Key Points
- UPSC declares 13,343 candidates qualified for Civil Services Main Examination 2026
- Vacancy count drops to 1,016 this year from 1,087 vacancies in 2025
- Qualified candidates must submit details between 19 and 28 June to receive admit cards
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the results of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, with 13,343 candidates qualifying for the Main Examination. The preliminary examination was held on 24 May 2026.
The number of qualified candidates is lower than last year, when 14,161 aspirants cleared the preliminary stage for the 2025 Main Examination. The drop comes alongside a reduction in notified vacancies — from 1,087 posts in 2025 to 1,016 this year.
The Civil Services Examination is India’s most competitive recruitment process for entry into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and other central services that form the backbone of government administration.
Mandatory submission window opens 19 June
Qualified candidates must complete several mandatory steps between 19 and 28 June 2026 through the Commission’s online portal at upsconline.nic.in. These include paying the ₹200 examination fee — from which female, PwBD, SC and ST candidates are exempt — and submitting cadre preferences for the Main Examination.
Candidates requiring assistive devices, scribes or question papers in large font must also update these details during the same window.
By the numbers
- 13,343
- candidates qualified for Main Examination 2026
- 1,016
- vacancies notified for Civil Services 2026
- 14,161
- candidates qualified in previous year
UPSC has warned that failure to log in and submit the application form during this period will disqualify candidates from further stages of the examination. Even those who have previously uploaded all required documents must log in and reconfirm their details to enable generation of the e-Admit Card.
Marks and answer keys withheld until final results
The Commission stated that marks, cut-off scores and answer keys for the preliminary examination will be published only after the entire Civil Services Examination 2026 and Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 process concludes with the declaration of final results.
Candidates seeking clarification may contact UPSC’s call centre at 011-40303444 or 011-24041001 between 9am and 8pm IST.
The candidature of all qualified candidates remains provisional, subject to verification of eligibility as per the Civil Services Examination Rules 2026 dated 4 February 2026.
Your Questions, Answered
How many candidates qualified for UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026?
A total of 13,343 candidates have qualified for the Civil Services Main Examination 2026, down from 14,161 candidates who qualified in 2025.
What is the deadline to submit details for UPSC Main Examination 2026?
Qualified candidates must submit their fee, cadre preferences and other details through upsconline.nic.in between 19 and 28 June 2026.
How many vacancies are available in Civil Services Examination 2026?
UPSC has notified 1,016 vacancies for the Civil Services Examination 2026, reduced from 1,087 vacancies in 2025.
When will UPSC release the prelims answer key and cut-off marks?
UPSC will upload marks, cut-off marks and answer keys only after the entire Civil Services Examination 2026 and Indian Forest Service Examination 2026 process concludes with the final result declaration.
