UPSC Civil Services 2026: Notification, Eligibility, Exam Pattern & Salary
UPSC Civil Services exam selects IAS, IPS, IFS and other officers. See age limit, attempts, prelims and mains pattern, vacancies and the 2027 date.
By JobAlertCentral Editorial Team · Checked against official sources on 25 Oct 2026
UPSC Civil Services at a glance
| Conducted by | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
|---|---|
| Services | IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A and Group B central services |
| Qualification | Graduate in any discipline |
| Age limit | 21–32 years (as on 01.08.2026 for CSE 2026); SC/ST +5, OBC +3 years |
| Attempts | General 6; OBC and PwBD 9; SC/ST no limit (up to the age limit) |
| Application fee | ₹100; women, SC, ST and PwBD are exempt |
| Stages | Prelims (objective) → Mains (written) → Personality Test |
| CSE 2026 vacancies | About 933 (33 for PwBD) |
| CSE 2027 | Notification 13.01.2027; last date 02.02.2027; Prelims 23.05.2027 (UPSC calendar) |
Latest UPSC Civil Services updates
No UPSC Civil Services notification is open right now. This page is updated as soon as the next official notice is released.
What is the UPSC Civil Services Examination?
The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and about 20 other central services. It is one of the toughest exams in India, with lakhs of applicants and around a thousand final selections.
Eligibility
Education: a degree from a recognised university. Candidates in the final year can sit for Prelims but must show the degree before Mains.
Age: 21 to 32 years as on 01.08 of the exam year (01.08.2026 for CSE 2026). Upper age relaxation is 5 years for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC, with more for PwBD and some other categories.
Attempts: 6 for General and EWS candidates, 9 for OBC and PwBD candidates, and no limit for SC/ST candidates up to the age limit. Appearing in even one Prelims paper counts as an attempt.
Exam pattern
Prelims has two objective papers of 200 marks each, 2 hours each. General Studies Paper I decides the cut-off. Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying, with 33% needed. Each wrong answer costs one-third of the marks for that question.
Mains has nine written papers:
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| Paper A – Indian language (qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper B – English (qualifying) | 300 |
| Essay | 250 |
| General Studies I to IV | 250 each |
| Optional subject, Papers 1 and 2 | 250 each |
| Merit total (written) | 1,750 |
Personality Test (interview): 275 marks. About twice the number of vacancies are called. The final merit is out of 2,025.
Vacancies
CSE 2026 has about 933 vacancies, including 33 for persons with benchmark disabilities. The number is finalised when results are declared.
CSE 2027
According to the UPSC annual calendar for 2027, the notification will be issued on 13.01.2027, the last date to apply is 02.02.2027 and the Preliminary exam is on Sunday, 23.05.2027. Dates in the calendar can change, so follow the notification once it is out.
UPSC Civil Services: FAQs
What is the age limit for UPSC CSE?
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21 to 32 years as on 1 August of the exam year, with 5 years' relaxation for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC CSE?
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6 for General and EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD, and no limit for SC/ST candidates up to the age limit.
When is UPSC Prelims 2027?
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Sunday, 23.05.2027, according to the UPSC annual calendar. The notification is due on 13.01.2027.
Is CSAT counted in the UPSC Prelims merit?
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No. CSAT (Paper II) is qualifying with 33% marks. The cut-off is based on General Studies Paper I.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC CSE 2026?
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About 933, including 33 for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Official sources
Rules can change with each notification. Always confirm eligibility, dates and fees in the latest official notice.