UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 – Complete Guide to Eligibility, Timeline & Registration

Start Date	01 Jul 2026
Notification Release Date	June 29, 2026
Application Deadline	Expected in August 2026
Prelims Exam	Expected October-November 2026
Mains Exam	Expected December 2026 / January 2027

Start Date

01 Jul 2026

Notification Release Date

June 29, 2026

Application Deadline

Expected in August 2026

Prelims Exam

Expected October-November 2026

Mains Exam

Expected December 2026 / January 2027

Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Qualification	Bachelor's Degree in any stream from a recognized university
Location	All India
Salary / Amount	Pay Band-3 (₹56,100–₹177,500) + Grade Pay & Allowances

Organization

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in any stream from a recognized university

Location

All India

Salary / Amount

Pay Band-3 (₹56,100–₹177,500) + Grade Pay & Allowances

UPSC Civil Services 2026 is open — India’s most competitive exam, and still the clearest path for graduates aiming at IAS, IPS, IFS and other top central services.

TEST AD — Block 2 (Ad Inserter working)

Eligibility

Bachelor’s degree, any stream
Age 21-32, category-relaxed
Limited attempts by category

Pay & Dates

Pay: Pay Band-3 (Rs 56,100 – 1,77,500)
Applications Open: 01 Jul 2026

Applying

upsc.gov.in — start well ahead of deadline given the document load involved.

Stages

Prelims, Mains, Interview. Most successful candidates run a multi-year structured plan.

FAQ

Q: General category attempts?
Typically 6, within age limit.

Refer to the official calendar for exact dates.