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LATEST UPDATE 2026
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification, originally slated for release on January 14, 2026, was postponed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) due to administrative reasons. It was subsequently released on February 4, 2026, announcing approximately 933 vacancies for services including IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central government roles.
The online application process commenced on the same day (February 4, 2026) and, following an extension prompted by technical issues on the portal, the last date to apply is now February 27, 2026 (until 6:00 PM) via the official portals: upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in.
Key upcoming dates remain unchanged:
Preliminary Examination: Scheduled for May 24, 2026.
Mains Examination: To commence from August 21, 2026 onwards.
Candidates are advised to check the official UPSC website regularly for the detailed notification.
IMPORTANT DATES
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 calendar, as per the official Annual Calendar released by the Union Public Service Commission, features the Preliminary Examination scheduled for May 24, 2026 (Sunday), with the Main Examination commencing from August 21, 2026 onwards (spanning five days). The notification was released on February 4, 2026, applications opened the same day and closed on February 27, 2026 (6.00 PM IST), aligning with the extended deadline due to portal issues. These key dates remain unchanged from the official schedule on upsc.gov.in. Candidates should regularly check the UPSC website for any further updates or related announcements.
Events | Dates |
Application Begin | February |
Last Date For Apply Online | March |
Date for Correction Window | March |
Date Of Preliminary Examination | 24 May 2026 |
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination | To be declared |
Result Of Preliminary Examination | July 2026 |
Mains Exam | 21 August 2026 |
VACANCY DETAILS
The official UPSC CSE notification (released February 4, 2026) announces approximately 933 vacancies to be filled across various All India Services, Group ‘A’ Central Services, and Group ‘B’ Services. This total includes 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) (with sub-categories: Blindness/Low Vision – 7, Deaf/Hard of Hearing – 11, etc.).
Important Note: UPSC provides the total approximate vacancies in the notification but does not specify exact service-wise/post-wise numbers (e.g., precise count for IAS, IPS, IFS) at the notification stage. These are finalized later based on cadre-controlling authorities’ inputs, preferences during service allocation (after Mains/Interview), and actual requirements. Service-wise distribution varies yearly and is not fixed in the 2026 notification PDF.
List of Services/Posts Covered (as per official notification):
All India Services:
Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
Indian Police Service (IPS)
Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Group ‘A’ Services (Central Civil Services):
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 Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) – Note: May vary
Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) – Accounts, Personnel, Traffic
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 (ITS), Group ‘A’ (Grade III)
Group ‘B’ Services:
Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Group ‘B’
Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), Group ‘B’
Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS), Group ‘B’
Pondicherry Civil Service (PONDICS), Group ‘B’
Pondicherry Police Service (PONDIPS), Group ‘B’
Approximate/Indicative Distribution (based on recent trends and sources):
IAS: Typically 150–200 (often the highest among All India Services)
IPS: Around 150–200
IFS: Around 30–50
IRS (IT + C&IT combined): Often 200–300+
Other Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ services: The majority of remaining vacancies (e.g., 500+ across audit, defence, railway, postal, etc.)
SALARY STRUCTURE
All officers selected through UPSC CSE are appointed under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC). Salary varies based on service, rank, and years of service.
Entry-Level Salary (After Training)
Pay Level: Level 10
Basic Pay: Rs. 56,100 per month
In-hand Salary: approx. Rs. 70,000 to Rs.80,000 per month (after allowances)
Applicable to:
IAS
IPS
IFS
IRS
Other Group ‘A’ services
Allowances (In Addition to Basic Pay)
Dearness Allowance (DA)
House Rent Allowance (HRA) or Government Accommodation
Travel Allowance (TA)
Medical Allowance
Special Allowances (depending on posting)
Service-wise Senior Level Pay (Promotions)
Level 11: Rs 67,700
Level 12: Rs 78,800
Level 13: Rs 1,23,100
Level 14: Rs 1,44,200
Level 15 (Secretary Level): Rs 1,82,200
Cabinet Secretary (Highest Post)
Pay Level: Apex Scale
Fixed Salary: Rs 2,50,000 per month
No additional allowances
Other Benefits
Official residence or house rent
Government vehicle with driver
Security (for IPS/IAS)
Pension and post-retirement benefits
Medical facilities for family
Leave travel concessions
Important Note
Salary is same across services at the same pay level.
Posting location and cadre decide allowances and facilities.
Career growth and prestige increase significantly with seniority.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, candidates must visit the official UPSC website and complete the online application process once the notification is released. Applicants need to register on the UPSC online portal, fill in personal, educational, and exam-related details, upload the required documents, and select their examination centre. After completing the form, candidates must pay the prescribed application fee and submit the application before the deadline. It is advised to download and keep a copy of the submitted application form for future reference.
Steps to fill the Application form
Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Exam Notifications tab.
Step 3: Click on Apply Online link.
Step 4: Click on the Civil Services Part-I registration.
Step 5: Read the application form instructions carefully and click on Yes.
Step 6: Fill in all basic information in the part-I application form such as Name Date of birth, Category, Gender, Email ID, Contact number, Permanent address, Marital status, Parents’ names, Community, Educational qualification etc.
Step 7: Once all the details are filled in, click on Continue. Check all details in the online form carefully and click on Submit.
Steps to fill (Part- II) of the UPSC Application form
Step 8: Pay the UPSC application fee.
Step 9: Upload scanned images of photograph, signature.
Step 10: Enter the information related to fee payment details and the examination centre.
Step 11: Click on the ‘I Agree’ button after reading the declaration.
Step 12: On clicking the button, a page with a registration number will be generated. Note down the registration number. Take a printout of the page.
Application Fee
The Application fee can be paid offline as well as Online. For online payment, candidates may use a credit card/debit card/Rupay card or Internet Banking Services. For offline payment, download the e-challan and submit the fee in cash at SBI bank branches on the next day itself. Here is the specified payable amount for all candidates:
Category | Application Fees |
GENERAL & OBC | 100/- |
SC/ST OR PWD | NIL |
FEMALE | NIL |
EXAM CENTERS
The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted at multiple exam centres across India to ensure accessibility for candidates nationwide. For the Preliminary Examination, candidates can choose from a large number of cities spread across different states and union territories. The Main Examination is conducted at a comparatively limited number of major cities, as decided by UPSC. Candidates are required to select their preferred exam centre while filling out the application form, and the final allotment of centres is done by UPSC based on availability and administrative considerations. The exact list of exam centres is published in the official UPSC notification for the respective examination year.
The exam centres for the UPSC Prelims Examination are given below:
UPSC Prelims Exam Centers | |||
Port Blair | Itanagar | Dispur | Jorhat |
Tirupati | Anantapur (Anantpur) | Vijayawada | Visakhapatnam |
Gaya | Patna | Chandigarh | Delhi |
Bilaspur | Raipur | Ahmedabad | Surat |
Rajkot | Faridabad | Gurgaon | Shimla |
Jammu | Srinagar | Ranchi | Banglore |
Dharwad | Dharwad | Kochi | Kozhikode (Calicut) |
Bhopal | Gwalior | Indore | Thiruvananthapuram |
Jabalpur | Mumbai | Nagpur | Aurangabad |
Nasik | Pune | Thane | Navi Mumbai |
Kolkata | Siliguri | Almora | Prayagraj |
Srinagar (UK) | Dehradun | Varanasi | Gautam Buddha Nagar |
Lucknow | Gorakhpur | Ghaziabad | Aligarh |
Aligarh | Agra | Agartala | Warangal |
Hyderabad | Vellore | Madurai | Tiruchirapalli |
Udaipur | Gangtok | Chennai | Coimbatore |
Jaipur | Jodhpur | Ajmer | Ludhiana |
Puducherry | Sambalpur | Cuttack | Kohima |
Aizawl | Shillong | Imphal | Leh |
The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination is conducted at a limited number of major cities across India. As per recent exam cycles, the Mains exam centres are usually located in Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dispur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada.
ADMIT CARD
The UPSC Civil Services Examination admit card is released by the Union Public Service Commission in online mode only. Candidates can download the admit card from the official UPSC website by logging in with their registration ID or roll number and date of birth. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, time, venue, and exam-day instructions. It is mandatory to carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo ID to the examination centre. UPSC does not send admit cards by post, and separate admit cards are issued for the Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages.
The important steps related to the UPSC Exam Admit Card download are given below:
Step 1: Visit the official website of UPSC.
Step 2: Click on the Admit Card link available on the Home page of the website.
Step 3: Read the instructions given on the page and click on the Yes button.
Step 4: Select any of the given two options – By Registration ID or By Roll Number.
Step 5: Enter registration ID and date of birth (if ‘By Registration ID’ is selected) or roll number and date of birth (if ‘By Roll Number’ is selected).
Step 6: Click on the Submit button.
Step 7: Download the UPSC admit card and take two printouts for the exam day.
EXAM RESULT
The UPSC Civil Services Examination result is declared by the Union Public Service Commission in online mode on its official website. The results are released stage-wise, starting with the Preliminary Examination result, followed by the Main Examination result, and finally the final result after the Personality Test. The result is published in the form of a PDF list of roll numbers of qualified candidates. Based on the final result, candidates are allotted services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services according to their rank, preferences, and availability of vacancies.
The steps to check the result of UPSC CSE Exam are as mentioned below:
Step-1: Candidates should visit the official website of UPSC.
Step-2: After landing on the website, scroll down and click on the ”UPSC Civil Services Result”.
Step-3: The UPSC Result PDF will open on the screen, which can be downloaded with a single click. It contains the list of roll numbers of the selected candidates.
Step-4: Press ‘Ctrl+F’ to search for any desired Roll number or Candidate roll number. If the name/number is located, then you are qualified or otherwise not.
Step-5: Download the UPSC Result and take a printout for future reference.
OVERVIEW
The UPSC CSE Exam (officially known as the Civil Services Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually. The Exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to appoint officers for the All India Administrative Civil Service. There are about services that come under the Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC every year. These services include IAS, IFS, IPS, etc.
Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) |
Exam Conducted By | Union Public Service Commission |
Exam Purpose | To recruit officers for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other central services |
Exam Frequency | Annually |
Exam Level | National |
Exam Date | May |
Exam Result Date | June |
Exam Official Website |
SOME MAJOR SERVICES
1. Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
The most prestigious service.
Involved in state and central administration, policy-making, and governance.
2. Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Handles diplomacy and international relations.
Works in Indian embassies, high commissions, and represents India abroad.
3. Indian Police Service (IPS)
Responsible for law enforcement and internal security.
Posts in state and central police organizations, crime prevention, and public safety.
4. Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
Works in tax and revenue departments.
Two main streams:
IRS (Income Tax)
IRS (Customs & Central Excise)
5. Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS)
Works under the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG).
Responsible for government accounts and audits.
6. Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS)
Handles accounts and financial management in government departments.
7. Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
Manages accounts and budgeting for the Ministry of Defence and armed forces.
8. Indian Information Service (IIS)
Handles government communications and media.
Works in press and public information campaigns.
9. Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service
Works in the Department of Posts and Telecommunications for financial management.
10. Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
Manages defence manufacturing and ordnance factories.
11. Indian Postal Service (IPoS)
Administrative and operational roles in postal services.
Involves post office management and logistics.
12. Indian Railway Services (IRS/IRAS/IRPS, etc.)
Group A services of Indian Railways.
Handles administration and technical management in railways.
13. Indian Trade Service (ITS)
Works in the Department of Commerce for trade policy and promotion.
Deals with international trade and export-import regulation.
14. Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES)
Manages defence lands and estates.
Supervises army and central government properties.
15. Indian Postal Accounts & Finance Service
Works in the accounts and finance wing of the postal department.
Notes:
Allocation of services depends on rank, preference, and category.
Top rankers usually get IAS and IFS.
Some services are all India cadre, while others are central/state cadre mix.
SELECTION PROCESS
The Selection Process for UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 is a rigorous, multi-stage process conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for prestigious services like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other Group A & B central services. It consists of three successive stages, as detailed in the official notification (No. 05/2026-CSE, released February 4, 2026) and consistent across cycles.
Stage I: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
Nature: Objective-type (screening/qualifying stage).
Papers:
General Studies Paper-I (200 marks): Covers current events, history, geography, polity, economy, environment, science & technology, etc. (merit-based for shortlisting).
General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) (200 marks): Comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical ability, decision-making, basic numeracy, etc. (qualifying only; minimum 33% required).
Total: 400 marks (only Paper-I counts for merit).
Negative Marking: 1/3rd (0.33) marks deducted for wrong answers.
Purpose: To shortlist candidates (typically 10–12 times the vacancies) for Mains.
Date for 2026: May 24, 2026.
Stage II: Civil Services (Main) Examination
Nature: Descriptive/written examination (scoring stage).
Papers (Total 1750 marks counted for merit):
Paper A: Indian Language (qualifying, 300 marks; chosen from Eighth Schedule languages).
Paper B: English (qualifying, 300 marks).
Essay (250 marks).
General Studies I (250 marks): Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Geography.
General Studies II (250 marks): Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations.
General Studies III (250 marks): Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, Disaster Management.
General Studies IV (250 marks): Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude.
Optional Subject Paper I & II (250 marks each; candidate chooses one subject from the list).
Total Merit Marks: 1750 (qualifying papers not counted).
Purpose: To assess in-depth knowledge, analytical ability, and expression.
Date for 2026: Commences from August 21, 2026 onwards.
Stage III: Personality Test (Interview)
Nature: Oral/personality assessment (scoring stage).
Marks: 275
Conducted by: UPSC board/panel of experts.
Focus: Tests mental alertness, clear thinking, balance of judgment, leadership, social cohesion, intellectual/moral integrity, and suitability for civil services (not a knowledge test but personality evaluation).
Number Called: Usually about twice the number of vacancies.
Purpose: Final suitability check.
Final Merit & Allocation:
Combined marks of Mains (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 marks (Prelims marks not counted).
Final rank list determines service/post allocation (based on rank, category, preferences, vacancies).
Additional steps post-selection: Document verification, medical examination (as per service rules), and training.
EXAM SYLLABUS
The UPSC Prelims syllabus is structured to assess a candidate’s fundamental knowledge of current affairs, general awareness, analytical skills, and aptitude. It comprises two papers—General Studies (GS) Paper 1 and the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)—both of which are objective and conducted on the same day. Serving as a screening test, only the marks obtained in GS Paper 1 are considered for ranking, while CSAT is qualifying in nature, requiring a minimum of 33% to pass.
UPSC Prelims syllabus
General Studies Paper I: 200 Marks
Current events of National & International importance.
History of India & Indian National Movement.
Indian & World Geography – Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India & the World.
Indian Polity & Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Economic & Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change – that do not require subject specialization.
General Science.
The UPSC Prelims Syllabus for GS Paper 1 consists of 100 questions, carries 200 marks, and has a negative marking of 1/3rd(0.66 marks) for every wrong answer. The exam duration is 2 hours, and GS Paper 1 is merit-determining, meaning its marks decide whether a candidate qualifies for the Mains stage.
General Studies Paper II/CSAT: 200 marks
Comprehension.
Interpersonal skills including communication skills.
Logical reasoning & analytical ability.
Decision making & problem solving.
General mental ability.
Basic numeracy (numbers & their relations, orders of magnitude, etc.) (Class X level), Data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables, data sufficiency, etc. – Class X level)
The UPSC Prelims Syllabus for CSAT Paper 2 consists of 80 questions for 200 marks, with a 1/3rd (0.83 marks) negative marking for wrong answers. The exam duration is 2 hours, and CSAT is qualifying in nature, requiring candidates to score 33% (66 marks) to clear Prelims. This exam is carried out in the second shift on the same day of preliminary examination.
UPSC Mains Syllabus
The UPSC Mains syllabus encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects aimed at evaluating a candidate’s analytical skills, depth of knowledge, and ability to express ideas clearly through descriptive answers. It includes nine papers: an Essay paper, four General Studies papers, two papers on an Optional Subject, and two qualifying language papers. For merit ranking, the Mains carries a total of 1750 marks (out of the overall 2025 marks, including the interview), making it the most significant phase of the examination.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for Qualifying Papers (Indian Languages and English)
(i) comprehension of given passages.
(ii) Precis Writing.
(iii) Usage and Vocabulary.
(iv) Short Essays.
(v) Translation from English to the Indian Language and vice versa.
Note 1: The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature only. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Note 2: The candidates will have to answer the English and Indian Languages papers in English and the respective Indian language (except where translation is involved).
UPSC Mains Essay Syllabus
The UPSC Mains Essay Paper, carrying 250 marks, requires candidates to write two essays on topics related to society, governance, economy, philosophy, environment, and contemporary issues. It tests clarity of thought, coherence, originality, and balanced analysis.
Paper-I: Essay: Candidates may be required to write essays on multiple topics. They will be expected to keep closely to the subject of the essay to arrange their ideas in orderly fashion, and to write concisely. Credit will be given for effective and exact expression.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for GS 1
Paper-II: General Studies-I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society.
Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.
Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country.
History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the society.
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
Effects of globalization on Indian society.
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.
Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India).
Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for GS 2
Paper-III: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions.
Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries.
Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Development processes and the development industry —the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
Role of civil services in a democracy.
India and its neighborhood- relations.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Important International institutions, agencies and fora – their structure, mandate.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for GS 3
Paper-IV: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Government Budgeting.
Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country, – different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System-objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
Land reforms in India.
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Investment models.
Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, Nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Disaster and disaster management.
Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Security challenges and their management in border areas – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for GS 4
Paper-V: General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates’ attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him in dealing with society. Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these aspects.
The following broad areas will be covered:
Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics – in private and public relationships. Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections.
Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption.
Case Studies on above issues.
UPSC Mains Syllabus for Optional Subject
The UPSC Mains Syllabus for Optional Subjects covers a wide range of 48 subjects from different domains such as literature, humanities, science, and professional fields. Each optional has two papers (Paper VI & VII) of 250 marks each, making a total of 500 marks, and candidates can choose any one based on interest and expertise. A candidate may opt for any one Optional Subject from the following:
UPSC Agriculture Syllabus
UPSC Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Syllabus
UPSC Anthropology Syllabus
UPSC Botany Syllabus
UPSC Chemistry Syllabus
UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus
UPSC Commerce and Accountancy Syllabus
UPSC Economics Syllabus
UPSC Electrical Engineering Syllabus
UPSC Geography Syllabus
UPSC Geology Syllabus
UPSC History Syllabus
UPSC Law Optional Syllabus
UPSC Management Syllabus
UPSC Maths Optional Syllabus
UPSC Mechanical Engineering Syllabus
UPSC Medical Science Syllabus
UPSC Philosophy Syllabus
UPSC Physics Optional Syllabus
UPSC PSIR Optional Syllabus
UPSC Psychology Syllabus
UPSC Public Administration Optional Syllabus
UPSC Sociology Optional Syllabus
UPSC Statistics Syllabus
UPSC Zoology Syllabus
UPSC Literature Syllabus of any one of the following languages:
Assamese | Bengali | Bodo | Dogri |
Gujarati | Hindi | Kannada | Kashmiri |
Konkani | Maithali | Malyalam | Manipuri |
Marathi | Nepali | Odia | Punjabi |
Sanskrit | Santhali | Sindhi | Tamil |
Telugu | Urdu | English |
How to Choose an Optional Subject?
Choosing the right optional subject for UPSC is crucial as it contributes 500 marks in the Mains exam. Candidates should select a subject that aligns with their interests, strengths, and ability to understand concepts easily. It’s also important to consider scoring trends, availability of study material, and overlap with General Studies to maximize overall marks.
Points to Consider:
Identify subjects you naturally enjoy or have prior academic background in.
Check the syllabus length, difficulty level, and previous years’ question papers.
Evaluate how much the optional overlaps with GS Papers and Essay.
Ensure good availability of books and quality study resources.
Choose a subject you can study consistently for months without losing motivation.
UPSC Interview
The UPSC Interview, carrying 275 marks, is the final and most crucial stage of the Civil Services Examination. It evaluates a candidate’s personality, communication skills, clarity of thought, leadership qualities, and suitability for administrative roles. The interview board asks questions based on the candidate’s DAF, current affairs, background, and decision-making ability. There are no minimum qualifying marks, and performance is judged holistically. The marks obtained in the interview are added to the Mains written score (1750) to prepare the final merit list out of 2025 marks.
EXAM PATTERN
The UPSC exam is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge, aptitude, and analytical abilities, and it comprises two stages: the Preliminary Examination (Prelims) and the Main Examination (Mains), followed by an interview/personality test.
The UPSC Syllabus for Prelims includes two compulsory papers: General Studies Paper-I and General Studies Paper-II (also known as the CSAT or Civil Services Aptitude Test).
Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Negative Marking | Duration | Nature |
Paper I | General Studies (GS) | 100 | 200 | 0.66 (1/3rd) | 2 Hours | Counted for Merit (Prelims qualifying for Mains cutoff) |
Paper II | CSAT (Aptitude Test) | 80 | 200 | 0.83 (1/3rd) | 2 Hours | Qualifying (Must score 33%) |
The syllabus of UPSC Mains examination is more specialized and consists of nine papers, including one essay paper, four General Studies papers, two optional subject papers, and two language papers (both qualifying in nature).The UPSC CSE exam follows a three-stage pattern: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.
Qualifying Papers | Subjects | Marks |
Paper-A | One of the Indian Languages to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution | 300 |
Paper-B | English | 300 |
Papers to be Counted for Merit | ||
Paper | Subject | Marks |
Paper I | Essay | 250 |
Paper II | General Studies-I (Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society) | 250 |
Paper III | General Studies-II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations) | 250 |
Paper IV | General Studies-III (Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management) | 250 |
Paper V | General Studies-IV (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | |
Paper VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | |
Paper VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | |
Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
Personality Test (Interview) | 275 | |
Grand Total | 2025 | |
The Prelims comprise two objective-type papers—GS Paper 1 and CSAT—primarily for screening candidates. The Mains consist of nine descriptive papers that evaluate analytical skills, depth of knowledge, and writing ability, and these scores form the foundation of the final merit ranking.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates willing to apply, are required to fulfill certain conditions to be eligible for it. The candidate who does not satisfy the Eligibility criteria like Age, Minimum educational qualification, their candidature shall be rejected by the authorities.
Nationality
To appear for the UPSC CSE Exams you need to be a citizen of India, for all other services, you must be either:
A citizen of India,
Or a subject of Nepal,
Or a subject of Bhutan,
Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.
Note
(1) If you belong to categories b), c), d), and e), then you’d need a certificate issued by the govt. of India to be eligible.
(2) Also belonging to the b), c), d), and e). Categories will bar you from being eligible to be appointed to the Indian Foreign Services.
Age Limit
As per the age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years, can fill the UPSC CSE application form.
Relaxation Of Upper Age Limit
Categories | Age Relaxation |
SC/ST | 5 Years |
OBC | 3 Years |
Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof | 3 Years |
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and | 5 Years |
Visually challenged/hearing | 10 Years |
Number of Attempts
The number of times candidates are permitted to take the Exam is given in the below table:
Category | Number of Attempts |
General | 6 |
OBC | 9 |
SC/ST | No Restriction |
Physically Handicapped (General) | 9 |
Physically Handicapped (OBC) | 9 |
Physically Handicapped (SC/ST) | No Restriction |
Educational Qualifications
The candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university to take the UPSC exam.
Even those candidates who have written the final year exams of the qualifying exam (bachelor’s degree) and are awaiting results can apply. Also, candidates who would write the final exam are also eligible to apply for the prelims exam. But, these candidates must produce proof of passing the exam while applying for the mains exam.
In exceptional cases, the UPSC may allow a candidate who does not fall under the aforementioned categories if the candidate has passed an exam conducted by other institutions, the standard of which the UPSC is convinced justifies his/her admission to take the UPSC exam.
Those candidates with professional/technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional/technical degrees are also eligible.
MBBS candidates who have not yet completed their internship by the time of applying for the UPSC Mains will be given a provisional admission to take the mains, provided they submit a copy of the certificate from the concerned University/institution authority that they have passed the requisite final professional medical examination. At the time of the interview, such candidates will have to produce a certificate from the University/institution stating that they have completed all the requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the medical degree.
Physical Standard
Applicants Appearing for the UPSC CSE Exam must be Physically Fit and have a Sound Mind. After the UPSC CSE Personality Test Selected Applicants Undergo Several Medical Tests at the Medical Centre Notified by the UPSC. Candidates must pass all the Medical Tests to get admitted to any of the services.
IMPORTANT DATES
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification was released on February 4, 2026, announcing approximately 933 vacancies for services including IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and others. The online application window, initially set to close earlier, was extended due to technical issues; the final deadline is today, February 27, 2026 (6.00 PM IST). A correction window will open from February 28 to March 3, 2026. The Prelims remains scheduled for May 24, 2026, with Mains commencing from August 21, 2026 onwards.
Events | Dates |
Application Begin | February |
Last Date For Apply Online | March |
Date for Correction Window | March |
Date Of Preliminary Examination | 24 May 2026 |
Admit Card Of Preliminary Examination | To be declared |
Result Of Preliminary Examination | July 2026 |
Mains Exam | 21 August 2026 |