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UPSC CSE 2026 Notification | IAS, IPS, IFS Exam Full Guide

UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 complete guide. Check Prelims and Mains dates, eligibility, syllabus, optional subject list, and IAS preparation strategy.

By PadhleBhai Desk · Published 3 Jun 2026 · Updated 9 Jun 2026 · 2 min read

UPSC CSE 2026 Overview

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates for prestigious services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and 22+ other All India and Central Services.

ParameterDetails
Exam NameUPSC Civil Services Examination 2026
Conducting BodyUnion Public Service Commission (UPSC)
ServicesIAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, IRTS, and 20+ others
Total StagesPrelims → Mains → Personality Test (Interview)
Official Websiteupsc.gov.in
Starting Salary (IAS)₹56,100 (Pay Level 10) + Allowances

UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates

EventExpected Date
Notification ReleaseFebruary 2026
Online Application StartFebruary 2026
Last Date to ApplyMarch 2026
Prelims ExamMay/June 2026
Prelims ResultJuly 2026
Mains ExamSeptember 2026
Mains ResultDecember 2026
Personality Test (Interview)January–March 2027
Final ResultApril–May 2027

UPSC CSE 2026 Eligibility

  • Nationality: Indian Citizen (for IAS/IPS); for other services as per rules
  • Age: 21–32 years (General); OBC 35 yrs; SC/ST 37 yrs; PwD 42 yrs
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university
  • Attempts: General-6, OBC-9, SC/ST-Unlimited (till age limit)

UPSC CSE 2026 Exam Pattern

Prelims – General Studies Paper I & II (CSAT)

PaperQuestionsMarksTime
GS Paper I1002002 hrs
GS Paper II (CSAT – Qualifying)802002 hrs

CSAT is qualifying with a minimum 33% threshold. Only GS Paper I marks count for Prelims cutoff.

Mains – 9 Papers

PaperSubjectMarks
Paper AIndian Language (Compulsory)300 (Qualifying)
Paper BEnglish (Compulsory)300 (Qualifying)
GS I–IVGeneral Studies (4 papers)250 each = 1000
EssayEssay Paper250
Optional I & IIOptional Subject250 each = 500
Total (for merit)1750 Marks

UPSC CSE 2026 GS Syllabus Highlights

  • GS I: Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography of the World
  • GS II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations
  • GS III: Technology, Economy, Environment, Biodiversity, Security, Disaster Management
  • GS IV: Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude, Emotional Intelligence, Case Studies

UPSC CSE 2026 Preparation Strategy

  1. NCERT Foundation: Read all relevant NCERTs from Class 6 to 12 first
  2. Standard Books: Laxmikant (Polity), Bipin Chandra (History), Majid Husain (Geography)
  3. Current Affairs: Daily newspaper (The Hindu/Indian Express) + Monthly compilations
  4. Optional Subject: Choose based on interest and scoring trend — Public Admin, Geography, and Sociology are popular
  5. Answer Writing: Practice mains answer writing daily from Month 3 onwards
  6. Mock Interviews: Join a mock interview program 2 months before the actual interview