UPSC 2026

UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 – OverviewFeature DetailsExam Name UPSC CSE (IAS/IPS/IFS etc.)Conducting Body Union Public Service CommissionExam Stages Prelims → Mains → InterviewNotification Release Expected February 2026Prelims Exam Date Expected May/June 2026Mains Exam Date Expected September 2026Interview & Final Result Mid 2027—🎓 Eligibility CriteriaAge Limit:General: 21 to 32 years (as of 1 Aug 2026)OBC: Up to 35 yearsSC/ST: Up to 37 yearsAttempts:General: 6OBC: 9SC/ST: Unlimited (up to age limit)Education: Graduation in any stream—📘 Exam Pattern1. Prelims (Objective – MCQs)GS Paper 1 – 100 Qs – 200 marksCSAT Paper 2 – 80 Qs – 200 marks (qualifying only, 33% needed)Negative marking: 1/3rd2. Mains (Descriptive)Total 9 Papers:Paper Subject MarksA Indian Language (qualifying) 300B English (qualifying) 3001 Essay 2502 GS Paper I 2503 GS Paper II (Polity etc.) 2504 GS Paper III (Economy etc.) 2505 GS Paper IV (Ethics) 2506 & 7 Optional Subject (2 papers) 250+2503. Interview – 275 Marks🟢 Final merit = Mains (1750) + Interview (275) = 2025 Marks—🧠 UPSC 2026 Preparation Strategy (Starting from Now)✅ Phase 1: July–December 2025 (Foundation Building)NCERTs Class 6–12 (History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science)Start daily newspaper reading (The Hindu or Indian Express)Basic books:Laxmikant (Polity)Spectrum (Modern History)GC Leong + NCERTs (Geography)Economy by Sanjeev Verma or Nitin SinghaniaEnvironment by Shankar IASMake notes chapter-wise✅ Phase 2: Jan–March 2026 (Test Practice + Current Affairs)Join mock test series for PrelimsRevise static + current affairsSolve previous year papers (2013–2025)✅ Phase 3: April–June 2026 (Prelims-focused Revision)Daily mock tests + error analysisCSAT practice (very important now)Revise notes + current affairs—📘 Suggested Optional Subjects:Hindi medium: History, Geography, Sociology, Philosophy, Hindi Lit.English medium: PSIR, Anthropology, Sociology, Pub Ad, etc.—🎯 Extra Tips:Follow UPSC syllabus line-by-lineJoin Telegram groups for daily MCQs & current affairsMake a daily routine (6–8 hrs/day)Focus on writing practice from Jan 2026 for Mains—Agar tum chaaho toh mai:1-year study planSubject-wise booklist PDFDaily to-do listYa tumhare liye personalized timetable** bhi bana sakti hoon