New Delhi, January 14, 2026 — The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today postponed the release of the notification for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026, originally scheduled for January 14, 2026.

UPSC Announces Postponement

UPSC issued a short notice on its official website (upsc.gov.in):

“The Commission has postponed the Notification of Civil Services Examination, 2026 and Indian Forest Service Examination, 2026, which was scheduled for 14.01.2026, due to administrative reasons. The Commission will notify the new date in due course.”

UPSC has not yet announced a revised release date. Such delays often occur while the Commission finalizes vacancy numbers, completes internal approvals, or updates the online application system.

Prelims Date Remains Fixed

UPSC has kept the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 (which also serves as the screening test for IFS) on May 24, 2026 (Sunday).

The prelims include two objective papers:

• General Studies Paper I
• Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT)

Successful candidates will advance to the Mains (tentatively starting August 21, 2026) and later to the Personality Test (Interview).

Next Steps for Aspirants

The delay also postpones the online application window that was expected to open today and close on February 3, 2026.

Candidates should:

• Continue preparation without any break — the prelims date remains unchanged.
• Complete or update their One Time Registration (OTR) on upsconline.nic.in to save time later.
• Regularly visit upsc.gov.in for the fresh notification, exact vacancy details (IAS, IPS, IFS, and other services), eligibility, syllabus, and application instructions.

Quick Facts on CSE and IFS

The Civil Services Examination recruits for prestigious services including IAS, IPS, Indian Foreign Service, and various Group A & B posts. The Indian Forest Service shares the same prelims but conducts separate Mains and interviews focused on forestry and environmental subjects.

Every year, lakhs of aspirants compete for roughly 900–1,100 vacancies.

Keep checking upsc.gov.in for official updates. Use this short delay to strengthen your preparation!

  UPSC, UPSC Civil Services Exam, UPSC Prelims 2026