Latest verified update
The CSE 2026 Preliminary examination took place on 24 May. UPSC published the Preliminary written result on 15 June. The Main timetable covered 21–23 and 29–30 August, and official Main papers were uploaded on 1 September. The Main examination page reviewed on 6 October did not list a written-result document; no Main result date is asserted here.
UPSC CSE 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination | Civil Services Examination, 2026; includes IAS, IPS and other notified services |
| Notification | No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 4 February 2026 |
| Initial vacancies | Approximately 933, subject to revision; not a guaranteed final total |
| Application status | Closed; the exam page records 27 February 2026, 6:00 pm as the final receipt deadline |
| Selection | Preliminary screening, Main written examination and Interview/Personality Test |
Official scheme and stage order
The notification describes two successive stages: Preliminary screening, followed by the Main examination, which includes the written papers and Interview/Personality Test. Preliminary marks do not enter final merit. This guide separates qualifying requirements from marks used for ranking.
Official reference: Appendix I, examination scheme.
Preliminary examination pattern
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 200 marks; 2 hours; objective questions; UPSC determines the qualifying cut-off |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 200 marks; 2 hours; objective questions; qualifying threshold 33% |
| Language | Question papers set in Hindi and English |
| Attendance | Both papers must be taken for evaluation |
A wrong answer attracts a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to that question. Multiple answers are treated as wrong even if one is correct. An unanswered question has no penalty. The penalty is not a flat one-third mark for every question.
Main written examination pattern
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper A: selected Indian language | 300 marks; qualifying, subject to notified exemptions |
| Paper B: English | 300 marks; qualifying |
| Paper I: Essay | 250 marks; merit |
| Papers II–V: General Studies I–IV | 250 marks each; 1,000 total; merit |
| Papers VI–VII: one optional subject | 250 marks each; 500 total; merit |
| Written merit total | 1,750 marks from seven papers |
The papers are conventional written examinations. The published timetable assigns three hours to each paper. Paper A and Paper B require 25% each under the notification, where applicable. Their marks are excluded from ranking, but failing a required qualifying paper affects consideration of the merit papers.
Paper A exemptions cover candidates from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, and the specified hearing-impairment category subject to the required educational exemption and declaration. Do not treat the language paper as optional for all candidates.
Interview and final merit
The Interview/Personality Test carries 275 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks prescribed in the cited scheme. The final maximum is 2,025 marks: 1,750 written plus 275 interview. Preliminary and qualifying-language marks are not added. Service allocation depends on rank, preferences and the applicable eligibility and allocation rules.
Syllabus and preparation priorities
Detailed guide: UPSC CSE 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Prepare General Studies and CSAT together for Preliminary screening; qualifying status does not make CSAT dispensable. For Main, practise timed essay and analytical answers, cover all four General Studies papers and both optional papers, and maintain the required language-paper standard. Use the actual 2026 official papers to assess question style. These are study suggestions, not UPSC guarantees.
Preparation resources and related guides
CSE eligibility · CSE examination pattern · CSE syllabus · CSE examination dates.
Use the official Preliminary and Main examination pages in the sources below to obtain the 2026 question papers. Practice papers are preparation material; marks or cut-offs from another cycle do not predict selection.
Planning for CSE 2027
The official 2027 calendar provisionally lists notification on 13 January, applications closing on 2 February, Preliminary examination on 23 May and Main examination beginning on 20 August. These dates can change. The calendar does not establish the next cycle’s vacancies, eligibility cut-off date or application rules; those require its own notification.
Official sources and review scope
- UPSC CSE 2026 notification: eligibility and examination scheme
- CSE Preliminary 2026: revised deadline and result documents
- CSE Main 2026: notices and official question papers
- CSE Main 2026 detailed timetable
- UPSC annual calendar 2027: tentative planning dates
Read subsequent official amendments and your candidate-specific instructions. A shortlist or provisional allotment does not by itself establish appointment. No unannounced 2027 recruitment facts are inferred.
Frequently asked questions
Are Preliminary marks included in final merit?
No. They screen candidates for Main; the final maximum comes from the seven Main merit papers and Interview/Personality Test.
Is CSAT optional?
No. Attendance in both Preliminary papers is mandatory, and Paper II requires at least 33%.
What is the final total?
The maximum is 2,025 marks: 1,750 in the Main merit papers and 275 in the personality test.