What's in this article?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 Notification on 04 February 2026. This year, the commission has announced 933 vacancies for prestigious posts including IAS, IPS, IFS, and Group A/B Central Services. Eligible graduate candidates can submit their UPSC 2026 Application Form online through the official portal. The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 is scheduled for 24 May 2026, marking the start of India's most competitive recruitment process.
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 - Recruitment Overview
ProJobAlert.com |
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|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) Recruitment 2026 Advertisement No.:- 05/2026-CSP | |
| Recruitment Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post Name | IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and Group A/B Services |
| Total Vacancies | 933 Posts |
| Job Location | Across India (All India Service) |
| Start Date to Apply | 04 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 24 February 2026 |
| Qualification | Graduate Degree (Any Discipline) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 Years (As on 01 August 2026) |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview) |
| Salary | Level 10 (Pay Matrix Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 2,50,000) |
| Application Fees |
General/OBC/EWS: Rs. 100/- SC/ST/Female/PwBD: Nil (Exempted) Payment Mode: Online (Net Banking/Card) or SBI Challan |
| Application Mode | Online via upsconline.nic.in |
| Syllabus & PYQs PDF | Download PDF |
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
| Official Website | UPSC Official Site |
| 👉 Apply Online Now | |
Important Date
- Notification Released: 04 February 2026
- Application Start: 04 February 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 24 February 2026 (6:00 PM)
- Correction Date: 25 February to 03 March 2026
- UPSC Prelims Exam Date: 24 May 2026
- UPSC Mains Exam Date: 21 August 2026
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 32 Years
- Age Relaxation (As on 01 August 2026):
- OBC: 03 Years (Up to 35 Years)
- SC/ST: 05 Years (Up to 37 Years)
- PwBD: 10 Years (Up to 42 Years)
- Note: Kindly Read Full Official Notification Before Apply.
Application Fees
- General / OBC / EWS Male: Rs. 100/-
- SC / ST / PwBD: Exempted (Nil)
- Female (All Categories): Exempted (Nil)
Qualification
- Civil Services (IAS/IPS): Candidate must hold a Bachelor's Degree in any stream from a recognized university.
- Indian Forest Service (IFS): Bachelor's Degree with at least one of the subjects namely Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, and Zoology.
Full Eligibility
To be eligible for UPSC CSE 2026, candidates must meet criteria regarding Nationality (Indian Citizenship for IAS/IPS), Educational Qualification (Graduation), and Number of Attempts (6 for General/EWS, 9 for OBC, and Unlimited for SC/ST).
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Graduate in any discipline (Final year students can apply) |
| Nationality | Indian (Mandatory for IAS, IPS, and IFS) |
| Attempts (General/EWS) | 06 Attempts |
| Attempts (OBC) | 09 Attempts |
| Attempts (SC/ST) | Unlimited (Up to Age Limit) |
Salary
The IAS/IPS Salary is structured under the 7th Pay Commission. Officers start at Level 10 of the Pay Matrix, with significant allowances including DA, HRA, and Transport Allowance, making it one of the most lucrative careers in India.
| Post Level | Pay Scale / Pay Matrix | Grade Pay (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Junior Scale) | Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500 | Level 10 |
| Senior Time Scale | Rs. 67,700 - Rs. 2,08,700 | Level 11 |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Rs. 78,800 - Rs. 2,09,200 | Level 12 |
| Selection Grade / Secretary | Rs. 1,18,500 - Rs. 2,50,000 | Level 13 to 17 |
- Officers are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA) as per current rates.
- Other benefits include Medical Facilities, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), and subsidized government housing.
Selection Process
The UPSC Selection Process 2026 is a rigorous year-long journey consisting of three distinct stages designed to test the academic depth, analytical ability, and personal integrity of the aspirants.
- Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) - Eliminatory Round.
- Stage II: Main Examination (Descriptive Written Test) - 9 Papers.
- Stage III: Personality Test (Interview) - Final assessment by UPSC Board.
- Document Verification and Medical Examination follow final selection.
Exam Pattern
The UPSC Exam Pattern 2026 involves multiple papers. The Prelims has two papers of 200 marks each (GS and CSAT). The Mains consists of 9 papers, out of which 7 are counted for merit, totaling 1750 marks.
| Examination Stage | No. of Papers | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims (Objective) | 2 Papers | 400 (Qualifying) |
| Mains (Written) | 9 Papers | 1750 |
| Personality Test | Interview | 275 |
| Grand Total | - | 2025 |
- Negative Marking: 1/3rd mark deduction in Prelims for wrong answers.
- CSAT Paper: Requires a minimum of 33% qualifying marks.
- Mains Papers: Include Essay, GS I-IV, Optional I-II, and two Language papers.
Post / Category Wise Vacancy
UPSC has notified 933 total vacancies for the 2026 cycle. This includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates across various categories.
| Service Category | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IRS, etc.) | 933 |
| PwBD Reserved Seats | 33 |
| Total Vacancy | 933 |
Job Profile & Responsibility
An IAS or IPS Officer is responsible for the Implementation of Government Policies, maintaining Law and Order, and overseeing District Administration. It is a highly responsible role demanding leadership and crisis management skills.
- Formulating and executing government developmental schemes.
- Managing law enforcement and crime prevention (for IPS).
- Representing the Government of India in international forums (for IFS).
- Supervising revenue collection and expenditure auditing.
How To Apply
Eligible candidates can fill out the UPSC Online Application Form 2026 by visiting the official recruitment website. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to ensure a successful registration.
- Step 1: Visit upsconline.nic.in and complete One Time Registration (OTR).
- Step 2: Log in using your OTR ID and password to access the Part-I Registration.
- Step 3: Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and address.
- Step 4: Proceed to Part-II Registration to pay the application fee (if applicable).
- Step 5: Upload your Passport Photo, Signature, and Photo ID Card in the specified format.
- Step 6: Select your preferred Examination Centre and submit the form.
- Step 7: Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online (OTR) | Click Here |
| Download UPSC 2026 Notification | Click Here |
| Download Exam Calendar 2026 | Click Here |
| Latest Govt Jobs 2026 | Click Here |
| All India Govt Jobs | Click Here |
| UPSC Jobs | Click Here |
| Home Page | Click Here |
FAQs
What is the last date to apply for UPSC 2026?
The last date to submit the UPSC Civil Services online application is 24 February 2026, until 6:00 PM.
How many vacancies are released for UPSC CSE 2026?
A total of 933 vacancies have been announced for various services including IAS, IPS, and IFS.
When is the UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam?
The UPSC Prelims 2026 examination will be conducted on 24 May 2026.
What is the minimum age to apply for IAS?
The minimum age required is 21 years as of 01 August 2026.
Can final-year graduates apply for UPSC?
Yes, final-year degree students can apply provisionally for the Prelims exam.