: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will close the registration window for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Services (IFS) examination 2026 at 6 PM today. Candidates are advised to complete their applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems on the official portal, upsc. gov. in.
The notification for both examinations was released on February 4, 2026, and the online application process began the same day at
upsconline. nic. in. According to the official notification, the Civil Services Examination 2026 aims to fill 933 vacancies under the Central Government. Recruitment for both Civil Services and the Indian Forest Service will be conducted through a common Preliminary Examination.
The Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be held on May 24, 2026. Candidates who qualify in the first stage will appear for the Main Examination beginning August 21, 2026.
The selection process for both examinations will be conducted in five stages, the Preliminary Examination, the Main Examination, the Interview, Document Verification, and the Medical Examination. Only those candidates who successfully clear each stage will progress further in the recruitment cycle.
The UPSC will issue e-Admit Cards on the last working day of the week preceding the examination. Candidates who choose to change their scribe seven days before the exam will receive their e-Admit Card three days prior to the examination date. All admit cards will be made available exclusively on the official website.
UPSC 2026 application fee and eligibility criteria
As per the guidelines issued by UPSC, candidates belonging to the General, OBC, and EWS categories are required to pay an application fee of Rs 100.
Candidates from SC, ST, and female categories are also required to pay Rs 100. However, Persons with Disabilities (PH/PWD) are exempted from payment of the fee. The application fee must be paid online only.
To be eligible, candidates must hold a graduate degree from a recognised university. The minimum age limit is 21 years, while the upper age limit is 32 years. Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories in accordance with Government rules.
UPSC CSE, IFS exam 2026: Steps to apply
Candidates can follow the steps elucidated here to apply for the UPSC CSE, IFS exam 2026:
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Move to the official website at upsconline. nic. in.
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Complete the One-Time Registration (OTR), if not already registered.
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Log in and select the CSE 2026 or IFS 2026 application link.
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Fill in personal, educational, and contact details carefully.
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Upload the required photograph, signature, and documents.
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Pay the application fee online, if applicable.
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Review the details and submit the form.
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Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
Candidates can click on the link provided
here to apply for the UPSC CSE, IFS exam 2026.
Aspirants are advised to stay tuned to the official website to get the latest updates for the UPSC CSE, IFS exam 2026.
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