 24 May 2026
- Mains Exam Starts: 21 August 2026
- Personality Test: Early 2027
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 32 Years
- Age Calculation Date: 01 August 2026
- Age Relaxation:
- SC/ST: 5 Years
- OBC (NCL): 3 Years
- PwBD: 10 Years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 Years
- Note: Kindly Read Full Official Notification Before Apply.
Application Fees
- General / OBC / EWS: 100/-
- SC / ST / PwBD: 0/- (Exempted)
- Female Candidates: 0/- (Exempted)
Qualification
- IAS/IPS/Others: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- IFS (Forest Service): Bachelor's degree with at least one subject among Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering.
- Final year students are eligible to apply for Prelims.
Full Eligibility
Candidates must ensure they meet the Nationality, Educational Qualification, and Attempt Limits criteria. For the General Category, a maximum of 6 attempts are allowed, while OBC candidates get 9 attempts. There is no limit for SC/ST candidates within the age bracket. The nationality must be Indian for IAS and IPS.
| Category | Number of Attempts | Max Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 06 | 32 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy) | 09 | 35 Years |
| SC / ST | Unlimited | 37 Years |
| PwBD (Gen/OBC) | 09 | 42 Years |
Salary
The IAS Salary and other civil services pay scales are based on the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. Most entry-level posts begin at Level 10 of the pay matrix with a basic pay of Rs. 56,100 per month plus various allowances like DA, HRA, and TA.
| Level | Post Grade | Basic Pay Range |
|---|---|---|
| Level 10 | Junior Time Scale | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Level 11 | Senior Time Scale | ₹67,700 – ₹2,08,700 |
| Level 14 | Joint Secretary | ₹1,44,200 – ₹2,18,200 |
| Level 18 | Cabinet Secretary | ₹2,50,000 (Fixed) |
Selection Process
The UPSC Selection Process is a rigorous year-long journey consisting of three distinct stages. Candidates must qualify each stage to move to the next. The final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in Mains and Interview only.
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination - Objective type (Qualifying Nature).
- Stage 2: Main Examination - Descriptive Written test (9 Papers).
- Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview) - Face-to-face interaction at UPSC Dholpur House.
- Document Verification & Medical Examination.
Exam Pattern
The UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern includes two papers of 200 marks each. CSAT (Paper II) is qualifying, requiring a minimum of 33% marks. The Mains Exam Pattern is descriptive and includes total 9 papers, where two are qualifying language papers.
| Stage | Paper Type | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims GS 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 200 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Prelims CSAT | Objective (Qualifying) | 200 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Mains (7 Papers) | Descriptive (Merit) | 1750 Marks | 3 Hours Each |
| Interview | Oral | 275 Marks | 30 Mins approx |
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd of assigned marks for every wrong answer in Prelims.
- Mains Papers: Essay, GS I, II, III, IV, and 2 Optional Papers.
- Language Papers: English and any Indian Language (Qualifying - 300 marks each).
Post / Category Wise Vacancy
While the exact UPSC Vacancy 2026 will be released with the official notification, experts anticipate over 1000 posts. Vacancies are distributed among various prestigious services based on Category-wise Reservation (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD).
| Service Name | Approximate Posts |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) | 180 |
| Indian Police Service (IPS) | 150 - 200 |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) | 30 - 45 |
| Group A & B Services (IRS, IAAS, etc.) | 600+ |
| Total Expected | 1000 - 1100 |
How To Apply
Eligible candidates can apply for the UPSC CSE 2026 through the One Time Registration (OTR) portal. Ensure all documents are ready before the application window opens. Follow the steps below for a successful submission.
- Visit the official portal upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process if not already done.
- Login and click on "Apply for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination".
- Fill in personal, educational, and contact details in Part-I Registration.
- Proceed to Part-II: Pay the application fee of Rs. 100/- (if applicable).
- Upload scanned Photograph, Signature, and a valid Photo ID Card.
- Select your Exam Centre and submit the application form.
- Download the Final Confirmation Page for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online (OTR) | Available Soon... |
| Download Notification | Available Soon... |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Latest Govt Jobs 2025-26 | Click Here |
| All India Govt Jobs | Click Here |
| Madhya Pradesh Jobs | Click Here |
| Home Page | Click Here |
FAQs
What is the UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Date?
The UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 is scheduled to be held on 24 May 2026.
Has the UPSC 2026 Notification been postponed?
Yes, the notification originally scheduled for 14 January 2026 has been postponed due to administrative reasons and will be released soon.
Who is eligible for UPSC CSE 2026?
Any candidate with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and aged between 21 to 32 years (as of 1 August 2026) can apply.
What is the application fee for IAS exam?
The application fee is Rs. 100/- for General/OBC/EWS males. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted from payment.
Can final-year students apply for UPSC 2026?
Yes, final-year degree students can apply for the Preliminary examination, provided they produce proof of passing for the Mains exam.
How many attempts are allowed for General category?
General category candidates are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts until they reach the age of 32.