UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification Released: Major Rule Changes Announced

UPSC New Rule: The Union Public Service Commission has issued a notification for the Civil Services Examination 2026, making significant changes. IAS or IFS officers will no longer be able to appear in this examination. Even those appointed after the preliminary examination will be disqualified for the main examination. The UPSC has made face authentication mandatory for all candidates at examination centers. This year, 933 vacancies have been announced.

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:18 AM (IST)
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification Released: Major Rule Changes Announced
UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026 Notification Released: Major Rule Changes Announced

The Union Public Service Commission on Thursday issued the notification for the Civil Services Examination 2026. This notification is in the news because of the changes made in the rules.

The UPSC has made it clear that any candidate who is currently serving in IAS or IFS would not be eligible to sit in the 2026 examination.

If a candidate is appointed to the IAS or IFS after the preliminary examination, he/she will not be eligible to appear in the main examination even though he/she has cleared the preliminary examination.

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If the appointment takes place after the main examination has commenced but before the result has been declared, the candidate will not be considered for any service.

A candidate already selected in the IPS will not be eligible for re-entry into the same service through the Civil Services Examination, 2026.

Candidates selected in the IPS or Central Group 'A' Services in the Civil Services Examination, 2026 will have the option to appear in the next year's examination upon obtaining a one-time exemption from attending training from the concerned authority.

The Civil Services Preliminary Examination will be held on May 24. The UPSC has made face authentication mandatory for all candidates at examination centers and has imposed strict eligibility restrictions for candidates already appointed in certain services.

These changes were announced in the notification issued for the Civil Services Examination, 2026. The Commission has announced 933 vacancies for this year's recruitment process.

Of these, 33 posts are reserved for candidates with special disabilities. This prestigious examination is conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages – Preliminary, Main, and Interview.

It selects officers for the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service, among others.

The UPSC has stated that to ensure a safe and smooth examination, all candidates will be required to undergo mandatory facial recognition at the examination venue.

Candidates are advised to reach the examination venue well in advance for facial recognition/verification and frisking.

Applicants are advised to use their Aadhaar card as their identity proof for easy and seamless verification of identity and other details.

Muskan Kumawat Muskan Kumawat is a Journalist & Content Writer at Sangri Times English, covering a wide range of topics, including news, entertainment, and trending stories. With a strong passion for storytelling and in-depth reporting, she delivers engaging and informative content to readers.