1 UPSC Essential Rules and Examination Plan for UPSC CSE 2026

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Welcome to today’s briefing on the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification.

This episode covers the key dates, eligibility rules, application requirements, examination structure, and important procedures every aspirant should know.

Key Highlights

• Registration: Universal Registration Number (URN) is created once for future applications.
• Age: Candidates must meet the prescribed age requirement as of August 1, 2026, with applicable category relaxations.
• Prelims: Two objective papers of 200 marks each; Paper-II is qualifying with a 33% minimum.
• Mains: Nine conventional/essay-type papers, including qualifying language papers and merit-counting papers.
• Negative Marking: Incorrect answers attract negative marking as prescribed.
• Service Preferences: Candidates must provide service preferences for allocation.
• Question Representations: Candidates can submit question-related representations through the prescribed QPRep portal within the specified period.
• Attempts: Attempt limits vary by category, with applicable relaxations.
• Personality Assessment: The final stage assesses overall suitability, including personality, interests, and awareness of current affairs.

Final thought: Is your current study plan allowing enough time for revision, practice, and final preparation before the May 24, 2026 Preliminary Examination?