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UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF Download: Exam Dates, Notifications and Deadlines

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📅 About UPSC · Exam Calendar 2026

UPSC Calendar 2026

Official exam dates, notification schedules and application deadlines for all UPSC examinations in 2026 — including CSE, NDA, CDS, CAPF and more.

24 MayCSE Prelims 2026
21 AugCSE Mains 2026
933CSE Vacancies

⏳ Days Remaining

CSE Prelims 2026
24 May 2026 · Sunday
— days left
CSE Mains 2026
21 Aug 2026 · Friday
— days left
NDA & NA (II) 2026
14 Sep 2026 · Sunday
— days left

📋 UPSC CSE 2026 — Key Dates at a Glance

The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Calendar 2026 on 15th May 2025. All key dates for the Civil Services Examination 2026 are listed below.

EventDate
UPSC Calendar 2026 Released15 May 2025
CSE 2026 Notification Released4 February 2026
Last Date to Apply Online27 February 2026
Application Correction WindowAfter 27 Feb 2026
Prelims Admit Card~1 week before exam
CSE Prelims 202624 May 2026 (Sunday)
Prelims Result 2026~June 2026
Mains Application / DAF-IAfter Prelims result
CSE Mains 202621 August 2026 (Friday) — 5 days
Mains Result 2026~November 2026
DAF-II / Personality Test~December 2026 – January 2027
CSE Final Result 2026~April 2027
⚠ Dates marked as approximate are based on past UPSC patterns. Always verify on the official website: upsc.gov.in

🚀 CSE 2026 Journey — Stage by Stage

✅
Notification Released
4 February 2026
Official UPSC CSE 2026 notification published at upsc.gov.in. Vacancies: 933. Eligibility, syllabus and rules confirmed.
✅
Application Window Closed
27 February 2026
Online applications closed at upsconline.nic.in. A correction window was provided for applicants to fix errors.
📝
Civil Services Preliminary Examination
24 May 2026 — Sunday
Two objective papers: GS Paper I (200 marks, 2 hrs) and CSAT Paper II (200 marks, qualifying at 33%). IFoS Prelims 2026 also held on the same day.
📋
Prelims Result
Expected June 2026
Cut-off marks declared. Qualified candidates shortlisted for Mains. Approximately 12,000–15,000 candidates qualify.
📄
DAF-I & Mains Application
After Prelims result
Qualified candidates fill Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) and choose optional subjects for the Mains examination.
✍️
Civil Services Mains Examination
21 August 2026 — Friday (5 days)
9 descriptive papers: Essay, GS I–IV, Optional Paper I & II, English (qualifying) and Indian Language (qualifying).
🏆
Personality Test (Interview)
Expected January–March 2027
275 marks. Final merit = Mains marks + Interview marks.
🎉
Final Result & Service Allocation
Expected April 2027
Final merit list published. Candidates allocated IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A services based on rank, preference and vacancy.

📋 All UPSC Exams 2026 — Complete Schedule

Official UPSC Programme of Examinations / Recruitment Tests (RTs) — 2026. All 27 entries as per the official UPSC Calendar released on 15 May 2025.

Sl.Name of ExaminationNotificationLast DateCommencementDuration
1Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——10.01.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
2Reserved for UPSC Examination——17.01.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
3Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 202603.09.202523.09.202508.02.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
4Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 202617.09.202507.10.202508.02.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
5CBI (DSP) LDCE24.12.202513.01.202628.02.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
6CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-202603.12.202523.12.202508.03.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
7N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), 202610.12.202530.12.202512.04.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
8C.D.S. Examination (I), 2026
9Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 202614.01.202603.02.202624.05.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
10Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P) Examination 2026
11Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——06.06.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
12I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, 202611.02.202603.03.202619.06.2026
(Friday)		3 Days
13Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2026——20.06.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
14Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026——21.06.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
15Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——04.07.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
16Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 202618.02.202610.03.202619.07.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
17Combined Medical Services Examination, 202611.03.202631.03.202602.08.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
18Reserved for UPSC Examination——08.08.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
19Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026——21.08.2026
(Friday)		5 Days
20N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II), 202620.05.202609.06.202613.09.2026
(Sunday)		1 Day
21C.D.S. Examination (II), 2026
22Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——26.09.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
23Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——10.10.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
24Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——31.10.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
25Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026——22.11.2026
(Sunday)		7 Days
26S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE16.09.202606.10.202612.12.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
27Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination——19.12.2026
(Saturday)		2 Days
⚠ Note: The dates of notification, commencement and duration of Examinations / RTs are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant.
Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF (Official)

📝 CSE Prelims 2026 — Exam Pattern

PaperSubjectQuestionsMarksDurationNature
Paper IGeneral Studies1002002 hoursCounts for merit
Paper IICSAT (Aptitude)802002 hoursQualifying (33%)
⚠ Negative marking: ⅓ mark deducted for each wrong answer. Both papers held on the same day — 24 May 2026.

✍️ CSE Mains 2026 — Exam Pattern

PaperSubjectMarksNature
Paper AIndian Language (any 8th Schedule language)300Qualifying
Paper BEnglish300Qualifying
EssayEssay250Counts for merit
GS IHistory, Geography, Society250Counts for merit
GS IIGovernance, Polity, IR, Social Justice250Counts for merit
GS IIIEconomy, Environment, S&T, Security250Counts for merit
GS IVEthics, Integrity & Aptitude250Counts for merit
Optional IOptional Subject — Paper 1250Counts for merit
Optional IIOptional Subject — Paper 2250Counts for merit
Total1750+ 275 (Interview) = 2025
⚠ Grand Total = 1750 (Mains) + 275 (Interview) = 2025 marks. Final merit list is based on this combined score.

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