The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025 at upsc.gov.in. The calendar contains crucial exam dates for all major UPSC recruitment exams, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Indian Forest Service (IFS), Engineering Services, Combined Medical Services, CDS, NDA, and more.
This early release of the 2026 calendar allows aspirants to plan their preparation timeline, meet application deadlines, and stay on track for all key exam stages.
🗓️ UPSC Civil Services Exam Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC CSE Notification 2026 | 14 January 2026 |
| Application Form Release | 14 January 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 3 February 2026 |
| CSE Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| CSE Mains Exam Dates | 21 to 25 August 2026 |
The Preliminary Exam will be held on 24 May 2026 (Sunday) and the Main Exam will be conducted over five consecutive days starting from 21 August 2026 (Friday).
📌 UPSC Calendar 2026: Summary Table
| Exam Name | Notification | Prelims / Single Exam | Mains / Stage 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Services Exam (CSE) | 14 Jan 2026 | 24 May 2026 | 21–25 Aug 2026 |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | 14 Jan 2026 | 24 May 2026 | 22 Nov 2026 |
| Combined Medical Services (CMS) | 11 Mar 2026 | 2 Aug 2026 | — |
| Geo-Scientist Exam | 3 Sep 2025 | 8 Feb 2026 | 20 Jun 2026 |
| NDA & NA (I) | 10 Dec 2025 | 12 Apr 2026 | — |
| CDS (I) | 14 Jan 2026 | 24 May 2026 | — |
| NDA & NA (II) | 20 May 2026 | 13 Sep 2026 | — |
| CDS (II) | 20 May 2026 | 13 Sep 2026 | — |
| CAPF (AC) | 18 Feb 2026 | 19 July 2026 | — |
| IES/ISS | 11 Feb 2026 | 19–21 Jun 2026 | — |
| Engineering Services | 17 Sep 2025 | 8 Feb 2026 | 21 Jun 2026 |
🌲 Indian Forest Service (IFS) Exam Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 14 January 2026 |
| Prelims (with CSE) | 24 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mains Exam Date | 22 November 2026 (Sunday) |
Candidates must qualify the combined Prelims to appear for the IFS Mains exam.
👨⚕️ Combined Medical Services (CMS) Exam Date 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 11 March 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 March 2026 |
| CMS Exam Date | 2 August 2026 (Sunday) |
The CMS exam is conducted to recruit medical officers in government services.
🧪 UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam Dates 2026
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 3 September 2025 |
| Prelims | 8 February 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mains | 20 June 2026 (Saturday) |
📊 IES/ISS Exam Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | 11 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 3 March 2026 |
| Exam Dates | 19 to 21 June 2026 (Fri–Sun) |
The exam includes 6 papers and a personality test.
🪖 NDA & CDS Exam Dates 2026
| Exam | Notification | Last Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA & NA Exam (I) | 10 Dec 2025 | 30 Dec 2025 | 12 April 2026 (Sun) |
| CDS Exam (I) | 14 Jan 2026 | 3 Feb 2026 | 24 May 2026 (Sun) |
| NDA & NA Exam (II) | 20 May 2026 | 9 June 2026 | 13 Sep 2026 (Sun) |
| CDS Exam (II) | 20 May 2026 | 9 June 2026 | 13 Sep 2026 (Sun) |
🚨 CAPF (AC) Exam Date 2026
- Notification: 18 February 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 10 March 2026
- Exam Date: 19 July 2026 (Sunday)
🏗️ Engineering Services (ESE) Exam Dates 2026
- Prelims Notification: 17 September 2025
- Prelims Date: 8 February 2026 (Sunday)
- Mains Date: 21 June 2026 (Sunday)
📥 Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF
🔗 Download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF from upsc.gov.in
🧠 Why the UPSC Calendar is Important
- Helps candidates plan their yearly strategy
- Avoids missing deadlines for application forms
- Gives clarity for time-based preparation (Prelims → Mains → Interview)
- Enables early revision, test series, and optional subject planning
📢 UPSC Calendar 2026 – FAQs
Q1. When is the UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 exam?
A: It will be conducted on 24 May 2026 (Sunday).
Q2. When will the UPSC CSE Mains 2026 be held?
A: The Mains will begin from 21 August 2026 and continue for 5 days.
Q3. Where can I download the UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF?
A: You can download latest UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF From our website or the official website – upsc.gov.in
Q4. Are the UPSC Calendar 2026 dates final?
A: Dates are tentative and subject to change. Aspirants must check the UPSC site for updates.
Q5. What exams are covered in the UPSC Calendar 2026?
A: It includes CSE, IFS, CMS, NDA, CDS, IES/ISS, ESE, CAPF, and Geo-Scientist exams.