UPSC Prelims 2026 registration closing soon; apply by February 24

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has notified that the registration window for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 preliminary exam will be closed by February 24, 2026. Those who want to take the CSE, which is among the most competitive examinations in India, have to finish the registration process prior to the cutoff point as no application will be accepted after the last date.

The Civil Services Examination is an annual exam to recruit officers through various illustrious posts like IAS, IPS, IFS and other central government departments. Candidates who are interested may register themselves by filling up their application form online at the official website.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to meet the eligibility criteria, applicants must have a graduate degree from a recognised university. The minimum age requirement is 21 years and the maximum age limit is 32 years. Government rules will be followed to provide the upper, age limit relaxation to the candidates of reserved categories.

Selection process

• The selection procedure consists of multiple stages:
• Preliminary Examination
• Main Examination
• Personality Test (Interview)
• Document Verification
• Medical Examination
• Only candidates qualifying at each stage will be considered for final appointment.

Admit card and application fee

The commission will release admit cards during the last working day of the week preceding the examination. Candidates are required to bring a printed admit card as well as a valid photo identity proof to the exam centre.

Applicants belonging to General, OBC and EWS categories have to pay an application fee of 100, whereas the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates are not required to pay any amount.

How to apply

Step 1:

Candidates can follow these steps:

Step 2:

• Go to the official website upsconline.nic.in
• Register using basic personal details
• Fill in educational and communication information
• Upload photograph and signature
• Pay the fee and submit the form
• Download the confirmation page for future reference

Important dates

• Notification release: February 4, 2026
• Application start: February 4, 2026
• Last date to apply: February 24, 2026
• Preliminary exam: May 24, 2026
• Main exam: August 21, 2026

UPSC will also provide a three-day correction window allowing candidates to rectify errors in submitted applications for both the Civil Services and Indian Forest Service examinations.