UPSC Calendar 2026 out: Check prelims, mains & other competitive exam dates

UPSC releases 2026 exam calendar: The Civil Services Prelims is scheduled on May 24, Mains from August 21; NDA, CDS on April 12, CAPF on July 19

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has shared the annual exam calendar for 2026. As per the official schedule for 2026, the Civil Services (Preliminary) exam will be held on May 24, and the Mains examination will be conducted on August 21, 2026. 

 

The official notification for the Civil Services (CSE) exam will be released on January 14, and the last date to receive applications is February 3.

 

The National Defence Academy/Naval Academy and the Combined Defence Services (UPSC NDA/NA, CDS 1) exam will take place on April 12. The notification and application form will be released on the same day, December 10. The last day to receive applications is December 30, and the stage 2 of these exams will be conducted on September 13, 2026.

 

 

Apart from all this, the commission will conduct the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) exam on July 19, 2026, and the last date to apply for the UPSC Preliminary Examination is February 3, 2026.

UPSC Exam Calendar 2025: Full schedule

Name of examination	Date of notification	Last Date for Receipt of Applications	Date of Commencement of Exam	Duration of Exam
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	10.01.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Reserved for UPSC Examination	—	—	17.01.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2026	03.09.2025	23.09.2025	08.02.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026	17.09.2025	07.10.2025	08.02.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
CBI (DSP) LDCE	24.12.2025	13.01.2026	28.02.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-2026	03.12.2025	23.12.2025	08.03.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
NDA & NA Examination (I), 2026	10.12.2025	30.12.2025	12.04.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
CDS Examination (I), 2026	10.12.2025	30.12.2025	12.04.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026	14.01.2026	03.02.2026	24.05.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P)	14.01.2026	03.02.2026	24.05.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	06.06.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
IES/ISS Examination, 2026	11.02.2026	03.03.2026	19.06.2026 (Friday)	3 Days
Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2026	—	—	20.06.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026	—	—	21.06.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	04.07.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026	18.02.2026	10.03.2026	19.07.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026	11.03.2026	31.03.2026	02.08.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Reserved for UPSC Examination	—	—	08.08.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026	—	—	21.08.2026 (Friday)	5 Days
NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026	20.05.2026	09.06.2026	13.09.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
CDS Examination (II), 2026	20.05.2026	09.06.2026	13.09.2026 (Sunday)	1 Day
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	26.09.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	10.10.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	31.10.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026	—	—	22.11.2026 (Sunday)	7 Days
SO/Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE	16.09.2026	06.10.2026	12.12.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days
Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination	—	—	19.12.2026 (Saturday)	2 Days

Check notification here:

   

UPSC CALENDAR- 2026  Prelims - 24 May  Mains - 21 Aug pic.twitter.com/5q066OKXMh

— UPSC NOTES (@UPSC_Notes) May 15, 2025