Notification Highlights
Important Examination & Application Dates
| Recruitment Event / Milestone | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Gazette Notification Release | 28 September 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 24 November 2026 (18:00 Hrs IST) |
| Preliminary Examination | 14 February 2027 (Sunday) |
| Main Examination | June 2027 (5 Days) |
| Personality Test (Interviews) | Late 2027 |
Application Fee by Reservation Category
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | ₹100 |
| Female / SC / ST / PwBD Candidates | Exempted (Nil / ₹0) |
Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale Breakdown
| Post Name | Department | Pay Scale | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) | Department of Personnel and Training (DOP&T) | Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) to Cabinet Secretary (₹2,50,000) | 180 |
| Indian Foreign Service (IFS) | Ministry of External Affairs | Level 10 (₹56,100 + Foreign Allowance as per posting) | 55 |
| Indian Police Service (IPS) | Ministry of Home Affairs | Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) | 150 |
| Indian Revenue Service (IRS IT & Customs) | Ministry of Finance (CBDT & CBIC) | Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) | 280 |
| Other Group A & Group B Services | DANICS, DANIPS, P&T Accounts, Defence Accounts, etc. | Level 8 to Level 10 (₹47,600 – ₹1,77,500) | 391 |
Selection Process & Stages
Paper 1 (General Studies 1 - 200 Marks) + Paper 2 (CSAT - 200 Marks, qualifying with minimum 33% / 66 marks).
9 Descriptive papers: 2 Qualifying Language papers (English + Indian Language, 300 marks each) + 7 Merit Papers (Essay, GS 1, GS 2, GS 3, GS 4, Optional Paper 1 & 2 - 250 marks each).
Conducted at Dholpur House, New Delhi by a board of competent observers assessing mental alertness, critical judgment, and integrity.
Examination Pattern, Subjects & Negative Marking
Detailed section-wise question distribution, marks allocation, and penalty rules:
| Subject / Test Module | Questions | Max Marks | Duration | Negative Marking Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper-I (History, Polity, Economy, Geo, Env, Current Affairs) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours (09:30 AM – 11:30 AM) | 1/3rd (-0.66 Marks) per wrong answer |
| General Studies Paper-II (CSAT: Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Basic Numeracy) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours (02:30 PM – 04:30 PM) | 1/3rd (-0.83 Marks) per wrong answer (Qualifying 33% mandatory) |
Official Examination Syllabus & Section-Wise Topics
Curated subject topics based on official recruitment notifications and past pattern distribution:
- Current events of national and international importance, bilateral summits, and multilateral accords
- History of India and Indian National Movement: Ancient, Medieval, Modern freedom struggle, and administrative evolution
- Indian and World Geography: Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World
- Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
- Economic and Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives
- General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change, Wildlife Protection Acts, and Ramsar Sites
- General Science: Everyday scientific applications, biotechnology, space missions (Chandrayaan/Gaganyaan), and nanotechnology
- Reading Comprehension: Philosophical, analytical, and socio-economic editorial passages
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills and ethical decision-making scenarios
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability, syllogisms, linear and circular arrangements
- General mental ability, basic numeracy (numbers and relations, orders of magnitude - Class X level)
- Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency - Class X level)
Previous Cycle Qualifying Cut-Off Benchmarks
Historical normalized qualifying marks across reservation categories to gauge target scores and safe attempt targets:
| Cycle / Exam Stage | General (UR) | OBC-NCL | EWS | SC | ST | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Prelims GS Paper-I (Official) | 75.41 | 74.75 | 68.02 | 59.25 | 47.82 | 200 |
| 2023 Prelims GS Paper-I (Official) | 88.22 | 87.54 | 81.55 | 74.08 | 69.35 | 200 |
| 2022 Prelims GS Paper-I (Official) | 88.22 | 87.54 | 82.83 | 74.08 | 69.35 | 200 |
Profile Match & Application Advisory
- Graduates in any discipline from a recognized central, state, or deemed university seeking appointment to premier All India Services (IAS, IPS) and Central Group A services (IFS, IRS, IA&AS).
- Candidates aged 21 to 32 years as on 01-08-2026 (eligible for statutory extensions: up to 35 for OBC, 37 for SC/ST, 42 for PwBD).
- Aspirants who have completed foundational General Studies syllabus coverage and formulated a coherent strategy for their 500-mark Optional Subject.
- Candidates who have remaining attempts under UPSC guidelines (up to 6 attempts for General/EWS, 9 for OBC, unlimited for SC/ST within age limits).
- Candidates who have exhausted their maximum permissible attempt quota (6 attempts for General category).
- Candidates exceeding 32 years of age as on 01-08-2026 without eligible category relaxations.
- Candidates awaiting undergraduate degree results whose final degree or provisional mark sheet cannot be produced before the Mains DAF-I closing window.
- Candidates seeking uniformed police cadres (IPS, DANIPS) who do not satisfy physical standards (165 cm for males, 150 cm for females; chest expansion 5 cm).
Common Application Mistakes & Scrutiny Pitfalls
- UPSC photo guideline mismatch: Under revised UPSC rules, the photo must be taken within 10 days of filling the form, with the candidate’s name and date of photo printed clearly at the bottom.
- Discrepancies in OTR bio-data: Discrepancies between One Time Registration records and Matriculation certificate roll numbers cannot be edited after final submission.
- Choosing unfeasible examination centers: UPSC allocates preliminary exam centers on a "First-Apply-First-Allot" basis; late applicants often find nearby city quotas exhausted.
- Failing to verify community certificate format: Non-compliance with the Central DoPT Annexure format for OBC-NCL or EWS invalidates category claims during interview scrutiny.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Applying
- UPSC One Time Registration (OTR) profile ID and password.
- Matriculation (10th) Certificate (mandatory for Date of Birth & Father’s name verification).
- Graduation Degree Certificate or provisional degree certificate from recognized University.
- Government Photo ID Card (Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, Passport, Driving License) used during OTR.
- Recent color passport photograph with candidate name and date printed at the base (20 KB to 300 KB).
- Scanned signature in running handwriting (20 KB to 300 KB, clear black ink on white background).
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) in prescribed Central Government Annexure format.
Strategic Examination Preparation Blueprint
Actionable study guidelines, speed drills, and score defense tactics curated by GovIndiaNews editorial board:
Integrate static syllabus concepts with dynamic newspaper coverage from The Hindu and Indian Express.
Solve at least 10 previous years official UPSC preliminary papers to decode commission question phrasing and elimination mechanics.
Do not neglect CSAT Paper-II: practice daily comprehension passages and basic arithmetic to comfortably cross the 33% (66 marks) barrier.
Maintain crisp, handwritten revision micro-notes organized by GS paper themes (Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment, Modern History).
Follow a disciplined 3-cycle revision schedule: first revision within 7 days, second within 30 days, and third during the final month.
Interactive Candidate Utilities Suite
Statutory software calculators and document specification checkers for this notification
Frequently Asked Questions (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC))
What is the attempt limit for different categories in UPSC Civil Services?
As per official UPSC CSE regulations: General / EWS candidates are permitted a maximum of 6 attempts until age 32. OBC candidates are permitted 9 attempts until age 35. SC and ST candidates have unlimited attempts up to age 37. PwBD candidates of General/OBC have 9 attempts.
Is CSAT paper marks counted for clearing UPSC Prelims?
No. CSAT (GS Paper-II) is strictly qualifying in nature. Candidates must score at least 33% (66 marks out of 200). The merit list for shortlisting candidates for the Civil Services Mains Examination is calculated solely based on GS Paper-I marks.
What is the minimum qualifying score for CSAT Paper-II in UPSC CSE 2026?
As per official UPSC CSE examination rules, CSAT (Paper-II) is strictly a qualifying paper. Candidates must score a minimum of 33% (66 marks out of 200). Only candidates securing 66+ marks in CSAT have their General Studies Paper-I evaluated for Prelims merit and shortlisting to the Mains examination.
How many attempts are permitted for UPSC Civil Services Examination?
General/UR and EWS candidates are permitted up to 6 attempts until age 32. OBC candidates are permitted 9 attempts until age 35. SC and ST candidates have unlimited attempts until the upper age limit of 37 years. PwBD candidates in General/OBC receive 9 attempts.
Can final year degree students apply for UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims?
Yes. Candidates appearing in their final degree examination are eligible to sit for the Preliminary Examination. However, they must produce proof of passing their qualifying bachelor’s degree examination while submitting the Detailed Application Form-I (DAF-I) for the Mains examination.
What are the marks allocation and selection stages in UPSC CSE?
UPSC CSE comprises three distinct stages: (1) Preliminary Examination (Screening only, 400 marks), (2) Mains Examination (9 written descriptive papers, 1,750 marks), and (3) Personality Test / Interview (275 marks). The final all-India merit ranking is determined out of a grand total of 2,025 marks.
Primary Gazette Source Notice
Notice Title: Union Public Service Commission Examination Portal
Verified on: 02 Oct 2026
This notice was audited by the GovIndiaNews Editorial Desk against primary gazette releases and official portal bulletins. Review sign-off conducted under our transparent Fact-Checking Policy. Found a discrepancy? Submit a notice revision via our public Corrections Desk.