UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification: Apply Online for 933 IAS, IPS & IFS Posts
Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the detailed notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026. This exam is the gateway to 21 prestigious services including IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS. The commission aims to fill approximately 933 vacancies. The online application window is open from February 04, 2026, to February 24, 2026.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) annually to select officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and various Central Services (Group A and Group B). For 2026, the commission has announced approximately 933 vacancies. This examination is a three-stage process testing academic knowledge, analytical ability, and personality.
While the IAS and IFS do not have specific physical requirements beyond general health, services like the IPS, IRMS (Group A), and RPF (Group A) have strict physical standards regarding height, chest expansion, and vision. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the services, physical requirements, and the comprehensive syllabus to help aspirants prepare effectively.
UPSC CSE 2026 (Important Points)
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Name | Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 933 (Includes 33 vacancies for PwBD) |
| Application Dates | 04 Feb 2026 to 24 Feb 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Main Exam Date | Likely in September 2026 |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
Service-wise Details
The examination recruits for the following categories of services:
1. All India Services:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
- Indian Police Service (IPS)
- Indian Forest Service (IFS) - (Prelims is common, Mains is separate)
2. Group 'A' Central Services:
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
- Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS)
- Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
- Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS)
- Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
- Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)
- Indian Information Service (IIS)
- Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
- Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
- Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS)
- Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS)
- Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) (IRS-C&IT)
- Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) (IRS-IT)
- Indian Trade Service (Gr. III)
3. Group 'B' Central Services:
- Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (Section Officer's Grade)
- DANICS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, etc. Civil Service)
- DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, etc. Police Service)
- Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS)
- Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS)
Physical Standards for Specific Services
While general good health is required for all posts, technical and police services have specific physical criteria.
1. For IPS, IRPFS, DANIPS, PONDIPS
| Criteria | Male Candidates | Female Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 165 cm (min) (Relaxable by 5 cm for ST and races such as Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Assamese, Kumaonis, Nagas) |
150 cm (min) (Relaxable by 5 cm for ST and races such as Gorkhas, Garhwalis, Assamese, Kumaonis, Nagas) |
| Chest | Min 84 cm (Expansion 5 cm) | Min 79 cm (Expansion 5 cm) |
| Vision |
Distant Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 in better eye; 6/12 or 6/9 in worse eye. Near Vision: J1 in better eye; J2 in worse eye. High-grade color vision is required. |
|
2. For IRMS (Group A)
The physical standards vary based on the specific post within the railways but generally follow the technical service guidelines.
- Height: Male - 152 cm; Female - 150 cm (Relaxable for specific categories).
- Chest: Chest expansion of 5 cm is generally required.
- Vision: Distinct standards apply for different functional branches (Traffic, Engineering, etc.), often requiring 6/6 or 6/9 vision with or without glasses.
3. For Other Services (IAS, IFS, IRS, etc.)
- No specific height/chest measurement is mandatory, but candidates must be free from any chronic disease and have good mental and physical health.
- Vision: Correction with glasses is permitted. Color blindness is not a disqualification for non-technical services like IAS or IRS, but it is for services like IPS and RPF.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (400 Marks)
This is a screening test. Marks are not counted for the final rank.
- Paper I (General Studies): 100 Qs, 200 Marks. (Merit deciding). Syllabus: Current events, History of India, Indian & World Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economic & Social Development, Environmental Ecology, General Science.
- Paper II (CSAT): 80 Qs, 200 Marks. (Qualifying - 33% required). Syllabus: Comprehension, Interpersonal skills, Logical reasoning, Decision making, General mental ability, Basic numeracy (Class X level).
Stage 2: Main Examination (1750 Marks)
Descriptive written exam. Marks are counted for the final rank.
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A | Indian Language (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper B | English (Qualifying) | 300 |
| Paper I | Essay | 250 |
| Paper II | General Studies I (Indian Heritage, History, Geography, Society) | 250 |
| Paper III | General Studies II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, IR) | 250 |
| Paper IV | General Studies III (Technology, Economic Dev, Bio-diversity, Security, Disaster Mgmt) | 250 |
| Paper V | General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) | 250 |
| Paper VI | Optional Subject Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper VII | Optional Subject Paper 2 | 250 |
Stage 3: Personality Test (Interview) (275 Marks)
Assesses the candidate's intellectual curiosity, critical powers of assimilation, balance of judgment, integrity, and leadership potential.
Grand Total: 2025 Marks.
How to Apply
- OTR Registration: Visit upsconline.nic.in and register on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform. This is mandatory.
- Fill Application: Log in using OTR details. Go to the active notification for CSE 2026.
- Part-I: Fill in personal details, educational qualification, and address.
- Part-II: Pay the fee (₹100 for Gen/OBC/EWS), select your exam center, and upload your photograph and signature.
- Documents: Upload scanned Photo (20-300 KB) and Signature (20-300 KB) in JPG format. Ensure the photo is recent (not older than 10 days from notification) and has the date of taking the photograph printed on it (as per recent UPSC trends).
- Submit: Agree to the declaration and submit. Print the final application.
Important Links
| Action | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| Apply Online (OTR) | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
(FAQs)
- Q1: Is there a physical test for IAS?
No, there is no physical efficiency test (running, jumping) for the IAS. Candidates only need to meet the general medical standards prescribed by the Health Ministry.
- Q2: What is the height requirement for IPS?
For IPS, the minimum height is 165 cm for men and 150 cm for women. There is a relaxation of 5 cm for ST candidates and certain races.
- Q3: Can I choose my own language for the interview?
Yes, candidates can choose to be interviewed in English or in any of the Indian languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, provided they have opted for it in the Mains application form.
