UPPSC has released the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2026 notification. The main examination now has eight compulsory papers, with six General Studies papers.
Key facts: UPPSC PCS 2026
- Advertisement no.: A-1/E-1/2026, dated 25 June 2026.
- Online application: 25 June 2026 to 27 July 2026 (fee and submission). Correction window up to 3 August 2026.
- Vacancies: about 500 (may increase or decrease).
- Age: 21 to 40 years on 1 July 2026 (born between 2 July 1986 and 1 July 2005), with relaxations as per the notice.
- Qualification: a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university; some posts need specific qualifications.
- Fee (Unreserved, EWS and OBC): ₹100 exam fee + ₹25 online processing fee = ₹125. Other categories as in the notice.
- Apply only online on uppsc.up.nic.in after One Time Registration (OTR) on otr.pariksha.nic.in.
- The exam date and centre come on the e-admit card.
Selection process
Preliminary examination (objective, OMR)
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General Studies I | 150 | 200 | 2 hours (9:30 to 11:30 am) |
| Paper II: General Studies II (CSAT) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours (2:30 to 4:30 pm) |
- Paper II is qualifying: the minimum is 33% marks.
- Candidates must appear in both papers, or they are disqualified.
- The merit for the main examination is made on Paper I marks only.
- Negative marking: one third (0.33) of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Fifteen times the number of vacancies are declared successful for the main examination.
Main examination (written, conventional): 8 compulsory papers
| # | Paper | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Hindi | 150 |
| 2 | Essay | 150 |
| 3 | General Studies I | 200 |
| 4 | General Studies II | 200 |
| 5 | General Studies III | 200 |
| 6 | General Studies IV | 200 |
| 7 | General Studies V | 200 |
| 8 | General Studies VI | 200 |
| Total | 1500 |
- All papers are conventional (descriptive), 3 hours each.
- There is no optional subject. General Studies V and VI are on Uttar Pradesh.
- A minimum mark in General Hindi is required, as decided by the Government or the Commission.
- Question papers are in English and Hindi. Answers may be written in English (Roman script), Hindi (Devanagari) or Urdu (Persian script).
Interview (personality test): 100 marks
Three times the number of vacancies are called for the interview. The final selection is on the total of the main examination and the interview: 1600 marks.
Syllabus
Prelims syllabus 2026 · Mains syllabus 2026 · UP mains notes paper by paper
Source: UPPSC advertisement no. A-1/E-1/2026 dated 25 June 2026 (Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination 2026), Appendix-2, 3 and 4. Checked on 14 November 2026. Always confirm with the official notice on uppsc.up.nic.in.
