UPSC CSE 2026: Key Highlights of New Rules, Attempts and Eligibility Criteria

If you’re preparing for the UPSC CSE exam for this year, then you should understand certain rules and requirements.  The revised regulations have made it clearer when candidates who have previously been selected for the IPS and other Group A services, such as the IAS and IFS, are permitted or not allowed to participate in later rounds of civil service exams.

According to the notification, those who were chosen for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) through a prior test and are still employed in those cadres will not be permitted to take the CSE 2026.

Also Read

Everything You Need to Know About Vivo’s V70 Elite & V70 Launching on February 19

Bharat Taxi: India’s First Cooperative Ride Hailing App Launched, Fares Estimated 30% Lower Than Private Aggregators

Mirzapur: The Movie Set to Release in Theatres This September, Promises a Never-Seen-Before Experience

The UPSC’s most recent change states that if such a candidate is appointed to the IAS or IFS after the commencement of the Civil Services (Main) Examination-2026, but before the result thereof is declared by the Commission and she/he continues to be a member of that Service, the candidate shall not be considered for appointment to any Service/Post on the basis of the result of the CSE 2026.

A limit of six tries for the civil service test was declared by the top authority. Nonetheless, candidates in the SC/ST/OBC and PwBD groups will be given some leniency. OBC and PwBD candidates are able to apply nine times, but SC and ST candidates are allowed unlimited tries.