UPSC Prelims 2026 Registrations Begin Next Month, Key Dates and Eligibility Criteria Explained

Union Public Service Commission, UPSC will begin the registration process for the UPSC Prelims 2026 in January. UPSC Prelims are the combined preliminary examination for Civil Services Examination as well as Indian Forest Services Examination. The exam is schedule for May 24 next year. Registrations, however, will begin as early as January.

All candidates who wish to enter the Civil Services and become IAS, IPS officers need to begin their journey by clearing the UPSC Prelims examination. Conducted once every year, the prelims is the first step and qualifier examination for both Group A administrative services in Central Government Departments.

Related News | Interview Schedule for UPSC Civil Services Main Exams Phase II Released on upsc.gov.in

UPSC Prelims 2026: Key Dates

Candidates interested in applying for the UPSC Prelims examination are required to register online once the forms release. The key dates for the same are listed below.

Please note, the dates mentioned are as per the UPSC Calendar 2026 and are subject to changes due to varying circumstances. Also, all those candidates who have appeared for the UPSC Civil Services Exam in 2025 and wish to re-appear, they are also required to register anew.

UPSC Prelims 2026: Eligibility Criteria, Age Limit and Other Qualifications

Civil Services examination are conducted for recruitment under not just the Indian Administrative Services and the Indian Police Service but also a wide variety of other Grade A positions. For IAS or IPS, the candidate MUST be a citizen of India. For other positions, candidates may be eligible is he/she is any of the following.

1. A citizen of India
2. A subject of Nepal
3. A subject of Bhutan
4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962
5. A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Xambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with an intention to permanently settle in India

Note, for all such candidates (b to e), a certificate of eligibility issued by the government of India is required. Such candidates who do not have a certificate of eligibility may apply for the examination but their offer of appointment will be subject to the issue of the said certificate.

Apart from the nationality requirement, there is an age limit and a basic educational qualification requirement as well.

Age Limit

Candidates who have completed the age of 21 and are not above 32 years of age, as on August 1, 2026 will be eligible for the UPSC Prelims 2026 examination. This means candidates born not earlier than August 2, 1994 and not later than August 1, 2005.

Relaxation in the upper age limit is available to the following categories but there is no exemption to the lower age limit.

Relaxations in upper age limit

1. Of up to 5 years for candidates belonging to SC and ST category
2. Of maximum of 3 years for candidates belonging to OBC category
3. OF maximum of 3 years in case of Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations
4. Of 5 years in case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and Emergency Commissioned Officers ECOs/ Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have completed at least five years of military service by August 1, 2026 and have been released due to various reasons.
5. Up to 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities categories as described.

Educational Qualification Requirement

A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university is the bare minimum requirement for candidates who aspire to appear for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Candidates who have completed their graduation or are in the final year of a degree program are eligible to apply. For the latter, however, they will have to present their degree at the time of personal interview.

Candidates who are in the final year of their MBBS but have not yet completed their internship are also eligible to apply. All such candidates, however, will have to present a certificate from their respective colleges that they have completed the final medical exam and the necessary internship for grant of their degree within the time prescribed in the rules.

UPSC Prelims Examination – Number of attempts

Apart from the eligibility criteria mentioned above, there is also a limit on the number of attempts allowed for UPSC Civil Services. Candidates are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts at the Civil Services examination. In other words, in case you qualify under all the criteria mentioned above but have already appeared for the exam 6 times, you cannot apply for UPSC Prelims 2026 anymore.

An exemption on number of attempts is available for reserved categories. There is no limit on the number of attempts allowed to candidates belonging to SC/ST category – provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Candidates belonging to OBC category as well as PwBD candidates of general or EWS or OBC category have a limit of 9 attempts. Again, eligibility criteria should be met.

Meanwhile, UPSC Civil Services Mains Interview rounds are underway. Phase 1 of the Personal Interview round will end on December 19, 2025. Phase II schedule has also been released. UPSC Civil Services 2025 Result is expected to be released in the month of April.