The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is set to release the detailed notification and registration dates for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 soon. Once issued, candidates can access the notification and submit
their applications on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in.
According to the UPSC calendar released earlier, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026. The notification, initially expected on January 14, was later postponed for administrative reasons and the new schedule is yet to be announced by the Commission.
The notification will provide essential details such as the number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam dates, syllabus, and the selection procedure. It will also specify the number of attempts allowed for candidates from various categories, including General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD.
According to existing rules, candidates must be Indian citizens between 21 and 32 years of age. Applicants should hold a graduate degree from a recognised university. Candidates in the General category are allowed six attempts.
The application fee for UPSC Civil Services is typically Rs 100. Candidates must first register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform on the UPSC website. After registration, they can proceed to fill out the online application.
UPSC CSE Registration: How To Apply?
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in and the online application portal at upsconline.gov.in
Step 2: Complete the registration process on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform
Step 3: Fill out the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 online application form
Step 4: Upload the required documents and pay the application fee
Step 5: Submit the completed application form and download it
Step 6: Take a printout for future reference
Selection Process For UPSC Civil Services
The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages. The first stage is the Preliminary Examination, consisting of two objective-type papers — General Studies Paper I and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT). Candidates who qualify prelims will be called for the mains. Those who clear both rounds will proceed to the final stage of the selection process.
Last year, 979 vacancies were filled through the recruitment drive.
