UPSC Notification 2026 Live: UPSC CSE, IFoS Notification PDF To Be Out Soon At upsc.gov.in; Check Eligibility, Exam Dates & More

Candidates who qualify UPSC CSE Prelims and appear for the Mains Examination will have to score at least 25% in the qualifying language papers. This means they have to score 75 marks out of 300 to make sure that their GS and Optional papers get evaluated. 

The UPSC official notification for the CSE exam 2026 was supposed to be out by January 14, 2026. However, due to some administrative reasons, the notification has been postponed. It is expected that the Commission will announce the CSE notification 206 soon on its official website. Candidates must stay updated and vigilant, as the notification can be released at any time soon. 

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification soon, after postponing it due to administrative reasons. As per the UPSC examination calendar, the notification was earlier scheduled for January 14. However, the commission confirmed the delay through an official notice, stating that both the Civil Services Examination 2026 and the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 notifications have been deferred.

Candidates have to first go to register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform at upsc.gov.in before applying for the CSE 2026 online application. If already registered, candidates can directly log in to fill out the CSE 2026 application form.

The final stage of the selection procedure is Interview, which carries 275 marks. It assesses the candidate's mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, and leadership qualities.

UPSC CSE Exam will be conducted to recruit eligible candidates for 21 different services and the topmost service chosen by candidates are:

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
2. Indian Police Service (IPS)
3. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
4. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

Check the table below for UPSC CSE Notification 2026 Key Hghlghts:

Step 1: Visit the official website upsc.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on "CSE 2026 Notification" under "What's New" section.

Step 3: The examination notification will be downloaded.

Step 4: Save it for future reference.

According to existing UPSC norms, the eligibility criteria for CSE remain as follows:

Minimum age: 21 years

Maximum age: 32 years (for General category)

Educational qualification: Graduation from a recognised university

Number of attempts:

-General Category - 6 attempts

Note: (Relaxations apply for reserved categories as per rules)

Any changes or confirmations regarding eligibility will be officially mentioned in the CSE 2026 notification.

UPSC CSE Application Fees 2026 varies by category. Reserved category candidates from SC/ST and female candidates are exempted from payment. Fees can only be paid online via debit/credit card, net banking) or offline via SBI challan where applicable.

UPSC CSE Exam will be conducted to recruit eligible candidates for 21 different services and the topmost service chosen by candidates are:

1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

2. Indian Police Service (IPS)

3. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)

4. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)

The UPSC Civil Services (Prelims) Examination 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026.

Bachelor's degree from a recognized university is needed; final year students eligible.

Every year, UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) to recruit candidates for services such as the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service (Group A), Indian Civil Accounts Service (Group A), Indian Corporate Law Service (Group A), Indian Defence Accounts Service (Group A), Indian Defence Estates Service (Group A), and other allied posts.

The Civil Services Examination follows a three-stage selection process:

1. Preliminary Examination:

• Two objective-type papers
• Includes negative marking
• CSAT paper is qualifying in nature

2. Main Examination:

• Descriptive papers assessing analytical and writing skills

3. Personality Test (Interview):

• Final assessment of suitability for civil services

Detailed information on the syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme will be provided in the notification.

As per the previously released UPSC examination calendar, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on May 24, 2026. The prelims will serve as the first stage of the three-tier selection process,

UPSC mandates facial authentication for all exam candidates to enhance security and integrity in the examination process.

Recent reports suggest the delay in the notification might be linked to the implementation of facial authentication and AI-based surveillance to prevent impersonation. UPSC has been testing these technologies to ensure the integrity of the recruitment process for 2026.

1. General/EWS: 21 to 32 years.

2. OBC: 21 to 35 years.

3. SC/ST: 21 to 37 years.

4. PwBD: Up to 42 years.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sets specific limits on the number of times a candidate can appear for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) based on their category.

The UPSC CSE 2026 notification will outline key information related to the examination, including the name of the exam, the number of vacancies, and the list of services under the Civil Services (CS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) cadres.

It will also specify eligibility criteria such as educational qualifications, age limit, relaxation for reserved categories and nationality requirements.

The Prelims consist of two papers: GS Paper I and CSAT (Paper II). Each paper is 200 marks. CSAT remains a qualifying paper where candidates must score at least 33% (66 marks).

-General Studies Paper I – 200 marks

-CSAT Paper II – 200 marks (qualifying)

Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in and access the online application portal at upsconline.gov.in

Step 2: Now, Register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform, if not already registered

Step 3: Fill in the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 online application form

Step 4: Upload the required documents and pay the applicable application fee

Step 5: Finally, Submit the application form and download a copy for future reference

-2025 - January 22

-2024 - February 14

-2023 - February 1

-2022 - February 2