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UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 is scheduled for 24 May 2026. Check key dates for IAS, IPS, IFoS, IRS exams including notification, registration, admit card, and result timeline for UPSC Prelims 2026.
PWOnlyIAS
July 15, 2025
UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 has been released and scheduled on 24th May 2026. UPSC exams are very important for every aspirant who is preparing for the Civil Services Exams. Every year, in this examination, over lakhs of candidates appear for the UPSC Prelims to qualify for the Mains Examination.
The UPSC Prelims test basic understanding and awareness of multiple subjects. So, knowing the UPSC Prelims exam date helps the aspirants in aligning their preparation strategy and revision plan in advance. Therefore, candidates preparing for UPSC Prelims 2026 will get detailed information related to the UPSC Prelims Exam Date.
The date for the UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 has been officially set for 24 May 2026 in two shifts. UPSC prelims exam is the initial stage in the selection procedure for several services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other central services in Group A and Group B.
As in previous years, the 2025 examination consists of two objective-type papers, the first one is General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT Paper 2. Both were inherently objective and utilized to evaluate candidates for the following phase, which is the UPSC Mains examination. Results for the UPSC Prelims 2025 were declared on 11th June 2025.
| UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 Key Highlights | |
| Particular | Detail |
| Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam | Civil Services and Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Exam 2025 |
| Notification Release Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Registration Start Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 3rd February 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date | 24th May 2026 |
| Number of Papers in Prelims | 2 (General Studies Paper I & II) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen and Paper Based) |
| Total Marks | 200/Each |
| Duration | 2 Hours/Each |
| Nature of Exam | Qualifying |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 1/3rd |
The UPSC Prelims 2026 exam date was released in the UPSC 2026 calendar. The UPSC prelims exam is supposed to be conducted on May 24, 2026, in two shifts. The schedule for the IAS prelims 2026 is as follows:
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 Schedule | |
| Event | Date |
| UPSC Prelims 2026 | 24th May 2026 |
| Morning Shift (Paper I) | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Afternoon Shift (Paper II) | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
As per the UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 Calendar, the Union Public Service Commission has officially scheduled the Civil Services Preliminary Examination for 24th May 2026. This marks the beginning of the annual selection process for candidates aspiring to join India’s esteemed civil services.
|
UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 Calendar |
|
| UPSC Prelims Notification 2026 Date | 14th January 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Application Start Date 2026 | 14th January 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Application Last Date 2026 | 3rd February 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Application Correction Window Date 2026 | Not Announced Yet |
| UPSC Prelims Admit Card Date 2026 | Not Announced Yet |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 | 24th May 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Answer Key Date 2026 | Not Announced Yet |
| UPSC Prelims Result Date 2026 | Not Announced Yet |
The official notification for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is expected to be released on 14th January 2026. This notification will provide detailed information regarding the eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, number of vacancies, and application procedure. Candidates who wish to appear for the exam can apply online through the UPSC official website. The application window will remain open till 3rd February 2026, giving aspirants adequate time to register and complete the formalities. This notification serves as the first step in the annual recruitment process for various esteemed civil services posts.
The registration process for UPSC Prelims will start from 14th January 2026. Candidates can register until 3rd February 2026 to complete the UPSC Prelims Application Exam Form 2026. It is important for aspirants to register within the given timeline to ensure that students can appear for exams
| UPSC Prelims 2026 Registration Dates | |
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 14th January 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Application Date | 14th January 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 3rd February 2026 |
UPSC Prelims 2026 application form will be released on 14th January 2026. During the filling out of the form, candidates must make sure to fill out the correct personal, educational, and communication details. Once the application form is filled, upload all the scanned copies of documents and pay the prescribed fee before the last date of the examination. The Last Date to submit the application form is 3rd February 2025.
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 admit card is expected to be released 2 to 3 weeks before the exam date, which means candidates can likely download it in the first or second week of May 2026. Candidates may retrieve it from the official site using their registration ID or roll number.
Key aspects to verify on the admit card:
Candidates are required to bring a printed copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID to the examination centre. Entry will not be permitted to any candidate lacking these documents
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 result is expected to be announced in June 2026. A PDF file will be released on the UPSC website, featuring the roll numbers of candidates who passed the Mains examination.
The Prelims outcome serves as a qualifying phase, and no points will be included in the final ranking. Candidates who meet the Prelims cut-off and pass the CSAT (Paper II) will be permitted to take the Mains exam.
Candidates must start their Mains preparation right after the Prelims to make the best use of their time and prevent last-minute stress
Ready to boost your UPSC 2026 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
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