UPSC Calendar 2026 OUT! Check Prelims and Mains exam dates | Full schedule here

UPSC Calendar 2026: The UPSC Calendar for the upcoming year has been released. The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC Prelims 2026 on May 24, 2026, and UPSC Mains 2026 will take place on August 21, 2026.

The Commission has also released the National Defence Academy (NDA) 2026 exam and Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam dates, both of which are scheduled for April 12, 2026. It is important to note that the Union Public Service Commission conducts the NDA and CDS exam twice in a calendar year. These exams will be conducted for the second time in the next year on September 13, 2026.

The NDA exam is conducted to recruit candidates for the Indian Defence Forces as a Lieutenant in the Army, a Sub-Lieutenant post in the Navy or a Flying Officer in the Air Force.

The UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) exam is scheduled for July 19, 2026. Notably, the last date to apply for UPSC Preliminary Examination is February 3, 2026.

Given below is the full schedule, detailing the exam dates with date of notification and the deadline on which the registration window will close.

The dates of notification, commencement and duration of examinations are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant, the UPSC said. Notably, the Commission typically follow its calendar in its entirety and the other exam conducting bodies are required to schedule their exam calendar accordingly.

The Union Public Service Commission conducts 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

Besides these listed exams, the Commission conducts various departmental exams. In case there is any change in UPSC exam dates mentioned in the 2026 calendar, a revised UPSC exam calendar is released.