UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the exam calendar for the 2026 session. Students preparing for various examinations conducted by UPSC can check the exam calendar and note down the important dates.
The UPSC exam calendar 2026 contains a complete schedule of all major examinations that will be conducted by UPSC in the upcoming year. The exam calendar was released by UPSC on 15 May 2025 on its official website at www.upsc.gov.in
Below we have given the UPSC exam calendar 2026, which contains notification date, application date, examination dates, and duration of exam of all major examinations conducted by the UPSC in the upcoming year.
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UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 – Released
The schedule of events for UPSC examinations 2026 are given in the table below:
| Sl. No | Examination | Notification Date | Last date of Application | Exam commencement date | Exam duration |
| 1 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 10.01.2026
(Saturday) |
2 Days | ||
| 2 | Reserved for UPSC Examination | 17.01.2026 (Sunday) | 2 Days | ||
| 3 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 03.09.2025 | 23.09.2025 | 8.02.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 4 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 17.09.2025 | 07.10.2025 | 08.06.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 5 | CBI (DSP) LDCE | 24.12.2025 | 13.01.2026 | 28.02.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 6 | CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-2026 | 03.12.2025 | 23.12.2025 | 08.03.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 7 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), 2026 | 10.12.2025 | 30.12.2025 | 12.04.2026 (Sunday) |
1 DAY |
| 8 | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2026 | ||||
| 9 | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 14.01.2026 | 03.02.2026 | 24.05.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 10 | Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P) Examination 2026 | ||||
| 11 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 06.06.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 12 | I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, 2026 | 11.02.2026 | 03.03.2026 | 19.06.2026 (Friday) | 3 DAYS |
| 13 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2026 | 20.06.2026 (Saturday) |
2 DAYS | ||
| 14 | Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | 21.06.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY | ||
| 15 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 04.07.2026 (Saturday) |
2 DAYS | ||
| 16 | Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026 | 18.02.2026 | 10.03.2026 | 19.07.2026 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 17 |
Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 |
11.03.2026 | 31.03.2026 |
02.08.2026 (Sunday) |
1 DAY |
| 18 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 08.08.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 19 | Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | 21.08.2026 (Friday) |
5 DAYS | ||
| 20 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II), 2026 | 20.05.2026 | 09.06.2026 | 13.09.2026 (Sunday) |
1 DAY |
| 21 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2026 | ||||
| 22 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 26.09.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 23 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 10.10.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 24 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 31.10.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 25 | Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026 | 22.11.2026 (Sunday) |
7 DAYS | ||
| 26 | S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 16.09.2025 | 06.10.2026 | 12.12.2026 (Saturday) |
2 DAYS |
| 27 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 19.12.2026 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS |
UPSC Important Exam Dates 2026
Candidates must keep in mind important exam dates for various examinations like NDA, CDS, civil services examination, central armed forces (ACs) examination, etc. Below we have given the schedule for important exams:
UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Schedule
The registration for UPSC N.D.A. & N.A. 2026 Examination (I) will start from 10 December 2025, and the last date for registration is 30 December 2025. NDA I 2025 will be conducted on 12 April 2026.
The registration for UPSC N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II) will start from 20 May 2026 and the last date for registration is 09 June 2026. NDA II will be conducted on 13 September 2026.
UPSC CDS 2026 Exam Schedule
The registration for UPSC CDS 2025 Examination (I) will commence from 10 December, 2025, and the last date for registration is 30 December 2025. CDS I will be conducted on 12 April 2026.
The registration for UPSC CDS Examination (II) will start from 20 May, 2026, and the last date for registration is 09 June 2026. CDS II will be conducted on 13 September 2026.
UPSC Civil Services Exam Schedule 2026
The notification and registration for UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination will be released on 14 January 2026, and the last date for registration is 03 February 2026. The exam will be conducted on 24 May 2026.
The Civil Services (Main) Examination will start from 21 August 2026.
UPSC Engineering Services Exam Schedule 2026
The notification and registration for UPSC Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, will be released on 17 September, 2025 and the last date for registration is 07 October 2025. The exam will be conducted on 08 June 2026.
The Engineering Services (Main) Examination will start from 21 August 2026.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: PDF Link
Candidates preparing for UPSC examinations 2026 can download the PDF calendar for the 2026 session from the below given link:
Click Here to download UPSC exam calendar 2026 (PDF format)
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026
As some of the examinations of UPSC are scheduled for 2025, therefore candidates can check the dates for the UPSC examinations 2025, from the below table.
| Sl. No | Examination | Notification Date | Last date of Application | Exam commencement date | Exam duration |
| 1 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 11.01.2025
(Saturday) |
2 Days | ||
| 2 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 | 04.09.2024 | 24.09.2024 | 09.02.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 3 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 | 18.09.2024 | 22.11.2024 | 08.06.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 4 | CBI (DSP) LDCE | 27.11.2024 | 17.12.2024 | 08.03.2025 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| 5 | CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-2025 | 04.12.2024 | 24.12.2024 | 24.04.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 6 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (I), 2025 | 11.12.2024 | 31.12.2024 | 13.04.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 7 | C.D.S. Examination (I), 2025 | ||||
| 8 | Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 | 22.01.2025 | 21.02.2025 | 25.05.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 9 | Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2025 through CS(P) Examination 2025 | ||||
| 10 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 14.06.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 11 | I.E.S./I.S.S. Examination, 2025 | 12.02.2025 | 04.03.2025 | 20.06.2025 (Friday) | 3 DAYS |
| 12 | Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2025 | 21.06.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 13 | Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2025 | 10.08.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY | ||
| 14 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 05.07.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 15 | Combined Medical Services Examination, 2025 | 19.02.2025 | 11.03.2025 | 20.07.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 16 | Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2025 | 05.03.2025 | 25.03.2025 | 03.08.2025 (Sunday) | 1 DAY |
| 17 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 09.08.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 18 | Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025 | 22.08.2025 (Friday) | 5 DAYS | ||
| 19 | N.D.A. & N.A. Examination (II), 2025 | 28.05.2025 | 17.06.2025 | 14.09.2025 (Sunday) |
1 DAY |
| 20 | C.D.S. Examination (II), 2025 | ||||
| 21 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 04.10.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 22 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 01.11.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS | ||
| 23 | Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2025 | 16.11.2025 (Sunday) | 7 DAYS | ||
| 24 | S.O./Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 17.09.2025 | 07.10.2025 | 13.12.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS |
| 25 | Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | 20.12.2025 (Saturday) | 2 DAYS |
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 FAQs
If you have any doubts regarding UPSC exam calendar 2026, feel free to drop your queries in the comment box, our experts will reply you shortly.
What are the other exams for defence services other than NDA
Apart from NDA, candidates can appear for CDS, AFCAT or Army TES.
Sir my age is 10 oct 2007 and studying in 12th can i apply for NDA exam 2024? plz reply
Yes, you are eligible, can apply for NDA I and NDA II.