UPSC Calendar 2026 Released @upsc.gov.in: Complete Exam Schedule for IAS, NDA, CDS, IES & CAPF

The Union Public Service Commission released UPSC Calendar 2026 on May 15, 2025. According to the calendar, UPSC IAS prelims exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on May 24, 2026. CDS 1 & NDA 1 2026 exams will be conducted on April 12, 2026. CAPF 2026 exam will be conducted on July 19, 2026. The link to download UPSC Calendar 2026 PDF is provided on this page. Scroll down to read more details on the UPSC Calendar 2026.

UPSC Calendar 2026: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Annual Exam Calendar 2026. The calendar has been released on the official website in PDF form and comprises the important dates related to various UPSC exams. According to UPSC Calendar, IAS prelims exam is scheduled to be conducted on May 24, 2026. CDS 1 & NDA 1 exams will be conducted on April 12, 2026. CAPF exam will be conducted on July 19, 2026. UPSC IES exam is scheduled to be conducted on February 8, 2026. 

The examination authority will release the notification, application and exam dates in the official UPSC exam calendar. The exam schedule are important because the candidates require the exam dates to plan their preparation based on the official UPSC exam dates 2026. Millions of aspirant across the country wait for the UPSC exam calendar to know the notification, application and exam date of UPSC Civil Service (IAS) exam. The candidates plan their preparation, coaching, and stay as per the UPSC CSE 2026 dates.

The Union Public Service Commission conduct the following exams every year:

• Civil Service Exam
• Engineering Service Exam
• Indian Forest Service Exam
• National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam
• Combined Defence Service (CDS) Exam
• Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) Exam
• Combined Medical Service (CMS) Exam
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Exam
• Combined Geo-Scientist Exam
• Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Exam

The candidates should note that in addition to above, the Commission also conduct the various departmental exams for promotion. The Commission can released the revised UPSC exam calendar in case of any change in the exam dates.

UPSC Annual Calendar 2026

The UPSC exam dates are important because the Commission accept the vacancy requisitions from the concerned ministries till the prelims exam date of the exam. After the preliminary exam, the vacancies are not considered for the current year, and the Commission includes such vacancies in the next year's notification.

The UPSC exam calendar notifies the exam dates for the nationwide exams, and the other Commissions and exam conducting bodies are required to maintain their exam calendar in accordance with the UPSC 2026 exam calendar and do not conduct the exam on those days.

The UPSC exam dates are very important for the candidates as they need to plan their studies as per the exam dates. The candidates can see that the there is no sea change in the exam dates every year and all the exam dates are shifted by some days only.

The UPSC exam calendar will be released for the exams to be conducted in the year 2026 but their will be some exams whose notification and application will be available this year only such the Engineering Service Exam 2026.

UPSC Exam Schedule 2026

The candidates can see below the UPSC 2026 exam calendar.

Note: The dates of notification, commencement and duration of Examinations/ RTs are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant.

UPSC CSE (IAS) 2026 Exam Dates

The IAS application form will be released on January 14, 2026. The last date to fill the online form is February 3, 2026. UPSC CSE (IAS) exam will be conducted on May 24, 2026. The civil services mains exam will be conducted on August 21, 2026.

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Dates

The UPSC ESE (IES) exam is conducted every year to recruit candidates for the post of Executive Engineers in different departments associated with the Central Ministries.UPSC ESE notification 2026 will be released on September 17, 2025. The last date to fill the application form is October 7, 2025. The prelims exam of UPSC ESE (IES) exam will be conducted on February 8, 2026. The mains exam will be held on June 21, 2026.

UPSC NDA 2026 Exam Dates

The Union Public Service Commission conduct the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam twice in a calendar year. This exam is conducted to recruit young candidates for the National Defence Academy’s Graduate programme. These candidates join the three wings of the Indian Defence Forces as a Lieutenant in the Army, a Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy, or a Flying Officer in the Air Force. The notification of the NDA 1 2026 exam will be released on December 10, 2025. The application form will be available from December 10 to 30, 2025. NDA 1 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026. NDA 2 notification will be released on May 20, 2026. The application form will be available from May 20 to June 9, 2026. NDA 2 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026.

Combined Defence Service (CDS) 2026 Exam Dates

The Combined Defence Service (CDS) exam is also conducted twice every year. The educational qualification required to appear in the CDS exam is a Graduate. The Commission select the candidates through the written exam and followed by the SSB conducted by the Defence Forces. The notification of the CDS 1 exam will be released on December 10, 2025. The application form will be available from December 10 to 30, 2025. CDS 1 exam will be conducted on April 12, 2026. CDS 2 notification will be released on May 20, 2026. The application form will be available from May 20 to June 9, 2026. CDS 2 exam will be conducted on September 13, 2026.

Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) 2026 Exam Dates

The Union Public Service Commission select the candidates for the post of Assistant Commandant in the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). These forces include

• Central Industrial Security Force(CISF)
• Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF)
• Border Security Force(BSF)
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

The notification for UPSC CAPF exam will be released on February 18, 2026. The application form will be available from February 18 to March 10, 2026. The exam will be held on July 19, 2026.

Though the dates mentioned in the UPSC exam calendar are tentative, but the Commission conduct its exams as per the dates mentioned in the exam calendar.