UPSC Civil Services Examination recruits candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS and other central civil services through Prelims, Mains and Personality Test.
CategoryGovernment Jobs
TypeRecruitment
Conducting authorityUnion Public Service Commission
Department / parent organisationGovernment of India
Qualification levelGraduate
Exam modeoffline
UPSC CSEUPSC Civil Services Examinationgovernmentrecruitmentnational examUnion Public Service Commission
Editorial update
UPSC notified Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 4 February 2026. Prelims commenced on 24 May 2026 and the written result was uploaded on 15 June 2026.
UPSC notified Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 4 February 2026. Prelims commenced on 24 May 2026 and the written result was uploaded on 15 June 2026.
Latest Updates
UPSC notified Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 4 February 2026. Prelims commenced on 24 May 2026 and the written result was uploaded on 15 June 2026.
| Date | Event | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 04 Feb 2026 | Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 notification | upsc.gov.in |
| 24 May 2026 | Preliminary examination commencement | upsc.gov.in |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Preliminary written result uploaded | upsc.gov.in |
Important Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination |
| Full Form | Civil Services Examination |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Category | UPSC recruitment examination |
| Purpose | Recruitment to Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and other civil services |
| Frequency | Usually annual |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline written papers and/or computer-based examination as notified |
| Question Type | Objective, descriptive and/or interview stages as notified |
| Exam Stages/Tiers | Civil Services Preliminary Examination, Civil Services Main Examination, Personality Test, Final service allocation as per rules |
| Exam Duration | Prelims one day; Mains over multiple papers/days |
| Total Marks | Prelims screening; Mains and Personality Test marks determine final merit as per rules |
| Negative Marking | Objective Prelims papers carry negative marking as per official rules. |
| Languages/Medium | English and Hindi or other notified language rules depending on paper |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
Important Dates
Date-sensitive entries are labelled with the content year and official source status. Do not treat unannounced future events as confirmed dates.
| Event | Status / Date |
|---|---|
| Prelims notification | 04 Feb 2026 |
| Application last date | 27 Feb 2026, 6:00 pm |
| Prelims exam | 24 May 2026 |
| Prelims result | 15 Jun 2026 |
| Mains timetable | Uploaded 10 Jul 2026 |
Eligibility
- Graduate degree from a recognised university.
- Nationality rules differ by service; IAS/IPS require Indian citizenship.
- Age limits, attempts and relaxations must be checked in the current notice.
- Candidates appearing in qualifying degree exams should follow official provisional eligibility rules.
Exam Pattern
The table is written for future MCQ and mock-test mapping. Always verify the latest official notice before launching a scored assessment.
| Stage / Tier | Paper / Section | Questions | Marks | Duration | Question type | Negative marking | Qualifying / merit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | General Studies Paper I | Objective | Screening marks | 2 hours | Objective MCQ | Applies | Merit for prelims cutoff |
| Prelims | CSAT Paper II | Objective | Qualifying | 2 hours | Objective MCQ | Applies | Qualifying |
| Mains | Essay, General Studies, Optional and language papers | Descriptive | As notified | Paper-wise | Written/descriptive | Not applicable | Merit/qualifying as notified |
| Interview | Personality Test | Not applicable | As notified | Board interview | Interview | Not applicable | Final merit |
Syllabus
Prelims GS
- Current events, history, polity, economy, geography, environment, science
CSAT
- Comprehension, reasoning, decision making, basic numeracy
Mains
- Essay, GS I-IV, optional subject papers and language papers
Application, Admit Card, Answer Key and Result
Application process
- Register or sign in only on the official application portal.
- Complete the application form, upload required documents, preview carefully and pay the notified fee where applicable.
- Use correction windows only when the official authority opens them.
- Save the application confirmation and official payment acknowledgement.
Admit card
- Download the admit card from the official portal when released.
- Check name, exam city, reporting time, photograph, signature and instructions.
- Carry the printed admit card, valid photo identity proof and any documents listed in the notice.
Answer key
- Use only the provisional and final answer key process published by the exam authority.
- Submit objections, if allowed, within the official window and with the required fee or proof.
- Final scores are based on the authoritys final answer key and normalization rules where applicable.
Result
- Results may be issued as scorecards, roll-number lists, merit lists or stage-wise shortlists.
- Qualified candidates should follow the next stage instructions exactly as published.
- Cutoff and marks should be treated as official only when published by the authority.
Selection Process
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination
- Civil Services Main Examination
- Personality Test
- Final service allocation as per rules
Posts, Services or Courses
- IAS, IPS, Indian Foreign Service and other Group A/B services listed in the notification.
Preparation Strategy
- Read the official syllabus line by line.
- Build NCERT and standard-book foundation before answer writing.
- Use previous official papers for trend analysis.
- Keep current affairs revision tied to syllabus topics.
MCQ, Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers
Use the available SaralStudy practice hubs only where the content is reviewed and relevant: MCQ Practice, Mock Tests, and Previous Year Papers.
| Product area | Current state |
|---|---|
| MCQ practice | Exam entity is mapped for future MCQ classification; no dedicated verified SaralStudy MCQ set is claimed. |
| Mock tests | No live verified SaralStudy mock test is enabled for this exam yet. |
| Previous-year papers | UPSC publishes previous-year question papers for many examinations on its official website. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC Civil Services Examination?
UPSC Civil Services Examination is recruitment to indian administrative service, indian police service and other civil services.
Who conducts UPSC Civil Services Examination?
UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted by Union Public Service Commission.
How often is UPSC Civil Services Examination held?
The usual frequency is usually annual, subject to official notification.
What is the selection process?
The selection process includes Civil Services Preliminary Examination, Civil Services Main Examination, Personality Test, Final service allocation as per rules.
Is there negative marking?
Objective Prelims papers carry negative marking as per official rules.
Where should I check official updates?
Use the official source links listed on this page before acting on dates, fees, vacancies or application instructions.
Are SaralStudy MCQs available for this exam?
Exam entity is mapped for future MCQ classification; no dedicated verified SaralStudy MCQ set is claimed.
Are SaralStudy mock tests available for this exam?
No live verified SaralStudy mock test is enabled for this exam yet.
Official Source References
Last verified: 2026-09-08. Content year: 2026.
Related Study Resources
NCERT Books PDFBuild concepts from textbook chapters before exam practice.NCERT SolutionsRevise chapter-wise answers for school and entrance preparation.CBSE Sample PapersPractice exam-style question papers and marking patterns.Previous Year PapersUnderstand real exam trends and recurring question types.MCQ PracticeBrowse general MCQ practice. Exam-specific availability is shown only when verified.Important FormulasRevise formulas for maths, physics and chemistry questions.