- The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) officially released the Civil Services Examination (CSE) & Indian Forest Service (IFS) Notification 2026 on 4 February 2026 on its website – Download PDF Now.
- Applications are accepted only in online mode through the UPSC portal.
Important Dates
| Notification Release (Official) | 04/02/2026 |
| Online Application Start | 04/02/2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 24/02/2026 |
| Preliminary Exam (CSE & IFS) | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| UPSC Main Exam (CSE) | 21/08/2026 |
| Personality Test / Interview | Dates typically a few months after Mains |
- Withdrawal of Application: ❌ Not allowed after submission
Vacancies & Services Covered
- Total Vacancies: Approximately 933
- Includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD):
- Blindness & Low Vision
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Locomotor Disability
- Multiple Disabilities (excluding Deaf-Blind combination)
- Final vacancy numbers may change based on cadre confirmation.
- Positions include Group A and Group B services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other central services.
Eligibility Conditions
- Nationality
- IAS, IFS, IPS: Indian citizens only
- Other services: Citizens of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibetan refugees, PIOs (with eligibility certificate)
- Age Limits (as on 1 August 2026)
- Minimum: 21 years
- Maximum: 32 years
- Date of Birth Range: 2 Aug 1994 – 1 Aug 2005
- Age Relaxation
- SC/ST: +5 years
- OBC: +3 years
- PwBD: +10 years
- Defence personnel & Ex-servicemen: as per rules
- Cumulative relaxation allowed where applicable
- Educational Qualification
- Graduate degree from a recognised university
- Final-year students can apply (subject to proof before interview)
- MBBS candidates must complete internship before interview
Application Process (New Portal System)
- Four-Stage Online Application Structure
- Account Creation
- Universal Registration Number (URN) – One-time, lifetime registration
- Common Application Form (CAF)
- Examination-Specific Form (CSE-2026)
- Important Application Features
- Live Photo Capture is mandatory during CAF filling.
- Signature Upload: Three signatures on white paper in black ink.
- Aadhaar recommended for seamless verification.
- Once submitted:
- ❌ No correction
- ❌ No withdrawal
- ❌ No category change
Admit Card & Exam Day Instructions
- e-Admit Card Release:
- Last working day of the week before exam
- No admit card by post or email
- Face Authentication mandatory at exam centre
- Mobile phones, smart watches, electronic devices strictly banned
- Reach exam centre at least 30 minutes early
- No arrangement for safekeeping of valuables
Examination Pattern
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
- Paper I – General Studies: 200 marks
- Paper II – CSAT: 200 marks (Qualifying – minimum 33%)
- Objective type, 2 hours each
- Negative marking: 1/3rd marks deducted for wrong answers
- Marks not counted for final merit
- Stage 2: Main Examination – Written Examination (9 Papers)
- Qualifying Papers (Not counted for merit):
- Paper A – Indian Language (300 marks)
- Paper B – English (300 marks)
- Merit Papers:
- Essay – 250
- GS I – 250
- GS II – 250
- GS III – 250
- GS IV – 250
- Optional Paper I – 250
- Optional Paper II – 250
- Total Written Marks: 1750
- Qualifying Papers (Not counted for merit):
- Stage 3: Interview / Personality Test
- Marks: 275
- No minimum qualifying marks
- Final Merit
- Total Marks:
2025 (1750 + 275)
- Total Marks:
Number of Attempts
| General / EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited |
| PwBD | 9 (Gen/OBC/EWS), Unlimited (SC/ST) |
- Appearing in any one paper of Prelims counts as an attempt
Fees
- Preliminary Examination
- ₹100 for General/OBC/EWS (Male)
- No fee for Women, SC, ST, PwBD
- Main Examination
- ₹200 (same exemptions apply)
- Fee once paid not refundable
Other Key Details
- Reservation & Certificates
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Based on FY 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
- EWS: Income & Asset Certificate based on FY 2024-25
- Certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2025
- PwBD & Scribe Provisions
- Scribe allowed for specified disabilities
- Compensatory time: 20 minutes per hour
- Change of scribe allowed up to 7 days before exam
- Medical fitness mandatory for final appointment
- Service Preference & Cadre Allocation
- Service preferences mandatory
- No preference = no service allocation
- IAS/IPS candidates must later give cadre preference
- No change in preferences after final submission
- PRABITHA SETU Portal (Earlier Public Disclosure Scheme)
- Non-recommended interview candidates’ biodata may be shared with:
- PSUs
- Private companies
- Autonomous bodies
- Candidate consent required
- No partial disclosure option
- Non-recommended interview candidates’ biodata may be shared with:
Misconduct & Penalties
- Impersonation, fake documents, wrong photos, unfair means, electronic devices →
Disqualification, ban from future exams, criminal action - UPSC decision final in disciplinary matters
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- Apply early to get preferred exam centre
- Ensure category & certificate correctness
- No correction window → fill carefully
- Face authentication & live photo are now critical
- Prelims remains a screening test only