UPSC Prelims 2026
Dates, vacancies, exam pattern, syllabus, eligibility and official cut-offs for UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026, taken only from UPSC's notification, press notes and calendar.
Overview
UPSC's Civil Services Examination fills IAS, IFS, IPS and 20 other Group A and Group B services. The Preliminary exam is only a screening test: its marks do not count towards the final merit.
| Notification | Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026 |
| Application window | 4 – 27 Feb 2026 (deadline extended from 24 Feb) |
| Prelims | 24 May 2026 (held) |
| Prelims result | 15 Jun 2026 — 13,343 qualified for Mains |
| Mains (written) | 21–23 & 29–30 Aug 2026 (held) |
Latest updates
- 04 Feb: UPSC notified CSE 2026 (Exam Notice No. 05/2026-CSE) with about <strong>933</strong> vacancies.
- 24 May: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 held across India.
- 15 Jun: Prelims result out: <strong>13,343</strong> candidates qualified for Mains against <strong>1,016</strong> vacancies.
- 21–30 Aug: Civil Services (Main) written exam held on 21–23 and 29–30 August 2026.
- Next: Mains written result, then the Personality Test. UPSC has not announced dates yet.
General awareness is part of this exam, so keep up with our daily current affairs.
Exam at a glance
- Conducting authority
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Exam level
- National
- Vacancies
- 1,016 (per UPSC's 15 Jun 2026 result press note; notification estimate ~933)
- Application fee
- ₹100 for Prelims; ₹200 more for Mains · Nil for women/SC/ST/PwBD
- Age limit
- 21 – 32 years (born 2 Aug 1994 – 1 Aug 2005)
- Qualification
- Graduate degree from a recognised university (or equivalent); final-year candidates may apply but must show proof of passing before the interview
- Selection process
- Prelims (screening) → Mains written (1,750) → Personality Test (275)
Important dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released, online applications open (UPSC's 2026 calendar had listed 14 Jan) | |
| Last date for online applications (6 PM) (Extended from 24 Feb, per UPSC exam page) | |
| e-Admit cards released on upsconline.nic.in | |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination (Two papers, forenoon and afternoon) | |
| Prelims result — 13,343 qualify for Mains | |
| Mains application (DAF) window: fee, cadre preference, scribe details | |
| Civil Services (Main) written exam (21–23 Aug and 29–30 Aug) | |
| Question paper representation window (QPReP) for Mains | |
| Mains written result (UPSC has not published a date) | Not announced |
| Personality Test (interview) and final result (Prelims marks, cut-offs and answer keys come only after the final result) | Not announced |
| CSE 2027 notification (UPSC calendar 2027, tentative) | Tentative |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 (UPSC calendar 2027, tentative) | Tentative |
Syllabus
General Studies Paper I
- Current events of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Indian and World Geography — physical, social, economic
- 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
- Environmental ecology, bio-diversity and climate change (no subject specialisation needed)
- General Science
General Studies Paper II (CSAT)
- Comprehension
- Interpersonal skills including communication skills
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Decision making and problem solving
- General mental ability
- Basic numeracy (Class X level)
- Data interpretation — charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency (Class X level)
Mains General Studies (for context)
- GS-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
- GS-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations
- GS-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
- GS-IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
UPSC Prelims 2026 exam pattern
Prelims has two objective papers of 200 marks each. Only GS Paper I decides who qualifies; CSAT (GS Paper II) is qualifying at 33%. Final merit = Mains written (1,750) + Personality Test (275).
Prelims
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) — qualifying, 33% | 80 | 200 |
| Total | 180 | 400 |
- Duration <b>2 hours per paper</b>
- Negative marking <b>−⅓ (0.33) of the question's marks</b>
- Language <b>Hindi & English</b>
- Counts for final merit <b>No — screening only</b>
Mains
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A: Indian Language (qualifying) | — | 300 |
| Paper B: English (qualifying) | — | 300 |
| Paper I: Essay | — | 250 |
| Papers II–V: General Studies I–IV | — | 1,000 |
| Papers VI–VII: Optional Subject 1 & 2 | — | 500 |
| Written total (merit) | — | 1,750 |
- Duration <b>3 hours per paper</b>
- Qualifying papers <b>25% each in Paper A and Paper B</b>
- Personality Test <b>275 marks · grand total 2,025</b>
UPSC Prelims 2026 eligibility
| Qualification | Graduate degree from a recognised university (or equivalent); final-year candidates may apply but must show proof of passing before the interview |
| Age limit | 21 – 32 years (born 2 Aug 1994 – 1 Aug 2005) |
| Age reference date | 1 August 2026 |
| Relaxation | SC/ST +5 · OBC +3 · PwBD +10 · ex-servicemen/ECO/SSCO +5 · disabled defence personnel +3 |
| Attempts | General/EWS 6 · OBC 9 · PwBD 9 (GL/EWS/OBC), unlimited (SC/ST) · SC/ST unlimited. Appearing in any one prelims paper counts as an attempt |
| Nationality | Indian citizen for IAS, IFS and IPS; other services also allow subjects of Nepal/Bhutan, Tibetan refugees (pre-1962) and specified persons of Indian origin, with an eligibility certificate |
| Application fee | ₹100 for Prelims; ₹200 more for Mains · Nil for women/SC/ST/PwBD |
UPSC Prelims 2026 vacancies
UPSC's prelims result press note (15 Jun 2026) states 1,016 vacancies notified for CSE 2026. The February notification had estimated about 933, including 33 for PwBD (7 blindness/low vision, 11 deaf/hard of hearing, 8 locomotor, 7 multiple disabilities). UPSC does not publish a category-wise split in these documents.
| Year | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| '25 | 1,087 |
| '26 | 1,016 |
2025 = 1,087 vacancies notified for CSE 2025 (same press note; the 2025 notification had estimated ~979). Shortlisted for Mains: 14,161 in 2025 vs 13,343 in 2026. Final numbers depend on Cadre Controlling Authorities.
UPSC CSE 2025 Prelims cut-off (official)
Minimum marks of the last recommended candidate, published by UPSC on 9 March 2026. Prelims cut-off is on GS Paper I only; CSAT needs 33%. CSE 2026 cut-offs will be released only after its final result.
| Category | Cut-off marks |
|---|---|
| General | 92.66 out of 200 |
| EWS | 89.34 out of 200 |
| OBC | 92.00 out of 200 |
| SC | 84.00 out of 200 |
| ST | 82.66 out of 200 |
| PwBD-1 | 76.66 out of 200 |
| PwBD-2 | 54.66 out of 200 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.66 out of 200 |
| PwBD-5 | 40.66 out of 200 |
Frequently asked questions
When was UPSC Prelims 2026 held?
On <strong>24 May 2026</strong>. The result came out on 15 June 2026, with 13,343 candidates qualifying for the Main exam, which was held on 21–23 and 29–30 August 2026.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC CSE 2026?
UPSC's result press note puts CSE 2026 vacancies at <strong>1,016</strong>. The February notification had estimated about 933, including 33 for persons with benchmark disabilities.
What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2026?
21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026, i.e. born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005. SC/ST get up to 5 years' relaxation, OBC 3 years and PwBD 10 years.
How many attempts are allowed?
General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC 9, and SC/ST unlimited. PwBD candidates get 9 (General/EWS/OBC) or unlimited (SC/ST). Appearing in even one prelims paper counts as an attempt.
Is CSAT counted in the prelims cut-off?
No. GS Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying — you need 33%. The cut-off for Mains is decided on GS Paper I marks only.
Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?
Yes. One-third (0.33) of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer; marking more than one option counts as wrong. Blank questions carry no penalty.
What was the UPSC Prelims cut-off for CSE 2025?
UPSC's official figures (GS Paper I, out of 200): General 92.66, EWS 89.34, OBC 92.00, SC 84.00, ST 82.66.
When is the next UPSC Prelims?
UPSC's 2027 calendar lists the CSE 2027 notification on 13 January 2027 and the Prelims on <strong>23 May 2027</strong>. These dates are tentative and can change.
Important links
- UPSC official websiteOfficial
- Official notice: Notif-CSP-2026-Engl-060226RevOfficial
- Official notice: Press Note CSPE 2026 Eng 15052026Official
- Official notice: WR-CSP-2026-RollList-Engl-150626Official
- Official notice: WR-NameList-CSP-2026-Engl-18062026Official
- Official notice: WindowCAF-CSM-26-Engl-190626 0Official
- Official notice: TT-CSM-2026-Engl-100726Official
- Official notice: PressNote-CSM-2026-Engl-190826Official
- Official notice: Calendar-2026-Engl-150525 5Official
- Official notice: Calendar-Year-2027-Engl-200526Official
- Official notice: CSE 2025 Cut-OffMks Eng 09032026Official
- Official notice: Notif-CSP-2025-Engl-220125Official
- Official notice: QP CSP 2026 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-I 25052026Official
- Official notice: QP CSP 2026 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER-II 25052026Official
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