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UPSC Exam Date 2026 for Prelims is May 24, 2026, and for UPSC Mains is August 21, 2026. Official Notification for UPSC 2026 will be released by the Union Public Service Commission on January 14, 2026.
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July 14, 2025
UPSC Exam Date 2026 is the date on which the UPSC Prelims exam is set to be conducted, i.e, May 24, 2026. The official notification for UPSC CSE 2026 will be released by the Union Public Service Commission on January 14, 2026, on its official website, upsc.gov.in.
The notification will contain all the information regarding the exam dates, vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, application fees, etc. Aspirants can check below for all details related to the UPSC Exam Date 2026.
UPSC CSE 2026 is the national-level exam conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit Group A and Group B services, like Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Revenue Services (IRS), and others.
| UPSC Exam Date 2026 | |
| Events | Dates |
| UPSC CSE Notification Release | January 14, 2026 |
| UPSC Registration Window | January 14 – February 3, 2026 |
| UPSC Application Form Correction Window | To be announced |
| UPSC Admit Card Release Date | To be announced |
| UPSC Exam Date | May 24, 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Result | To be announced |
| UPSC Mains Exam Dates | August 21, 2026 |
| Personality Test | To be announced |
| Final Results | To be announced |
The UPSC Exam Date Calendar for 2026 consists of all the important exams and their dates to be conducted by UPSC in 2026. According to the UPSC Exam Calendar 2026, the UPSC Prelims Exam Date is May 24, 2026, and the UPSC Mains Exam Date is August 21, 2026. Candidates can check the official exam calendar by visiting the UPSC official website at upsc.gov.in.
Download UPSC Exam Date 2026 Calendar
Although the UPSC 2026 Exam Dates are already released, the official notification regarding the same will be released on January 14, 2026. The exam is attended by lakhs of aspirants every year, but only a few hundred clear all three stages successfully each year.
The exam is highly competitive and is conducted to recruit candidates for various posts in the Government of India. UPSC Notification 2026 will contain details regarding exam dates, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and application fees. Aspirants can check the table below to know more about the exam:
|
UPSC Exam Date 2026 Notification |
|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination |
| Conducted by | UPSC |
| Vacancies | To be announced |
| Exam-Level | National |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Application Fees | INR 100/- (General Male) |
| Stages of Exam | 3 (Prelims, Mains, and Interview) |
| Number of Papers | Prelims – 2 Mains – 9 |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
The UPSC CSE Application Form will be opened for registration from January 14, 2026, and the last date for candidates to register for the exam is February 3, 2026.
UPSC Exam Date 2026 for Prelims is set for May 24, 2026. The UPSC CSE Preliminary Exam consists of two question papers – General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II. Aspirants can check the table below to get information on UPSC Prelims Exam Pattern:
| UPSC Exam Date 2026 Prelims | ||
| Particulars | GS Paper I Details | GS Paper II Details |
| Number of Questions | 100 | 80 |
| Marking Scheme | +2 for each correct answer -0.66 for each incorrect answer |
+2.5 for each correct answer
-0.83 for each incorrect answer |
| Duration | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Maximum Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Cut off | Counted for merit | 33% |
| Syllabus | History, Geography, Economy, Indian Polity, Environment, Science & Tech, Current Affairs | Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, English Comprehension |
Candidates who qualify the UPSC Prelims Exam will then appear for the UPSC Mains Exam. The UPSC Mains Exam assesses the candidates through subjective questions. It comprises a mix of compulsory, language, and optional papers. The exam consists of 9 papers, of which two language papers are qualifying in nature. The marks obtained by candidates in 7 other papers and the Personality Test are counted to make the final merit list. Aspirants can check the table below for all details related to UPSC Mains Exam:
| UPSC Exam Date 2026 Mains | ||
| Papers | Marks | Nature |
| Paper A – Indian Language | 300 | Qualifying in Nature |
| Paper B – English | 300 | |
| Paper I – Essay | 250 | Counted for Merit |
| Paper II – GS I | 250 | |
| Paper III – GS II | 250 | |
| Paper IV – GS III | 250 | |
| Paper V – GS IV | 250 | |
| Papaer VI – Optional Paper I | 250 | |
| Paper VII – Optional Paper II | 250 | |
| Total | 1750 | |
UPSC CSE is one of the toughest exams in the country to get recruitment to various posts in the Government of India. UPSC Exam Date for Prelims i set for May 24, 2026, and that of UPSC Mains is August 21, 2026. Aspirants need thorough preparation to clear all the three stages of the exam.
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