The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 shortly on its official website. Once announced, the registration process for eligible candidates will commence online through the UPSC portal.
Earlier, the CSE 2026 notification was anticipated to be released on January 14, 2026. However, for administrative reasons, the release was postponed. The Civil Services (Prelims) exam is scheduled to be held in May 2026.
Following the release of the official notification, candidates will be able to access complete details related to the exam, including the number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, examination schedule, syllabus, and application guidelines. Aspirants are advised to carefully review the notification before proceeding with the application process.
As per the existing eligibility norms, candidates must be at least 21 years of age and not exceed 32 years as of the prescribed date. A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or institution is mandatory to apply for the exam. Candidates belonging to the general category are allowed a maximum of six attempts. Age relaxations and additional attempts are applicable for candidates from reserved categories, as per government rules.
The application fee for the exam is Rs 100. Registration on the UPSC online portal is compulsory for all applicants.
To apply for UPSC CSE 2026, candidates need to follow these steps:
- 1. Visit the official website at upsconline.gov.in
- 2. Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR) process
- 3. Fill in the UPSC CSE 2026 application form
- 4. Upload the required documents in the prescribed format
- 5. Pay the application fee and submit the form
- 6. Download and save a copy of the application for future reference
Candidates are advised to regularly visit the official UPSC website to stay updated on the notification release and further announcements related to the examination.