UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

UPSC CSE is a three-stage national-level examination: Preliminary (objective), Mains (written) and Interview (personality test). It is considered one of the most competitive examinations in India. The 2026 cycle follows the annual notification published by the Commission.

Nationality: Indian citizen (for IAS/IPS). Others: citizen of India, subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee settled in India. Education: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Age: 21–32 years as of 1 August of the examination year (relaxations apply for reserved categories). Number of attempts limited by category.

Prelims: Current events, history of India, Indian & world geography, polity, economy, environment, science & technology. Mains: Essay, Indian heritage, governance, social justice, technology, economy, biodiversity, ethics and optional subject.

Admit cards are released on the official UPSC website ahead of each stage. No admit card is sent by post.

UPSC publishes the official answer keys for the Preliminary and Mains papers on its website after the exam.

Results for each stage are announced on the UPSC website. The final result includes the selected candidates' roll numbers.

Cutoffs are released stage-wise for each category after the results are announced.

There is no counselling for UPSC CSE. Allocation to services is based on rank, category and preference order.