UPSC Calendar 2026: Check Civil Services Exam Dates and Download PDF

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) releases its annual examination calendar every year to inform aspirants about the tentative schedule of various competitive exams conducted by the commission. The UPSC Calendar 2026 provides important details such as notification dates, application deadlines, and examination schedules for multiple prestigious national-level exams.

The UPSC Calendar 2026 was officially released on 15th May 2025, allowing candidates to prepare well in advance for upcoming examinations. Some of the major exams included in the calendar are the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFS), Engineering Services Examination (ESE), Combined Defence Services (CDS), National Defence Academy (NDA), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

Candidates preparing for these examinations can download the UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 PDF from the official website of the commission to plan their preparation strategy accordingly.

UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF

The UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF contains a complete list of all examinations conducted by the commission throughout the year. It also includes the schedule for notification release, last date for application submission, and examination dates.

According to the official calendar, the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will be conducted on 24th May 2026 (Sunday). Candidates who qualify in the preliminary stage will appear for the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026, which is scheduled to begin on 21st August 2026 (Friday) and will continue for five days.

The calendar also provides details of several other competitive exams such as:

• Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
• NDA & NA Examination
• Combined Defence Services Examination
• Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service Examination
• Engineering Services Examination

Aspirants are advised to download the UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 PDF to stay updated with all important exam timelines.

UPSC Calendar 2026 Major Exams

The following table highlights some of the major examinations mentioned in the UPSC Calendar 2026.

This schedule helps aspirants track the timeline of major national-level recruitment exams conducted by the commission.

UPSC Calendar 2026 Important Dates

The release of the UPSC Calendar 2026 allows aspirants to organize their preparation effectively. Candidates can refer to the important dates below for the Civil Services Examination 2026.

Candidates should keep track of these dates to avoid missing any important deadlines during the application and preparation process.

UPSC Exam Date 2026

The Union Public Service Commission conducts several prestigious examinations every year to recruit candidates for various government services in India. The UPSC Exam Date 2026 for different recruitment exams has been officially mentioned in the annual calendar.

The calendar serves as a roadmap for aspirants preparing for competitive exams such as the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination. By referring to the schedule in advance, candidates can create a well-structured preparation plan and focus on completing the syllabus on time.

UPSC Prelims 2026

The UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 24th May 2026 (Sunday). It is the first stage of the Civil Services Examination and acts as a screening test for the Mains examination.

The preliminary exam consists of two objective-type papers:

• General Studies Paper I
• CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – Paper II

Both papers are multiple-choice question (MCQ) based. While General Studies Paper I determines qualification for the next stage, CSAT Paper II is qualifying in nature.

It is important to note that the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Preliminary Examination is also conducted on the same day using the same set of papers as the Civil Services Prelims.

With the exam date announced early, candidates get sufficient time to plan their preparation and revise the syllabus thoroughly.

UPSC Mains 2026

The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026 will begin on 21st August 2026 (Friday) and will be conducted over five days.

Unlike the preliminary stage, the Mains examination is descriptive in nature and requires candidates to demonstrate in-depth knowledge, analytical ability, and effective writing skills.

The UPSC Mains includes the following papers:

• Essay Paper
• Four General Studies Papers
• Two Optional Subject Papers

There is usually a three-month gap between the Prelims and Mains, which allows qualified candidates to prepare intensively for the descriptive examination. Candidates who successfully clear the Mains will be invited for the Personality Test (Interview), which is the final stage of the selection process.

How to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 from the Official Website

Candidates can easily download the official UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF by following the steps below:

1. Visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission.
2. On the homepage, navigate to the “Examination” section.
3. Click on the “Calendar” option available in the menu.
4. A list of annual examination calendars will appear.
5. Click on “UPSC Annual Calendar 2026”.
6. The PDF will open on the screen.
7. Download and save the file for future reference.

UPSC Calendar 2026 FAQs