UPSC CSE 2026 Application Last Date Extended

#UPSC CSE 2026 Application Last Date Extended: New Deadline (27 Feb 2026, 6 PM) + Full Details

UPSC has extended the last date to submit the online application form for Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 and Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026 by 3 days. The new deadline is 27 February 2026 (up to 6:00 PM).

This extension comes after many candidates reported technical glitches (including “404 error”, slow loading, login/submission issues) on the UPSC online application portal, especially close to the earlier closing time.

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#Updated UPSC CSE 2026 Important Dates (Revised)

Dates in the original Examination Notice and exam schedule are given in the UPSC CSE 2026 Examination Notice dated 04.02.2026, and the extended last date is as per UPSC’s public notice reported by PTI and other outlets.

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#What exactly got extended (and for whom)?

• The deadline extension applies to both:
  • Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026, and
  • Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination 2026 (through the common prelims).
• If you have already submitted your form successfully, you generally do not need to re-apply—the extension is mainly relief for candidates who could not complete submission due to portal issues.

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#UPSC CSE 2026 Vacancies (Official)

UPSC has indicated that the number of vacancies is expected to be approximately 933, including 33 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) (with category-wise breakup mentioned in the notice).

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#How to apply for UPSC CSE 2026 on the new portal (step-by-step)

UPSC’s online application portal works through four modules/cards:
1) Account Creation
2) Universal Registration (generates URN)
3) Common Application Form (CAF)
4) Exam-specific application module (CSE/IFS)

Step-by-step checklist

1. Go to the UPSC online application portal (apply online only).


2. Create your account and complete Universal Registration to generate your URN (done once).


3. Fill the CAF carefully (this is common for exams).


4. Complete the CSE 2026/IFS 2026 exam-specific module (exam, centre choice, fee, final submission).


5. Download and save your final submitted application / confirmation for future reference.

Important: The Examination Notice states that no correction/alteration is allowed after final submission, so review everything before you lock/submit.

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#Photo, signature, and other upload rules (don’t skip these)

UPSC has specific instructions that commonly cause last-minute rejection or submission failure, including:

• Live photo capture during CAF filling (along with uploaded photograph).


• Signature upload: sign three times on white paper with black ink and upload as per instructions.


• Keep documents ready in advance to avoid delays during peak traffic hours.

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#UPSC CSE 2026 Application Fee (Official)

As per the UPSC CSE 2026 Examination Notice:

• ₹100 fee for CSE (Prelims) application for all candidates except Female / SC / ST / PwBD, who are exempted.


• Fee payment modes include Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay, Credit/Debit Card, and UPI.


• Candidates admitted to CSE (Mains) 2026 must pay an additional ₹200 (again, exempted categories remain exempted).

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#UPSC CSE 2026 Eligibility snapshot (age, attempts, nationality)

Here are high-impact eligibility points straight from the Examination Notice:

#Age (as on 1 August 2026)

• Must be at least 21 years and not have attained 32 years.
• In date terms, UPSC states the candidate must be born not earlier than 2 August 1994 and not later than 1 August 2005 (with relaxations for eligible categories).

#Attempts

• General/EWS: 6 attempts
• OBC: 9 attempts
• SC/ST: Unlimited
• PwBD: 9 attempts for General/EWS/OBC and Unlimited for SC/ST (as per the table in the notice).

#Nationality (quick view)

• For IAS/IFS/IPS, candidate must be a citizen of India (other services allow additional categories listed in the notice).

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#What to do if UPSC site is slow or shows errors (practical tips)

Because the extension was triggered by portal load/technical issues, treat the extra days as a buffer—not extra procrastination:

• Apply during non-peak hours (early morning/late night) to reduce timeouts. (Common pattern during deadline rush.)


• Keep files ready in the right format/size before logging in (photo, signature, IDs).


• After submitting, download/save the final application/acknowledgement immediately.

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#Official portals (for safe form filling)

Use only the official UPSC application portal and UPSC website for updates:

• UPSC Website↗ (opens in new tab)
• UPSC Online Application Portal↗ (opens in new tab)

UPSC has reiterated that candidates must apply online through the portal.

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#Quick FAQs (UPSC CSE 2026 Deadline Extension)

#1) What is the new last date for UPSC CSE 2026 application?

27 February 2026, up to 6:00 PM.

#2) Does the extension apply to IFS 2026 too?

Yes—UPSC extended the deadline for both CSE 2026 and IFS Examination 2026.

#3) What was the earlier last date mentioned in the UPSC notice?

The CSE 2026 Examination Notice dated 04.02.2026 mentions 24 February 2026 (till 6:00 PM) as the last date.

#4) What is the UPSC CSE 2026 Prelims date?

24 May 2026.

#5) Who is exempted from paying the ₹100 application fee?

Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted (as per the official notice).