The official notification for the Civil Service (IAS) & Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026 has been published by the Union Public Service Commission. It conducts this examination once a year to appoint officers in the top level of government services in India.
The examination serves as an instrument for appointing candidates to high level government employment opportunities (IAS, IPS, IFS) and other federal service positions throughout India. The candidates who want to participate and satisfy all requirements are invited to apply online before the deadline established.
Important Dates for UPSC Civil Services Recruitment
The officially announced dates for the application process are given below :
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 24 February 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | 25 February – 03 March 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
Vacancy Details for UPSC Recruitment
UPSC has released the number of vacancies for Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026. The number of vacancies may vary depending upon the final government approval.
| Exam Name | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 | 933 Posts |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2026 | As per separate IFS notification |
Application Fee
Given below is the category wise distribution of application fee payment:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs.100 |
| SC / ST | Nil |
| Female (All Categories) | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Civil Services Recruitment
The general eligibility criteria that should be met by each applicant is given below :
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian Citizen (For IAS & IPS) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline |
| Number of Attempts | As per category rules |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet the given educational qualification :
| Exam | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| Civil Services (IAS) | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | Bachelor’s Degree with at least one of the subjects: Animal Husbandry, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering |
Age Relaxation
The age relaxation limit for various categories given below :
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC | 3 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| Defence Services Personnel | 3 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 Years |
How to Apply for Civil Services Recruitment
- Visit the official website of UPSC.
- Kindly go through the Civil Services / IFS Examination 2026 notification.
- Do One Time Registration (OTR) completely.
- Fill the application form online carefully.
- Upload necessary documents like photo/signature.
- Pay the application fee.
- Before 24 February 2026, you should submit the form.
Selection Process for UPSC Civil Services Recruitment
- As an initial step, candidates have to take the initial exam (Preliminary Examination).
- If they pass this first stage, the candidates may take the next step, (Main Examination), which will require them to pass.
- Once a candidate has passed both stages, he/she will need to take an Interview and Personality Test.
- The final decision as to whether or not a candidate is shortlisted for appointment will be based upon his/her total score obtained during the prior two stages combined with his/her score on the interview.
Salary Details for UPSC Recruitment
The selected candidates will be payed in given format :
| Post | Salary (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| IAS | Rs.56,100 – Rs.1,77,500 per month |
| IFS | Rs.56,100 – Rs.1,77,500 per month |
| Other Services | Rs.56,100 per month (Starting) |
Syllabus Overview
The exam is conducted in three stages – Prelims, Mains and Interview.
| Stage | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Prelims Paper I | General Studies |
| Prelims Paper II | CSAT |
| Mains | Essay, General Studies I–IV, Optional Subject Papers |
| Interview | Personality Test |
Important Links – UPSC Civil Services Recruitment
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Examinations | Click Here |
| Recruitments | Click Here |
| Answer Key | Click Here |
| IFS Exam | Click Here |
| Contact | Click Here |
| For more information | Click Here |
Conclusion
Candidates who are keen on becoming a member of India’s civil service may now directly apply for the employment in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) through the UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Recruitment 2026 advertisement. The application window opened on February 4, 2026, and will close on February 24, all candidates are asked to submit their applications before the deadline.
FAQs – UPSC Civil Services Recruitment
Last date is 25 February 2026
Exam will be on 24 May 2026.
21 to 32 years as on 01 August 2026.
100 for General/OBC/EWS; no charge for SC/ST/Female/PwBD.
A degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
The number of attempts vary according to category rules set by the UPSC.
Prelims, Mains and Interview.
The exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.
