UPSC Civil Services
Exam calendar
Civil Services Examination, 2026
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification issued | 4 February 2026 |
| Last date for online applications | 24 February 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| Main Examination | 21 to 23 and 29 to 30 August 2026 |
| Interview / Personality Test | Candidates summoned after the Mains written result |
| Date | Forenoon, 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon | Afternoon, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
|---|---|---|
| 21 August 2026 (Friday) | Paper-I Essay | No paper |
| 22 August 2026 (Saturday) | Paper-II General Studies-I | Paper-III General Studies-II |
| 23 August 2026 (Sunday) | Paper-IV General Studies-III | Paper-V General Studies-IV |
| 29 August 2026 (Saturday) | Paper-A Indian Language | Paper-B English |
| 30 August 2026 (Sunday) | Paper-VI Optional Subject-Paper-1 | Paper-VII Optional Subject-Paper-2 |
Civil Services Examination, 2027
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of notification | 13 January 2027 |
| Last date for receipt of applications | 2 February 2027 |
| Preliminary Examination | 23 May 2027 (Sunday), one day |
| Main Examination | 20 August 2027 (Friday), five days |
Common questions
- When is the UPSC Prelims 2026?
- The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 was held on 24 May 2026, a Sunday.
- When does the UPSC Mains 2026 start?
- The Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 begins on 21 August 2026, a Friday, with Paper I on Essay, and runs over two weekends to 30 August 2026.
- When is the UPSC Prelims 2027?
- The annual programme of examinations for 2027 lists the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 on 23 May 2027, a Sunday, and notes that the dates of notification, commencement and duration of examinations are liable to alteration.
- When will the UPSC 2027 notification be issued?
- The annual programme of examinations for 2027 gives 13 January 2027 as the date of notification for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027, with 2 February 2027 as the last date for receipt of applications.
- When is the UPSC interview held?
- The Commission does not publish interview dates with the notification. It provides a window of fifteen days after the declaration of the result of the written part of the Main Examination to the candidates qualified for the Personality Test.
Sources
Source: UPSC notification 2026
- Civil Services Examination, 2026 — Examination Notice No 05/2026-CSE, 4 February 2026 (PDF)
- Time Table for Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 (PDF)
- Programme of Examinations / Recruitment Tests — 2026 (PDF)
- Programme of Examinations / Recruitment Tests — 2027 (PDF)
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