The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has extended the last date to apply for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 after candidates faced technical issues on the application portal. Applicants
can now submit their forms till February 27, 2026, up to 6 pm. The extension also applies to the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026.
The decision was taken after the website upsconline.nic.in slowed down due to heavy traffic as many candidates attempted to register close to the original deadline. Several applicants reported login failures, slow loading pages and difficulty in submitting forms.
The online portal is used for One-Time Registration (OTR), filling personal and academic details, uploading photograph and signature, paying the application fee and downloading the confirmation page. Candidates who have not completed OTR must register first before accessing the application form.
With the revised schedule, applications can be submitted through the official websites, upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in, till 6 pm.
Vacancies And Exam Schedule
According to the official notification, the Civil Services Examination 2026 will fill 933 vacancies in various central government departments. Both the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination will be conducted through a common preliminary examination.
The preliminary examination will be held on May 24, 2026, and the Main examination will begin on August 21, 2026. Candidates who qualify the preliminary stage will be eligible to appear for the Main examination.
How To Apply For UPSC CSE Exam?
Step 1: Visit the official website at upsconline.nic.in.
Step 1: Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process, if not already registered.
Step 2: Log in and select the link for CSE 2026 or IFS 2026.
Step 3: Enter personal, educational and contact details.
Step 4: Upload scanned photograph, signature and required documents.
Step 5: Pay the prescribed fee online, if applicable.
Step 6: Review the form and submit.
Step 7: Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
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Application Fee
Candidates from General, OBC and EWS categories have to pay Rs 100. Candidates belonging to SC, ST and female categories also have to pay Rs 100. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are exempted from the application fee. The fee can be paid only through online mode.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold a graduate degree from a recognised university and be between 21 and 32 years of age as per the prescribed cut-off date. Age relaxation is available for reserved category candidates as per government rules.
Selection Process
The recruitment process will include multiple stages: Preliminary examination, Main examination, interview, document verification and medical examination.
