UPSC CSE
Civil Services Examination
- Qualification
- Graduate (any subject)
- Age
- 21 to under 32
- Pay
- Level 10
Apply (calendar): 13 Jan
Every UPSC exam on one page: what is open today, which exams you can apply for, how they compare, and free practice with previous year papers.
Step 1
Pick your qualification and age. Exams you can apply for stay highlighted, with the standard age relaxation for your category added.
Showing all 5 UPSC exams.
Step 2
Where each UPSC exam stands today, who can apply and what the notice says about pay.
Civil Services Examination
Apply (calendar): 13 Jan
Indian Forest Service Examination
Mains (7 days) from 22 Nov
Engineering Services Examination
Mains result out 24 Jul 2026
Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination
Written result out 25 Aug 2026; PST/PET dates to be announced by SSB
Combined Medical Services Examination
Written result out 1 Sep 2026; interview dates not announced yet
Dates from each exam’s notices and UPSC’s Programme of Examinations for 2026 and 2027. UPSC says calendar dates can change; the notice of each exam fixes them.
Which parts each exam tests, from the scheme in its 2026 notice. CSE and the Indian Forest Service share one Prelims, and CAPF also tests general studies, an essay and English. ESE and CMS are mainly engineering and medical papers. A dash means the notice we checked does not say.
| Part of the exam | CSE | IFoS | ESE | CAPF | CMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies / general ability paper | |||||
| Separate aptitude paper (CSAT, qualifying) | |||||
| Optional subject papers | |||||
| Essay | |||||
| Compulsory English / language papers | |||||
| Engineering or medical subject papers | |||||
| Physical test (PST / PET) | |||||
| Interview / personality test |
Tested Some posts only Not tested
If you prepare for UPSC CSE
These exams test the same written subjects, so most of your preparation carries over:
UPSC CAPF AC · plus a physical test3 of 3 subjectsUPSC IFoS2 of 3 subjectsUPSC ESE1 of 3 subjectsUPSC CMS0 of 3 subjectsOpen the Exam Map7th Pay Commission levels where an official document states them: the IAS junior scale (IAS Pay Rules) and the CMS posts (CMS 2026 notice) are at Level 10. The IFoS, ESE and CAPF notices do not print a pay level, so none is shown for them. Allowances are extra.
Source: 7th CPC pay rules, Department of ExpenditureVacancies notified by UPSC for each exam, newest year highlighted. UPSC calls most of them approximate or tentative, and the final number can change.
Vacancies appear once the notice is added.
The latest official cut-off of each exam, once it is added from UPSC’s result documents. UPSC releases CSE and IFoS Prelims cut-offs only after the final result. Enter a mock score to see where you stand.
Official cut-offs appear here as soon as they are added from the UPSC result notices. Predict your rank from a mock score →
Notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results, each linked to the official notice.
UPSC notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results appear here as soon as they are posted. See all govt job updates →
The path most UPSC exams follow. The notice of each exam has its own dates and stages.
UPSC publishes each exam’s notice on upsc.gov.in on the date set in its yearly Programme of Examinations. Source
Create a Universal Registration Number once on upsconline.nic.in, fill the Common Application Form, then the exam form. No withdrawal or correction after you submit. Source
Objective papers with a 1/3-mark penalty for wrong answers. CSE and IFoS share one Prelims. Source
CSE, IFoS and ESE have a written Mains; CAPF has PST/PET; qualified candidates must update their form in a set window. Source
An interview board, then the final merit list. Posts are allotted by rank and your preferences. Source
Tick them off as you go. Your list stays on this device.
Three steps that work for every UPSC exam.
See the exact level UPSC sets, with an instant result, your rank among everyone who took it, and solutions.
Start a paperAfter every test we show the topics that cost you marks and give you a short practice set for each.
Practise by topicTen exam-level questions every day, with the answers explained, so preparation never stops.
Try today's quizFAQ
Answers from UPSC’s own notices and calendar, with the source linked.
Ask the study assistant anything about UPSC exams.
This page covers the Civil Services Examination (IAS, IPS, IFS and other services), the Indian Forest Service Examination, the Engineering Services Examination, the CAPF Assistant Commandants Examination and the Combined Medical Services Examination. UPSC also holds NDA and CDS, which are on our defence exams page, and other exams such as Combined Geo-Scientist.
Six for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC, and no limit for SC and ST, within the age limit. PwBD candidates get nine (no limit if SC or ST). Appearing in even one Prelims paper counts as an attempt. The Indian Forest Service exam has the same limits.
CSE and IFoS 2026: at least 21 and under 32 on 1 August 2026. ESE 2026: at least 21 and under 30 on 1 January 2026. CAPF 2026: at least 20 and under 25 on 1 August 2026. CMS 2026: under 32 on 1 August 2026, or under 35 for Central Health Service posts. OBC candidates get 3 more years and SC/ST 5.
Yes. Candidates who are yet to pass their degree exam may take the Prelims. Those who reach the interview must show proof of passing within the time set in the rules.
Yes. An engineering degree is required for ESE, and MBBS for CMS. Engineers and doctors can also take CSE, which is open to any graduate, and an engineering degree is one of the qualifications accepted for the Indian Forest Service.
Yes. General Studies Paper-II (CSAT) needs 33%, and Mains shortlisting uses Paper-I marks. Each paper carries 200 marks and lasts two hours. Prelims marks do not count in the final merit.
Yes, in the objective papers of all five exams. One third of the marks for a question is deducted for a wrong answer, and marking more than one option counts as wrong. A question left blank carries no penalty.
Seven merit papers of 250 marks each (Essay, four General Studies papers and two optional papers) make 1,750 marks, and the personality test is 275, for 2,025 in all. The Indian language and English papers (300 each) are qualifying at 25%.
The IAS junior scale is Level 10 of the pay matrix, ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 basic pay. CMS posts are also at Level 10. Allowances are extra.
CSE and IFoS: ₹100, and ₹200 more if you reach Mains. ESE and CMS: ₹200. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt. CAPF: ₹200, with women, SC and ST exempt. OBC and EWS candidates pay the full fee.
UPSC’s 2027 programme lists the CSE 2027 notice for 13 January 2027, applications until 2 February 2027 and Prelims on 23 May 2027. The notice has not been published yet, and UPSC says calendar dates can change.
Eligibility, pay, fees, patterns, vacancies and dates on this page come from these official documents, last checked on 14 Sept 2026. Stages, cut-offs and updates come from our records of UPSC notices. Always confirm in the official notice on upsc.gov.in before applying. Sarkari Parcha is not affiliated with the Union Public Service Commission.