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UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially issued the UPSC Annual Exam Calendar for 2026, which includes the dates for important recruitment exams such as Civil Services (Preliminary and Main), NDA & NA, CDS, Engineering Services, and more.
According to the calendar, the Civil Services (Prelims) 2026 will be held on May 24, 2026, with the Main test beginning on August 21, 2026. The NDA & NA (I) and CDS (I) exams are slated for April 12, 2026, with the NDA & NA (II) and CDS (II) exams taking place on September 13, 2026. Here is the full schedule of the UPSC exams for the year.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026: Check complete schedule here
| Name of examination | Date of notification | Last Date for Receipt of Applications | Date of Commencement of Exam | Duration of Exam |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 10.01.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Reserved for UPSC Examination | — | — | 17.01.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 03.09.2025 | 23.09.2025 | 08.02.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 17.09.2025 | 07.10.2025 | 08.02.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| CBI (DSP) LDCE | 24.12.2025 | 13.01.2026 | 28.02.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| CISF AC(EXE) LDCE-2026 | 03.12.2025 | 23.12.2025 | 08.03.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| NDA & NA Examination (I), 2026 | 10.12.2025 | 30.12.2025 | 12.04.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| CDS Examination (I), 2026 | 10.12.2025 | 30.12.2025 | 12.04.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 | 14.01.2026 | 03.02.2026 | 24.05.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 through CS(P) | 14.01.2026 | 03.02.2026 | 24.05.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 06.06.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| IES/ISS Examination, 2026 | 11.02.2026 | 03.03.2026 | 19.06.2026 (Friday) | 3 Days |
| Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2026 | — | — | 20.06.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | — | — | 21.06.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 04.07.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination, 2026 | 18.02.2026 | 10.03.2026 | 19.07.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Combined Medical Services Examination, 2026 | 11.03.2026 | 31.03.2026 | 02.08.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Reserved for UPSC Examination | — | — | 08.08.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026 | — | — | 21.08.2026 (Friday) | 5 Days |
| NDA & NA Examination (II), 2026 | 20.05.2026 | 09.06.2026 | 13.09.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| CDS Examination (II), 2026 | 20.05.2026 | 09.06.2026 | 13.09.2026 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 26.09.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 10.10.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 31.10.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination, 2026 | — | — | 22.11.2026 (Sunday) | 7 Days |
| SO/Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | 16.09.2026 | 06.10.2026 | 12.12.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
| Reserved for UPSC RT/ Examination | — | — | 19.12.2026 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
Candidates should be aware that the dates of notice, starting, and duration of the examinations or recruiting tests may change if necessary according to prevailing conditions.
Source: IE
