The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Calendar 2026 on May 15, 2025, on its official website upsc.gov.in. Aspirants aiming for the Civil Services Examination (CSE), NDA, CDS, IES, IFS, and other competitive exams can now access the detailed schedule to plan their preparation strategically.

This annual calendar includes key information such as notification dates, application deadlines, exam dates, and the duration of each examination. The UPSC Prelims 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026, while the  UPSC Mains 2026 will commence from August 21, 2026. Below, find the highlights and full list of exams.

UPSC Calendar 2026 Notification Highlights

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the annual exam calendar for 2026. It includes key dates for the Civil Services Examination (CSE), one of the most prestigious exams in India. The calendar provides crucial information such as the notification release, application deadlines, and exam dates. Aspirants should keep track of these dates to plan their preparation and ensure timely submission of their applications.

UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF

The UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF  has been officially released and is now available for download in PDF format. It contains all the important dates related to various exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam. The calendar mentions key details such as the name of the examination, date of notification release, last date to apply, exam date, and duration. Candidates can download the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF from the official UPSC website or directly through the download link provided.

                                                              Download PDF: UPSC Annual Calendar 2026

UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Key Exams & Dates

The UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 includes major exams such as CDS, CSE (Prelims and Mains), IFS, IES/ISS, CAPF, CMS, NDA & NA, and SO/Steno LDCE. Each exam has specific notification dates, application deadlines, and exam durations. This annual schedule helps candidates plan their preparation and application process for various civil services and defense-related examinations.

UPSC Exam Date 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Calendar 2026, which includes important dates for various recruitment exams such as the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). This calendar helps aspirants plan their preparation well in advance by providing notification releases, application deadlines, and exam schedules.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Date

• Date: 24th May 2026 (Sunday)
• Details:
  The Preliminary exam is a one-day objective-type test consisting of two papers:
  • General Studies Paper I
  • CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) – Paper II

Both papers are multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and serve as a screening test for the UPSC Mains exam. The Indian Forest Service (IFS) Prelims will also be held on the same day using the same question papers.

UPSC Mains 2026 Date

• Start Date: 21st August 2026 (Friday)
• Duration: 5 days
• Details:
  The Mains exam is descriptive and includes the following papers:
  • Essay Paper
  • Four General Studies Papers
  • Two Optional Subject Papers

The Mains exam requires in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and excellent answer-writing ability. Candidates who qualify in Mains will be called for the Personality Test (Interview), which is the final stage of the UPSC selection process.

How to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF from the Official Website?

• Visit the official UPSC website: https://www.upsc.gov.in/
• Navigate to the “Examination” tab on the homepage.
• Click on the “Calendar” link under the Examination section.
• Find the “UPSC Annual Calendar 2026” PDF link.
• Click to download the calendar for detailed exam dates and schedules.