UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Exam Begins Across India Today, Check Details

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Exam Begins Today in Two Offline Shifts Across India as the Union Public Service Commission started conducting the Civil Services Preliminary Examination on May 24, 2026. Lakhs of aspirants appeared at examination centres nationwide for one of the country’s most competitive recruitment examinations. The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination is being conducted in offline mode using OMR sheets for recruitment to prestigious services including IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A and Group B posts. Authorities have implemented strict frisking, identity verification, and entry procedures at all centres. Candidates started arriving at examination centres early in the morning as entry gates for the first shift were closed before the commencement of the examination. UPSC officials reportedly denied late entry at several centres following strict examination rules.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Timing and Shift Schedule

The Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 is being conducted in two separate shifts on the same day. The morning session began with General Studies Paper 1, while the afternoon session will be conducted for CSAT Paper 2. The examination schedule is:

According to UPSC guidelines, examination centre gates were closed at 9:00 AM for the first shift and will close at 2:00 PM for the afternoon session. Candidates arriving after the gate closing time are not being permitted entry.

Lakhs of Candidates Appearing for UPSC Prelims 2026

The UPSC Civil Services Examination continues to remain one of the toughest recruitment examinations in India. This year, more than 8 lakh candidates have reportedly registered for the Preliminary Examination conducted across multiple states and union territories. The Preliminary Examination acts as the first stage of the Civil Services selection process. Candidates qualifying this stage will become eligible for the UPSC Mains Examination scheduled later this year. Several candidates were seen reaching examination centres carrying admit cards, photo identity proofs, black ballpoint pens, and other permitted items as instructed by UPSC authorities.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam Day Guidelines and Security Checks

UPSC has implemented strict examination-day instructions this year to maintain transparency and discipline during the recruitment process. Candidates were required to undergo frisking and document verification before entering examination halls. The following items are mandatory for entry:

• Printed UPSC Admit Card
• Original Photo Identity Proof
• Black Ballpoint Pen
• Passport-size Photograph

Electronic gadgets including mobile phones, calculators, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, earphones, and other communication devices have been completely prohibited inside the examination venue. Authorities also advised candidates to wear simple clothing and avoid metallic accessories to ensure smooth security screening procedures.

UPSC Prelims 2026 Selection Process

GS Paper 1 marks will be considered for cutoff preparation, while CSAT remains qualifying in nature with a minimum requirement of 33 percent marks. Candidates clearing the Preliminary Examination will move to the next stage of the recruitment process. The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination
2. Main Examination
3. Interview/Personality Test

The Preliminary Examination includes:

• General Studies Paper 1
• CSAT Paper 2

UPSC Prelims 2026 Paper Analysis and Answer Key Updates

After the completion of both examination shifts, coaching institutes and subject experts are expected to release memory-based questions, unofficial answer keys, and detailed paper analysis reports. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the official UPSC website for future announcements regarding provisional answer keys and result updates. Experts are expected to analyse:

• Subject-wise difficulty level
• Current affairs weightage
• Good attempts
• Expected cutoff trends
• CSAT difficulty analysis

UPSC Prelims 2026 Competition and Vacancy Trends

The Civil Services Examination remains highly competitive every year because of limited vacancies and nationwide participation. Several aspirants and coaching experts are expected to share initial reactions after the completion of both examination sessions later today. Experts believe the cutoff trends this year may depend on:

• Overall paper difficulty
• Candidate accuracy
• Number of vacancies
• Current affairs weightage
• CSAT difficulty level

UPSC Prelims 2026 Exam FAQs