UPSC Civil Services 2026 — IAS, IPS, IFS Exam
UPSC सिविल सेवा 2026 — IAS, IPS, IFS परीक्षा
Get the latest UPSC Civil Services 2026 exam updates. The CSE is India's most prestigious examination for recruitment to IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), and 21 other All India & Central Services. Graduation in any stream is eligible. Selection through Prelims + Mains + Interview with starting salary of Rs 56,100+ basic pay.
UPSC सिविल सेवा 2026 — भारत की सबसे प्रतिष्ठित परीक्षा। IAS, IPS, IFS और 21 अन्य सेवाओं में भर्ती। किसी भी स्ट्रीम से ग्रेजुएशन पास उम्मीदवार आवेदन करें।
Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Civil Services 2026
What is the eligibility for UPSC Civil Services 2026?▼
UPSC Civil Services requires a Bachelor's degree (Graduation) from a recognized university in any stream/discipline. There is no minimum percentage requirement. Final year students can also apply provisionally. Professional degrees like B.Tech, MBBS, LLB, CA, etc. are all eligible. Foreign university degrees recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) are also accepted.
What is the age limit for UPSC CSE?▼
UPSC CSE age limit is 21-32 years for General category (as on 1st August of the exam year). Age relaxation: OBC gets up to 35 years (3 years), SC/ST gets up to 37 years (5 years), PwD General gets up to 42 years (10 years). Defence services personnel get additional relaxation as per rules.
UPSC mein kitne attempts milte hain?▼
UPSC Civil Services mein General category ko 6 attempts milte hain 32 saal ki age tak. OBC ko 9 attempts milte hain 35 saal tak. SC/ST ko unlimited attempts milte hain 37 saal ki age tak (koi attempt limit nahi). PwD General ko 9 attempts, PwD OBC ko 9 attempts, PwD SC/ST ko unlimited attempts milte hain. Prelims exam dena attempt maana jaata hai.
What are the stages of UPSC Civil Services Exam?▼
UPSC CSE has three stages: 1) Prelims — Two papers: General Studies Paper I (100 questions, 200 marks) and CSAT Paper II (80 questions, 200 marks, qualifying with 33%). Prelims is only for screening. 2) Mains — 9 papers including Essay, 4 General Studies papers, 2 Optional Subject papers, and 2 qualifying language papers. Total 1750 marks. 3) Interview/Personality Test — 275 marks. Final ranking is based on Mains + Interview (2025 marks total).
How to choose the best optional subject for UPSC?▼
Choosing an optional subject depends on: 1) Your graduation background and interest. 2) Overlap with General Studies syllabus (e.g., Geography, History, Political Science have high overlap). 3) Availability of study material and coaching. 4) Scoring trends — check previous years' marks. Popular optionals include: Sociology, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Anthropology, Philosophy, and Literature subjects. Choose a subject you genuinely enjoy studying.
What is the salary of an IAS officer?▼
IAS officer starting salary is Pay Level 10 (Rs 56,100 basic pay). With DA, HRA and other allowances, in-hand salary is approximately Rs 80,000-1,00,000 per month for a fresh Sub-Divisional Magistrate. As an IAS officer progresses: District Magistrate gets Rs 1,18,500 (Level 13), Secretary-level gets Rs 2,25,000 (Level 17), Cabinet Secretary gets Rs 2,50,000 (Level 18). Additional perks include government bungalow, car, staff, security, and significant administrative power.