UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 — 1,039 Posts (IAS/IFS/IPS), Apply Online

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university in India. No minimum percentage is required. The degree should be obtained before the deadline specified in the notification. Only Indian nationals are eligible to apply.

The minimum age is 21 years. Maximum age is 32 years for General category. Age relaxation is provided for OBC (3 years), SC/ST (5 years), PwD (10 years), and Ex-Servicemen (actual service + 3 years, max 50 years). Age is calculated as on January 1, 2026.

A total of 1,039 posts are available in UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026. This includes IAS (180), IFS (150), IPS (200), IRS (150), IA&AS (100), and other allied services (259 posts). Exact category-wise distribution is mentioned in the official notification.

Application fee is ₹100 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwD, and Female candidates are exempted from paying the fee. Payment can be made online through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or E-Challan at participating banks.

The Preliminary Examination for UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 is scheduled for June 2, 2026. Admit cards will be released approximately one month before the exam date. Candidates should download admit cards from the official UPSC website using their registration credentials.

The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers: General Studies (GS) Paper 1 covering current events, geography, history, polity, economy, science & technology; and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) covering reasoning, aptitude, comprehension, decision-making, and numerical ability. Both papers are objective type with multiple choice questions.

The interview/personality test typically lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour per candidate. The interview is conducted by a panel comprising the Chairman and Members of the UPSC. Candidates are assessed on personality, communication skills, intellectual ability, and suitability for civil service positions.

IAS/IFS officers start with a salary of ₹56,100 per month (approximately) with additional allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other benefits. Salary increases with seniority and promotion. Senior positions can earn significantly higher salaries reaching ₹2,50,000+ per month with experience.

Yes, there is negative marking in UPSC Preliminary Examination. For each incorrectly answered question in both papers, 1/3 of the marks allotted for that question are deducted. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions. Candidates should avoid guessing and attempt only questions they are confident about.