The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the complete schedule for civil services and other exams through the official calendar.
UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF was published on May 15, 2025, at the official website, i.e. upsc.gov.in. It comprises the notification dates, the last date to apply, and the schedule of all the exams to be conducted by the UPSC in 2026.
Candidates should carefully review all important dates for the respective exams to avoid missing any deadlines. The UPSC Calendar 2026 includes exams such as Civil Services, NDA, CDS, Engineering Services, Indian Forest Service, and more.
As per the official calendar, the UPSC Prelims notification 2026 is expected to be released by January 14, 2026, and its exam will be conducted on May 24, 2026. Read ahead to know more about the UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 and other related details.
UPSC Calendar 2026 Out
The UPSC Calendar is one of the most crucial documents that allows candidates to plan their exam strategy efficiently.
Candidates aiming for the UPSC CSE exam should check this calendar to know the expected exam dates and application deadline. This will help them speed up their UPSC IAS preparation and stay on track.
The UPSC exam calendar reveals that the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026, will take place on May 24, 2026. Candidates who will be declared successful in the prelims exam will be called to appear in the Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026, which is scheduled from August 21, 2026.
All the aspirants can access the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF on the official website or use the direct link shared on this page.
UPSC Calendar 2026 List of Important Exams
Candidates can download the latest UPSC Calendar 2026 only at the official website of UPSC.
The official calendar comprises the list of all important exams, including Civil Services, NDA, CDS, Engineering Services, Indian Forest Service, etc.
Check notification, application, and test dates of all these exams in advance and plan your strategy accordingly.
Exam Name | Notification Date | Last Date to Apply | Exam Date | Duration of Exam |
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 14.01.2026 | 03.02.2026 | 24.05.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | – | – | 21.08.2026 (Friday) | 5 Days |
N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), 2026 | 10.12.2025 | 30.12.2025 | 12.04.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
C.D.S. Examination (I), 2026 | 10.12.2025 | 30.12.2025 | 12.04.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 17.09.2025 | 07.10.2025 | 08.02.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 (through CS(P) Exam 2026) | 14.01.2026 | 03.02.2026 | 24.05.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026 | 18.02.2026 | 10.03.2026 | 19.07.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 | 11.03.2026 | 31.03.2026 | 02.08.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 Important Dates
The UPSC Calendar plays an important role in your exam preparation. It comprises all the important dates, including notification, the last date to submit applications, and the exam schedule. It also reveals the duration of all the exams.
For example, UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 will be conducted in one day, while UPSC CSE Mains 2025 will be held over 5 days.
This allows candidates to build an effective study plan. It helps them cover the syllabus on time with focused revision and practice. Check out the UPSC CSE 2026 important dates:
- UPSC CSE Notification 2026: January 14, 2026
- Last Date to Apply UPSC CSE 2026: February 3, 2026
- UPSC Prelims Exam Date 2026: May 24, 2026
- UPSC Mains Exam Date 2026: August 21, 2026
UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF Out
The UPSC Calendar 2026 have been released in PDF format at the official website. You should carefully check the calendar to know the complete timeline of your target exam.
This helps you stay updated with all the important dates and avoid missing any events.
If you know the UPSC CSE Prelims application dates, it will help you keep all the required documents and details ready in advance. It lets you submit the UPSC CSE application form on or before the last date without any hassles.
Knowing the exam dates will help you plan your preparation better. Get the direct download link of the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF below and check all the important dates now!
UPSC Exam Dates 2026
The Union Public Service Commission has announced the UPSC Civil Services Exam Dates 2026 through the official calendar. UPSC CSE is one of the toughest examinations in India.
It is conducted for the recruitment of posts like the IAS, IPS, IFS, etc. The UPSC selection process 2026 is typically divided into three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview/Personality Test.
The UPSC exam calendar 2026 reveals the notification, application, and exam dates of both prelims and mains. Check complete details below!
UPSC Prelims Exam 2026
As per the UPSC calendar 2026, the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will take place on May 24, 2026.
It comprises two papers: General Studies (Paper 1) and CSAT (Paper 2). Paper 2 will be a qualifying in nature, with minimum marks fixed at 33%.
Both the question papers will be of the objective type. The maximum marks shall be 400. The exam duration of each paper will be 2 hours. There will also be a negative marking of one-third (0.33) mark for every incorrect answer.
With only a few months left, candidates should start their UPSC CSE prelims preparation to stay ahead. The UPSC Prelims 2026 exam is a screening test only. The marks secured in prelims will be used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination and will not be counted for deciding their final order of merit.
UPSC Mains Exam 2026
The UPSC Mains Exam 2026 is scheduled for August 21, 2026. It will be conducted over 5 days. It will consist of 9 papers of a conventional essay type.
The UPSC CSE Main exam includes 2 language qualifying papers, 1 essay, 4 GS papers, and 2 optional papers. The maximum marks shall be 1750. Only the candidates who will clear the main examination will be shortlisted for the next or final stage, i.e. Personality Test/Interview.
The marks secured in all the compulsory papers (Paper-I to Paper-VII) and the Interview/Personality Test will be counted for the final ranking.
How to Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF?
Candidates can easily access the UPSC exam calendar 2026 on the official website. Use the simple instructions shared below to download the official calendar without any hassles:
- Go to the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in.
- On the homepage, select “Calendar” under the “Examination” tab.
- A new page will appear on your screen.
- Click on the “Annual Calendar 2026” link.
- The UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF will appear on your screen.
- Download the official calendar for future reference.
As the UPSC Calendar 2026 is out now, candidates should begin their preparation to cover the syllabus on time. UPSC CSE preparation requires consistency and expert guidance. This is where Legacy IAS UPSC coaching steps in.
They offer UPSC coaching in both online and offline modes. They even offer weekend IAS coaching to help professionals manage their college studies and UPSC prep together.
Legacy IAS UPSC coaching offers structured courses, exam-level test series, personalised mentorship, doubt-solving support, and many other facilities that can maximise your chances of success.
UPSC Calendar 2026 FAQs
Q) When will the latest UPSC Calendar 2026 be announced?
A) The UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF was published on May 15, 2025. Download the PDF now and check all the important dates!
Q) How to access UPSC Calendar 2026?
A) You must visit the official website of UPSC, or you can use the direct link provided on this page to access the UPSC Calendar 2026.
Q) What are the UPSC Exam Dates 2026?
A) As per the official UPSC exam calendar 2026, the CSE prelims will be held on May 24, 2026, and the mains are scheduled for August 21, 2026.
