The UPSC Calendar 2026 is an official schedule released every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It provides important details about all the exams conducted by UPSC, including the tentative dates for notifications, application forms, and examinations. The calendar includes major exams such as the Civil Services Examination, Indian Forest Service, Engineering Services Examination, Combined Defence Services (CDS), National Defence Academy (NDA), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
The UPSC Calendar 2026 was officially released on 15 May 2025. Candidates can download the UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 PDF from the official UPSC website or through the direct link provided in this article.
UPSC Calendar 2026 OUT
The Union Public Service Commission has released the official UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025. The calendar provides the complete schedule for various UPSC examinations to be conducted in 2026, including notification dates, application timelines, and exam dates.
According to the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF, the UPSC CSE Notification 2026 will be released on 14 January 2026. The UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 is scheduled to be held on 24 May 2026 (Sunday), while the Mains examination will begin from 21 August 2026.
The annual UPSC calendar includes important details for several major examinations conducted by the commission, such as Civil Services (IAS), Indian Engineering Services (IES), Combined Geo-Scientist, Combined Defence Services (CDS), National Defence Academy (NDA), and Engineering Services Examination (ESE). It helps aspirants plan their preparation by providing a clear timeline for upcoming UPSC recruitment exams.
UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF
As per the UPSC Calendar 2026, the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will be conducted on 24 May 2026 (Sunday). Candidates who qualify for the preliminary stage will be eligible to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2026, which is scheduled to begin on 21 August 2026 (Friday) and will continue for five days.
The UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 also includes the examination schedule for several other major UPSC exams such as Combined Geo-Scientist, NDA, CDS, and IES/ISS. Candidates can check the complete exam schedule and important dates by downloading the official UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF through the link provided below.
Click Here to Download UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 PDF
UPSC Calendar 2026 Major Exams
The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025. This annual calendar lists the important examination dates, notification releases, and application deadlines for major UPSC exams conducted in 2026. Key exams included in the calendar are the Civil Services Examination (CSE), National Defence Academy (NDA), Combined Defence Services (CDS), Indian Forest Service (IFS), and CAPF (Assistant Commandants).
Below are the important dates for major exams mentioned in the UPSC Calendar 2026.
| Exam Name | Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Services (Prelims) 2026 | Exam Date | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| Notification Release | 4 February 2026 | |
| Last Date to Apply | 24 February 2026 | |
| Civil Services (Main) 2026 | Exam Start Date | 21 August 2026 (Friday) |
| Indian Forest Service (Prelims) | Details | Conducted through Civil Services (Prelims) |
| Indian Forest Service (Main) 2026 | Exam Start Date | 22 November 2026 |
| NDA & CDS (I & II) | Exam Months | April and September 2026 |
| CAPF (Assistant Commandants) | Exam Date | 19 July 2026 |
UPSC Calendar 2026 Important Dates
Candidates preparing for the Civil Services Examination can check the UPSC Calendar 2026 to know the important dates related to notifications, application deadlines, and exam schedules. The release of the official calendar helps aspirants plan their preparation in advance according to the examination timeline.
As per the UPSC Calendar 2026, the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will be conducted on 24 May 2026. Below are the key dates that candidates should keep in mind.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC Notification 2026 | 4 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 24 February 2026 |
| UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 | 24 May 2026 |
| UPSC Mains Exam Date 2026 | 21 August 2026 onwards |
UPSC Exam Date 2026
The Union Public Service Commission has announced the UPSC Exam Date 2026 through the official UPSC Calendar 2026. The calendar provides important information about major recruitment examinations such as the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service (IFS). It includes details like notification release dates, application deadlines, and exam schedules, helping aspirants plan their preparation in a systematic way.
UPSC Prelims 2026
The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 will be conducted on 24 May 2026 (Sunday). It is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination and is held in a single day. The exam consists of two objective-type papers:
- General Studies Paper I
- CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – Paper II
Both papers are multiple-choice (MCQ) based and act as a screening test for the next stage, the UPSC Mains Examination. The Indian Forest Service (IFoS) Preliminary Exam is also conducted on the same day using the same question papers. The exam date has been announced in advance. So candidates have sufficient time to prepare and organize their study plan.
UPSC Mains 2026
The UPSC Mains Exam 2026 will start on 21 August 2026 (Friday) and will be conducted over five days. This stage is descriptive in nature and tests candidates’ analytical ability, subject knowledge, and writing skills.
The Mains examination includes the following papers:
- Essay Paper
- Four General Studies Papers
- Two Optional Subject Papers
Unlike the Prelims, the Mains exam requires detailed written answers. There is roughly a three-month gap between the Prelims and Mains, so aspirants are advised to prepare for both stages. Candidates who successfully clear the Mains will be invited for the Personality Test (Interview), which is the final stage of the UPSC selection process 2026.
How to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 From the Official Website?
Candidates can download the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF from the official website by following the steps given below:
- Visit the official UPSC website, https://www.upsc.gov.in/.
- On the homepage, go to the “Examination” section in the main menu.
- Click on the “Calendar” option available under the Examination tab.
- A new page will open where the annual exam calendars for different years are listed.
- Find and click on the “UPSC Annual Calendar 2026” link.
- The UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF will open on the screen.
- Download and save the PDF for future reference.
The calendar PDF contains the complete schedule of UPSC exams, including notification dates, application deadlines, and examination dates for the year 2026.
Also Check:
UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026
UPSC Calendar 2026 FAQs
Q1. When was the UPSC Calendar 2026 released?
Ans. The UPSC Calendar 2026 was officially released by the Union Public Service Commission on 15 May 2025.
Q2. When will the UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 be conducted?
Ans. The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will be held on 24 May 2026 (Sunday).
Q3. What is the UPSC Mains Exam Date 2026?
Ans. The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2026 will start on 21 August 2026 and will continue for five days.
Q4. Which major exams are included in the UPSC Calendar 2026?
Ans. The UPSC Calendar 2026 includes exams such as Civil Services (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFS), NDA, CDS, CAPF, Engineering Services, and Combined Geo-Scientist.
Q5. How can candidates download the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF?
Ans. Candidates can download the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF by visiting the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) and accessing the “Calendar” section under the Examination tab.
