UPSC Exams 2026–2027 Calendar, Guides & Application Preparation
Explore major UPSC exams, official examination calendars, important dates, application guidance and document-preparation resources in one organized hub. Understand the examination journey and prepare your photo, signature and application documents before submission.
Prepare for the complete examination journey
Follow major UPSC examination cycles, access detailed lifecycle pages as they are published, and find document-preparation guidance where it matters.
UPSC Exam Calendar and Current Examination Cycle
Check important dates for major UPSC exams and follow the current examination cycle. Candidates should always confirm final dates, application deadlines and examination details through the latest official UPSC notification.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026–2027
Official programme of major examinations and recruitment tests scheduled by the Union Public Service Commission.
| Examination | Notification | Last Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 | 14 January 2026 | 3 February 2026 | 24 May 2026 |
| Indian Forest Service Preliminary 2026 | 14 January 2026 | 3 February 2026 | 24 May 2026 |
| NDA & NA Examination (I) 2026 | 10 December 2025 | 30 December 2025 | 12 April 2026 |
| CDS Examination (I) 2026 | 10 December 2025 | 30 December 2025 | 12 April 2026 |
| CAPF (Assistant Commandants) 2026 | 18 February 2026 | 10 March 2026 | 19 July 2026 |
| Combined Medical Services 2026 | 11 March 2026 | 31 March 2026 | 2 August 2026 |
| Civil Services Main Examination 2026 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 21 August 2026 |
| NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026 | 20 May 2026 | 9 June 2026 | 13 September 2026 |
| CDS Examination (II) 2026 | 20 May 2026 | 9 June 2026 | 13 September 2026 |
| Indian Forest Service Main Examination 2026 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 22 November 2026 |
| Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2027 | 13 January 2027 | 2 February 2027 | 23 May 2027 |
| NDA & NA Examination (I) 2027 | 2 December 2026 | 22 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 |
| CDS Examination (I) 2027 | 2 December 2026 | 22 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 |
Current UPSC Examination Updates
Major UPSC examinations currently progressing through important stages of the 2026 cycle.
Civil Services Examination 2026
The preliminary stage has concluded and the examination cycle is progressing toward the Civil Services Main Examination.
CAPF (Assistant Commandants) 2026
The application stage has closed and the examination is scheduled as part of the active UPSC 2026 cycle.
Combined Medical Services 2026
The application window has closed and the examination is scheduled for the 2026 recruitment cycle.
NDA & NA Examination (II) 2026
The application period has ended and candidates are moving toward the September examination stage.
CDS Examination (II) 2026
Applications for the second Combined Defence Services examination cycle have closed.
Indian Forest Service 2026
The preliminary stage is conducted through the Civil Services Preliminary Examination and the cycle continues toward the Main Examination.
Explore Major UPSC Exams
Choose an examination pathway to understand its application and selection journey. As dedicated examination pages are published, this section will connect you directly to each complete lifecycle guide.
UPSC Civil Services Examination
Follow the Civil Services examination journey from the official notification and online application through the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and final selection stages.
- Complete examination lifecycle guide
- Application and document preparation guidance
- Photo and signature requirements
- Supporting application and examination resources
NDA & NA Examination
Explore the examination pathway for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy through UPSC's recurring NDA and NA examination cycles.
Combined Defence Services
Follow the CDS examination journey from notification and application through the written examination and subsequent selection stages.
CAPF (Assistant Commandants)
Explore the UPSC Central Armed Police Forces Assistant Commandants examination and its major application and selection stages.
Combined Medical Services
Follow the Combined Medical Services examination pathway and access application-focused resources as the dedicated exam cluster is developed.
Engineering Services Examination
Explore the Engineering Services examination pathway from application through the Preliminary and Main examination stages.
Indian Forest Service Examination
Understand the Indian Forest Service examination pathway, including its connection with the Civil Services Preliminary Examination and later stages.
Complete UPSC Exam Guides & Resources
Access practical guides designed to help candidates understand application requirements and prepare documents correctly. Dedicated exam-specific guide clusters will be added as each major UPSC examination lifecycle page is developed.
Prepare Your UPSC Application Documents
Start with practical document-preparation guidance for UPSC online applications. This resource cluster will grow as new examination lifecycle pages and supporting guides are published.
Available UPSC Guides
Only currently published QuickPDFNow resources are linked below.
UPSC Photo & Signature Requirements
Understand UPSC photo and signature requirements and prepare application images before uploading them to the examination portal.
Prepare Your UPSC Application Documents
Online application portals may require candidates to upload photographs, signatures and supporting files in specific formats or file-size limits. Prepare your documents before uploading and always follow the requirements stated in the latest official examination notification.
Prepare Your Exam Photo & Signature
Resize and prepare your examination photo and signature before uploading them to an online application portal. Select the required dimensions and target file size based on the instructions for your examination.
Photo has the wrong dimensions
Prepare your examination photo and signature according to the dimensions and target file size required for your application.
Photo or signature file is too large
Reduce the file size of a JPG or PNG image when it exceeds the permitted upload limit while keeping the image suitable for submission.
Certificate or document is an image
Convert JPG images into a PDF when a document or certificate needs to be prepared as a PDF file for an applicable submission process.
PDF exceeds the permitted file size
Reduce the size of a PDF when a supporting document exceeds an applicable upload limit and needs to be optimized before submission.
Documents need to be combined
Combine multiple PDF files into one document when an applicable process requires several pages or documents to be prepared as a single PDF.
PDF cannot be processed because it is protected
Remove password protection from a PDF you are authorized to unlock before performing further document preparation or processing.
Check the official requirements before preparing files
Photo dimensions, signature specifications, accepted file formats and document upload limits can differ by examination and application cycle. Always use the latest official UPSC notification or application instructions as the final source.
Explore More UPSC Exams & Recruitment Tests
UPSC conducts several examinations and recruitment tests beyond the major examination pathways highlighted above. These exams are included here to provide a broader view of the UPSC examination ecosystem.
Combined Geo-Scientist Examination
A recurring UPSC examination with separate Preliminary and Main stages for recruitment to specified geoscience-related services and posts.
Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service
UPSC conducts the IES and ISS examination for recruitment to specialist economic and statistical services under the Government of India.
CISF AC(EXE) LDCE
A Limited Departmental Competitive Examination conducted by UPSC for eligible serving personnel seeking appointment as Assistant Commandants (Executive) in CISF.
CBI (DSP) LDCE
UPSC conducts the CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for eligible departmental candidates.
S.O. / Stenographer LDCE
A departmental competitive examination included in the UPSC annual programme for eligible government personnel under the applicable service rules.
UPSC Recruitment Tests
The annual calendar also reserves multiple dates for UPSC recruitment tests and examinations linked to specific recruitment advertisements issued during the year.
Helpful UPSC Application & Preparation Resources
Use these shared resources to check examination schedules, understand document requirements and prepare files before completing an UPSC examination application.
UPSC Photo & Signature Requirements
Understand photo and signature upload requirements and learn how to prepare examination images correctly before submitting them through the applicable UPSC application process.
Exam Photo & Signature Resizer
Prepare examination photos and signatures according to required dimensions and target file-size limits before uploading them.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2026
View the official UPSC programme of examinations and recruitment tests scheduled for the 2026 examination cycle.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2027
Plan ahead using the official UPSC examination and recruitment test programme for the 2027 examination cycle.
Document Preparation Hub
Explore exam, recruitment and application document preparation resources across QuickPDFNow.
Official UPSC Websites & Examination Resources
Use official Union Public Service Commission resources for final examination notices, online applications, schedules and examination documents. QuickPDFNow guides should be used as supporting preparation resources, not as a replacement for official UPSC instructions.
Union Public Service Commission
Access UPSC's official website and application services directly when checking examination information or completing an online application.
UPSC Official Website
Access official examination information, notices, results and other resources published by the Union Public Service Commission.
UPSC Online Application Portal
Use the official UPSC online portal for examination registration and application-related processes applicable to current examination cycles.
UPSC Apply Online
Access UPSC's official apply-online section for examination and recruitment application services.
Examination Notifications
Find official UPSC examination notifications and associated documents for current and previous examination cycles.
Previous Question Papers
Access previous examination question papers published on the official UPSC website for supported examinations.
UPSC Exam Calendars
Return to the calendar section of this hub to view major 2026–2027 examination dates and access the stored official calendar PDFs.
UPSC Calendars Available on QuickPDFNow
Copies of official UPSC calendar documents stored on QuickPDFNow for convenient reference.
QuickPDFNow is an independent document-preparation and examination-information platform and is not affiliated with the Union Public Service Commission or any government recruitment authority. Candidates should always verify examination dates, eligibility, application requirements and instructions through official UPSC sources.
UPSC Exams FAQs
Find quick answers about UPSC examinations, calendars, application resources and document preparation.
UPSC conducts several major examinations including the Civil Services Examination, Indian Forest Service, NDA & NA, Combined Defence Services, Engineering Services, CAPF (Assistant Commandants), Combined Medical Services, Combined Geo-Scientist and IES/ISS, along with certain recruitment tests and departmental examinations.
You can use the UPSC examination calendar section on this hub to review major scheduled dates for 2026 and 2027. Final examination dates should always be confirmed through the latest official UPSC notification and the official UPSC website.
Yes. UPSC's annual examination calendar is an advance schedule and dates may be revised. Candidates should treat the latest official examination notification and subsequent UPSC notices as the final authority.
Applications should be completed through the official UPSC application portal applicable to the examination cycle. Use the official resources section of this hub to access UPSC's website and online application services.
Not necessarily. Photo dimensions, signature requirements, file formats and upload limits may vary by examination or application cycle. Check the latest official instructions first, then use the UPSC Photo & Signature Guide and Exam Photo & Signature Resizer where relevant.
Required documents vary by examination and stage. Candidates should review the applicable notification and application instructions before preparing photographs, signatures, identity details, certificates or supporting files. QuickPDFNow tools can help resize images, compress files and convert or organize documents where needed.
This UPSC Hub provides a broad overview of the UPSC examination ecosystem. Dedicated lifecycle pages will focus on one examination cycle in detail, covering its notification, application stage, key dates, selection stages and connected preparation guides.
No. QuickPDFNow is an independent document-preparation and examination-information platform. It is not affiliated with UPSC or any government recruitment authority. Candidates should always verify official information through UPSC's own websites and notifications.
Get Your Documents Ready Before You Apply
Use the UPSC Hub to understand examination pathways, follow important dates and access preparation resources. When you are ready to prepare application files, move directly into QuickPDFNow's document-preparation tools and guides.