UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: Official Schedule for All Major Examinations

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting national-level competitive exams for prestigious civil, defence, engineering, and forest services. Every year, lakhs of aspirants prepare rigorously to crack these exams—starting with knowing the UPSC Exam Calendar 2026.

While the official annual calendar for 2026 is typically released by UPSC in December 2025, the schedule closely follows historical patterns. Based on past trends and the UPSC Calendar 2025, we present a tentative yet highly reliable UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 to help you plan your preparation strategically.

⚠️ Note: All dates below are expected/provisional. Always verify with the official notification at https://upsc.gov.in.

📅 Tentative UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 (Expected Dates)

✅ Key Insight: The Civil Services Prelims (CSE) is almost always held on the last Sunday of May—hence May 25, 2026 is the most likely date.

🔍 Breakdown of Major UPSC Exams in 2026

1. Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 – For IAS, IPS, IFS

• Notification: Early February 2026
• Prelims: May 25, 2026
• Mains: Likely first week of September 2026
• Interviews: January–April 2027
• Final Result: ~May 2027
• Vacancies: ~1,000+ (including IFoS)

📌 Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree; Age 21–32 years (as of August 1, 2026); Relaxation for reserved categories.

2. NDA (National Defence Academy) 2026

• Conducted twice a year for Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets.
• Open to unmarried male & female candidates aged 16.5–19.5 years.
• Educational Qualification: Class 12 (Science stream required for Navy/Air Force).

3. CDS (Combined Defence Services) 2026

• For IMA, INA, AFA, and OTA.
• Frequency: Twice a year (CDS I & II).
• Eligibility: Graduates (final-year students can apply).
• Gender: Both men and women eligible (OTA for women; others vary by service).

4. Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) 2026

• For engineers in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics disciplines.
• Stage-I: Objective papers (General Studies + Engineering)
• Stage-II: Conventional engineering papers
• Posts: Junior positions in Indian Railways, CPWD, MES, etc.

5. CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) 2026

• Recruits Assistant Commandants in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB.
• Exam Stages: Written → Physical → Interview
• Age Limit: 20–25 years (as of August 1, 2026)

🗓️ How to Use the UPSC Calendar 2026 Effectively?

1. Mark Key Dates: Add notification, application deadline, and exam dates to your planner.
2. Backward Planning: Start Mains prep while preparing for Prelims (especially for CSE).
3. Avoid Overlap: Don’t apply to too many exams simultaneously—focus on 1–2 primary goals.
4. Stay Updated: Subscribe to UPSC email alerts or follow their official Twitter/X handle.

📢 Important Reminders

• Official Website: https://upsc.gov.in
• Admit Cards: Released 3 weeks before the exam.
• Application Portal: https://upsconline.nic.in
• No Application Fee for Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates (except for NDA/CDS).

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