The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will release the official notification for preliminary exams soon. The notification was earlier supposed to
be released on January 14 but was postponed due to administrative reasons. It's been almost 2 weeks since the postponement of the notification release, and there is no information on it yet. A tab of UPSC Notification 2026 is there on the website, but the notification has not been linked yet. The Commission releases the notification once a year, marking the formal beginning of India’s most competitive recruitment process for services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other Group A and B posts. For lakhs of sarkari naukri aspirants, it is not just an announcement of dates but a legally binding document that defines eligibility, rules, and the entire examination framework. Once the notification is released, the aspirants will be able to check all they need to know about eligibility, age limit, selection process, and whatnot. Here are all the details that need to be checked.
How to check UPSC CSE Notification 2026?
- One should go to the official website upsc.gov.in
- On homepage, they should look for latest notification section
- Then click on the link that reads UPSC Notification 2026
- The notification will open up on screen
- Go through the same and download it
- Take its printout for future references
Details to check on UPSC Notification
1. How to apply: Candidates are required to apply online by using the website http://upsconline.gov.in. It is essential for the applicant to register himself/herself first at the One Time Registration (OTR) platform, available on the Commission’s website, and then proceed to fill out the online application for the examination.2. Total number of vacancies: UPSC notifies the total number of vacancies along with a category-wise breakup for General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
3. Eligibility criteria: Under age limit rules, the Commission specifies the minimum and maximum age as on a particular cutoff date, usually August 1 of the exam year (for example it will be August 1, 2026 for this year). It also contains details of age relaxations and the number of permissible attempts.
4. Selection process: A three-stage examination process will be followed: prelims, mains, and interview. The notification will have details about the two objective-type papers, negative marking, and the qualifying nature of the CSAT paper.
5. Syllabus and exam pattern- The official syllabus mentioned by UPSC remains the most authoritative source and should guide preparation at every stage.
Instructions in respect of uploading a photograph while filling up online application form:
(a) The photograph, uploaded by candidate should not be more than 10 days old from the start of the online application process (i.e. the application commencement date).
(b) Ensure that the name of candidate and the date on which the photograph was taken are clearly mentioned on the photograph.
(c) The candidate’s face should occupy 3/4th of the space in the photograph.
(d) The candidates must ensure that their appearance must match with their photograph at each stage of the Examination Process i.e. at the time of Preliminary, Main (Written) and Interview/Personality Test. The 2025 notification reads, "For instance, If a candidate uploads a bearded photograph, he must appear with the same look in the Preliminary, Main (Written) and Interview/Personality Test. Same would be the case with spectacles, moustaches, etc."
6. Exam fee: Candidates (Except Female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability Candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees One Hundred only) either by remitting the money in any Branch of State Bank of India by cash or by using Net Banking facility of any bank or by using Visa/Master/RuPay/Credit/Debit Card/UPI Payment.
Also Read: Exhausted Your UPSC Attempts? Smart Alternatives You Should Know
The Prelims stage will consist of two objective-type papers—General Studies Paper I carrying 200 marks and CSAT Paper II carrying 200 marks, which will be qualifying in nature. The Mains examination will comprise nine descriptive papers, including Essay, General Studies Papers I to IV, two optional subject papers, and two qualifying language papers, with a total of 1,750 marks. Candidates who clear the Mains will be called for the Personality Test (Interview), which will carry 275 marks. The final merit list will be prepared based on the combined performance of candidates in the Mains examination and the interview round.
