The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) issued the official notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026 on February 4, 2026, opening the online application window for aspirants seeking recruitment to prestigious services, including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A and Group B posts across India. The notification announces approximately 933 vacancies for the Civil Services, with applications accepted until February 24, 2026, and the Preliminary Examination scheduled for May 24, 2026.
According to the official notification released by the UPSC, the recruitment process for the Civil Services Examination 2026 commences with online registrations starting from February 4, 2026. Candidates must complete their applications through the UPSC’s dedicated portal at upsconline.nic.in by the closing date of February 24, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The authority has emphasised that applications cannot be withdrawn or modified after final submission.
Event
Date
Notification Release Date
February 4, 2026
Online Application Start Date
February 4, 2026
Last Date for Submission of Application
February 24, 2026 (till 6:00 PM)
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
May 24, 2026
The UPSC has not yet announced the exact dates for the Mains Examination or the release of admit cards, stating that further details will be provided in due course on the official website.
UPSC CSE & IFS Vacancies and Services
The notification specifies approximately 933 vacancies to be filled through the Civil Services Examination 2026, covering various central services under the Government of India. This figure includes reservations for categories such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (with 33 vacancies reserved for PwBD candidates across specific sub-categories).
For the Indian Forest Service, which is conducted through the same Preliminary stage but with separate Mains and interview processes, the vacancies are expected to be around 80, though subject to final confirmation from relevant authorities.
UPSC Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility requirements remain consistent with previous cycles, as outlined in the UPSC notification. Candidates must meet the following conditions for the Civil Services Examination:
Criteria
Details
Nationality
Citizen of India for IAS, IPS; other services allow subjects of Nepal/Bhutan or specified categories as per rules.
Age Limit (as on August 1, 2026)
21 to 32 years (relaxations: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, additional for ex-servicemen, PwBD, etc.)
Educational Qualification
Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or equivalent; final-year candidates eligible to apply provisionally.
Number of Attempts
General: 6; OBC: 9; SC/ST: Unlimited (up to age limit); PwBD: 9 (relaxed for certain categories)
Physical Standards
Required for IPS and certain services as per guidelines in the notification.
For the Indian Forest Service Examination, additional specific requirements apply, including a bachelor’s degree with at least one of the prescribed subjects such as Forestry, Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Agriculture, or Engineering. Candidates opting for IFS must also satisfy strict physical and medical standards prescribed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
UPSC Selection Process Overview
The recruitment follows a three-stage process: the Preliminary Examination (objective-type screening with two papers—General Studies I and CSAT, the latter qualifying), the Main Examination (descriptive papers), and the Personality Test (interview). For IFS, candidates qualifying the CSE Prelims must meet a separate cut-off to proceed to the IFS Mains, which includes papers on General English, General Knowledge, and two optional subjects, followed by an interview. The final merit list combines scores from the written exams and interview.
Candidates are advised to refer to the full official notification on the UPSC website for complete details, including application instructions, fee structure, and rules on photo ID, live photograph capture during registration, and examination centre guidelines. The authority has not announced further details yet regarding the Mains schedule or admit card issuance timeline.
Abhijeet Chatterjee is a professional Content and Copy specialist with over five years of experience in crafting compelling content around the Edtech domain. His portfolio includes notable work for companies such as PhysicsWallah, Roar Media, Jagran Josh, etc. Academically, Abhijeet holds a Master's in Mass Communication, where he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding performance. He has also qualified for the UGC NET in Mass Communication, demonstrating his expertise and a deep understanding of the field. His academic foundation is built on a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. Beyond his professional work, Abhijeet is an avid writer and a cinephile. His personal interests include scriptwriting, film criticism, and reading novels.
By Shreoshree Chakrabarty • Created: January 6, 2026 • Modified: January 7, 2026 The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) has officially published its examination schedule for 2026, presenting an early overview of tests set for the calendar year. This plan indicates projected timelines for various selection processes, admission assessments, and qualification exams across Madhya…
By Abhijeet Chatterjee • Created: January 16, 2026 The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh (JEECUP), has activated the online registration process for the Uttar Pradesh Joint Entrance Examination for Polytechnic (JEECUP/UPJEE(P)) 2026, enabling candidates to apply for diploma admissions across government, aided, and private polytechnic institutions in the state. The application form is available…
By Simran • Created: January 8, 2026 In a major update for engineering and pharmacy aspirants in Gujarat, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) has extended the registration deadline for the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) 2026. Candidates who missed earlier deadlines now have a fresh opportunity to register, though a late…
By Abhijeet Chatterjee • Created: January 21, 2026 The National Testing Agency (NTA) kickstarted the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 today, on January 21, 2026. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) will be conducted in two shifts at various centres across India and abroad. Based on student reactions and preliminary expert analysis, the Shift 1 question paper was…
By Shreoshree Chakrabarty • Created: January 8, 2026 Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has outlined the holiday schedule applicable to its network of schools for the calendar year 2026, which aligns with the academic year 2026-27. This compilation includes compulsory public holidays and optional restricted holidays,…
By Simran • Created: January 16, 2026 NIFT 2026 Application Last Date: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to close the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026 application window today, 16 January 2026, marking the final day for candidates to register for the highly competitive NIFT entrance exam with the regular application fee….
