The official notification of the 2026 Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination of the Union Public Service Commission has been issued and the application process has officially begun in one of the most competitive recruitment processes in India. Applications are to be done online by the official portal, upsconline.nic.in, till 6 pm on February 24, 2026.
The Civil Services Examination will be used to fill out 933 vacancies this year. The comprehensive notification gives the complete schedule of examination as well as eligibility, fee structure and step-by-step instructions to the candidates.
Significant Examinations Dates.
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination: May 24, 2026.
- Main Examination in the Civil Services: August 21, 2026 and onwards.
- Deadline to submit online application: 24 February 2026, until 6 pm.
The common screening test of both the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination will be the preliminary examination. Those candidates that are qualified at this stage would only be allowed to take the respective main examinations.
Age Criteria
The age eligibility cut off date refers to August 1, 2026.
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Maximum age: 32 years
- Age relaxation can be used in respect of reserved categories according to governmental norms.
Educational Qualification
- Applicants should have a graduate degree in a recognised university.
- Students in final year with pending results are also eligible to apply but under all the conditions within the duration as stated by the UPSC.
Application Fee
- General, OBC and EWS candidates: 100.
- Female candidates: Exempted
- SC and ST applicants: Exempted.
- Individuals having Benchmark Disabilities: Exempt.
The payment fee is payable via the online channels listed in the portal of application.
Selection Process
Civil Services Examination is a multi stage selection process.
Preliminary examination – Objective screening type test.
- main exam- Descriptive written examination.
Personality Test or Interview: This test is available in two distinct versions.<|human|>Personality Test or Interview: This test comes in two versions. - Document Verification
- Medical Examination
The preliminary exam marks are not to be included in the final merit list because it is just a qualifying round.
Admit Card Details
- e Admit Cards would be provided on the official site.
- These are normally discharged on the final working day of the week preceding the examination.
- The candidates who are asking a revision of scribe not later than seven days before the exam will be given their admit card three days prior to the exam.
How To Apply
The application process will be done online through the following steps by the candidate.
- Visit upsconline.nic.in
- Finalize the registration process.
- Complete personal, education, and communication information.
- Add documents, photo and signature that are necessary.
- Pay the application fee where necessary.
- Fill the form and save the confirmation page.
Exam Day Instructions
- Be at the examination centre at least half an hour before the beginning of every session.
- After the reporting time, no one will be allowed to enter.
- Bring a hard copy of the admit card.
- Carry a valid government issued photo identity card as indicated in the admit card.
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Aspirants in the country, with the notification now issued, are now preparing to spend months to avail of the opportunity to get a seat in the civil services in India with the examination cycle of 2026.
