The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is conducting the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Prelims 2026 today across examination centres nationwide. The examination is held in two shifts, with over 8.19 lakh candidates expected to appear for recruitment to services including IAS, IFS, and IPS.
Key Instructions for Candidates
Candidates must carry a printed admit card, a valid photo identity proof, and a black ballpoint pen for filling the OMR answer sheet and attendance sheet. The commission has directed candidates to reach their examination centres at least 30 minutes before each session begins. Entry will close 10 minutes after the start of the examination.
Direct Link to Admit Card
Candidates can download their admit cards from the official website: upsc.gov.in.
Examination Schedule
The UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 will be conducted in two sessions. General Studies Paper 1 is scheduled from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, while CSAT Paper 2 will be held from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Prohibited Items
The commission has prohibited candidates from carrying mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, earphones, calculators, tablets, laptops, cameras, books, notes, bags, and other electronic or communication devices inside examination halls. Candidates are advised not to bring valuable belongings, as no storage arrangements will be provided at centres.
Security Arrangements in Gurugram
Gurugram Police has deployed nearly 1,200 police personnel for candidate verification, crowd management, and security arrangements around examination venues. The prelims examination will be conducted at 52 centres across the district, with more than 20,000 aspirants expected to appear. Traffic police teams have prepared a special traffic management plan to prevent congestion near examination venues. Police rider teams will also patrol surrounding areas to monitor security arrangements. Officials have urged candidates and guardians to leave for centres on time and follow traffic regulations.
New Examination Centres and Revised Answer Key Process
The commission has added Bhubaneshwar, Kanpur, and Meerut as new examination cities this year, increasing the total number of centres from 80 to 83. According to reports, over 23,000 candidates opted for the newly introduced centres. UPSC has also introduced a revised system for issuing provisional answer keys shortly after the examination. Candidates will be able to raise objections through the Online Question Paper Representation Portal on upsconline.nic.in/login until May 31 at 6 pm.
