UPSC CSE updates

UPSC CSE 2026: Notification, Exam Date & Application

UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is India's premier civil services recruitment exam, selecting officers for IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A/B central services through a three-stage process. Also searched: upsc form filling date 2026, upsc prelims test series 2026, upsc cse prelims 2026, upsc epfo 2026.

Facts last verified 4 July 2026

UPSC CSE (per UPSC's published annual calendar)

Apply onlineNot yet announced ResultDeclared

Eligibility summary

Qualification: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university, any stream
Age limit: Typically 21-32 years, with category-based relaxations and a cap on number of attempts

Process

Selection process

Preliminary exam — two objective papers (General Studies + CSAT, CSAT qualifying only).
Main exam — nine descriptive papers including an optional subject.
Personality Test (Interview), followed by the final merit list and service allotment.

Exam pattern

Prelims Paper 1 (GS): 100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours
Prelims Paper 2 (CSAT): 80 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, qualifying (33% required)

Source

Official links

UPSC official portalNotifications, admit card, result and the annual exam calendar UPSC exam calendarPublished notification/exam dates for the year

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UPSC CSE stage guides

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Common questions

UPSC CSE FAQ

How many attempts are allowed for UPSC CSE?

The number of attempts and upper age limit vary by category (General/OBC/SC-ST/PwBD) — check the current notification for the exact attempt/age matrix.

Does CSAT count toward the Prelims merit rank?

No — CSAT (Paper 2) is qualifying only (minimum 33%); only Paper 1 (General Studies) marks are used to rank candidates for Mains eligibility.