Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year to recruit into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and around twenty other Central Group A and Group B services. For the 2026 exam (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 4 February 2026), UPSC put the number of vacancies at approximately 933, including 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) across specified disability categories. The final vacancy count can change once cadre-controlling authorities confirm firm numbers.
Who can apply
For the 2026 exam, a candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years as on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005). The upper age limit is relaxable by up to 5 years for SC/ST candidates, up to 3 years for OBC candidates, and by further specified periods for categories such as Defence Service personnel disabled in operations and Ex-servicemen. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university (or an equivalent qualification); those awaiting final-year results may also apply, subject to producing proof of the qualifying degree before the interview stage.
Every eligible candidate is permitted 6 attempts at the CSE. SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts, OBC candidates 9 attempts, and PwBD candidates 9 attempts (General/EWS/OBC) or unlimited (SC/ST), subject to the applicable upper age limit.
Selection process
CSE has three stages: the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, an objective-type screening test; the Civil Services (Main) Examination, a written descriptive test; and an Interview/Personality Test for candidates who clear the Main Examination. Only Preliminary Examination marks decide who is shortlisted for the Main Examination — Preliminary marks are not counted in the final merit, which is based on Main Examination and Interview marks combined.
Exam pattern
Preliminary Examination (both papers objective, multiple-choice, in Hindi and English)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Studies | 200 | 2 hours | Counts toward shortlisting |
| II | CSAT (comprehension, reasoning, numeracy, decision-making) | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying (minimum 33%) |
Main Examination (written, descriptive)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | An Indian language (from the Eighth Schedule) | 300 | Qualifying |
| B | English | 300 | Qualifying |
| I | Essay | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| II | General Studies I (Heritage, Culture, History, Geography) | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations) | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Development, Environment, Security, Disaster Management) | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| VI | Optional Subject, Paper 1 | 250 | Counts toward merit |
| VII | Optional Subject, Paper 2 | 250 | Counts toward merit |
Written total (Papers I–VII): 1,750 marks. Papers A and B are qualifying only and are not counted for ranking.
Interview / Personality Test
| Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Personality Test | 275 |
| Grand total (Main + Interview) | 2,025 |
Syllabus
The Preliminary General Studies paper covers current events, Indian history and the national movement, Indian and world geography, polity and governance, economic and social development, environment and ecology, and general science. CSAT covers comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, logical reasoning, decision-making, and basic numeracy at a Class 10 level. The Main Examination's General Studies papers span Indian heritage and culture, history and geography; governance, constitution and international relations; technology, economy, environment and security; and ethics and aptitude, alongside an Essay paper and two papers in a candidate-chosen optional subject.
Marking
The Preliminary Examination is objective with a standard UPSC negative-marking scheme; Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying only, with a minimum of 33% required, and does not count toward the merit list used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. The Main Examination and Interview are both merit-counting; Papers A and B are qualifying only.
Important dates
For the 2026 exam, the notice was dated 4 February 2026, with the online application window closing around late February 2026, and the Preliminary Examination held on 24 May 2026, per UPSC's examination notifications archive.
Fees
For the 2026 exam, the fee is Rs 100 for the Preliminary Examination, with a further Rs 200 payable on qualifying for the Main Examination. Female candidates, and SC/ST/PwBD candidates, are exempt from payment.
How to apply
Candidates apply online through the UPSC Online Application Portal at upsconline.nic.in. A first-time applicant creates an account and completes Universal Registration to receive a Universal Registration Number (URN), fills the Common Application Form, and then completes the examination-specific module (including fee payment and centre choice) during the notified application window. The URN is generated once in a candidate's lifetime and is used across all future UPSC examinations; the Application Number is specific to each exam.
After selection
Candidates who clear the Main Examination are called for the Interview/Personality Test. Final results combine Main Examination and Interview marks; the Commission verifies eligibility conditions against original documents only after a candidate qualifies for the interview. Selected candidates are allotted a service and cadre based on their rank, service preferences and category, with reserved-category candidates who clear the exam on general-category standards adjusted against unreserved vacancies.
Preparation tips
Because CSAT is qualifying only (33% minimum) while the General Studies Preliminary paper decides Main Examination shortlisting, most successful candidates spend the bulk of Preliminary preparation time on General Studies once they are comfortable clearing the CSAT threshold. In the Main Examination, since General Studies Papers I–IV and the Optional Subject each carry equal weight (250 marks apiece), spreading revision evenly across them — rather than over-investing in the Optional Subject alone — tends to protect the overall aggregate, given that Papers A and B do not count toward the merit list at all.
How many attempts are allowed at the UPSC CSE?
Six attempts for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC, and unlimited for SC/ST candidates, subject to the applicable upper age limit. PwBD candidates get nine attempts (General/EWS/OBC) or unlimited (SC/ST).
Do Preliminary Examination marks count toward the final result?
No. The Preliminary Examination is only used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination; final merit is based on the Main Examination and Interview marks alone.
Is CSAT (Paper II of the Preliminary Examination) qualifying or does it count toward merit?
CSAT is qualifying only, with a minimum of 33% required; it does not count toward the merit list used for Main Examination shortlisting.
What is the educational qualification needed for UPSC CSE?
A bachelor's degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification. Candidates awaiting final-year results may also apply, subject to producing proof of the degree at a later stage.
What is the age limit for the UPSC Civil Services Examination?
For the 2026 exam, 21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026, with relaxations of up to 5 years for SC/ST and up to 3 years for OBC candidates, among other category-specific relaxations.
How is the UPSC CSE application fee structured?
For the 2026 exam, Rs 100 for the Preliminary Examination and a further Rs 200 on qualifying for the Main Examination, with female and SC/ST/PwBD candidates exempt.