UPPCS at a glance
| Full name | Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination (PCS) |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj |
| Official website | uppsc.up.nic.in |
| Stages | Prelims (objective) → Mains (descriptive) → Interview |
| Prelims 2026 | 6 December 2026, as per the UPPSC Exam Calendar 2026 |
| 2026 notification | Advt. A-1/E-1/2026 (25 June 2026), about 500 posts |
| Age limit | 21 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Qualification | A bachelor's degree from a recognised university |
| Negative marking | One-third (0.33) of a question's marks for each wrong answer in Prelims |
| Answer medium (Mains) | Hindi, English or Urdu |
What is the UPPCS exam pattern?
Prelims
Two objective papers on an OMR sheet. Prelims is a screening test: its marks decide who goes on to Mains and are not added to the final merit.
| Paper | QuestionsQs | Marks | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies IDecides the Mains shortlist | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | Decides the Mains shortlist |
| General Studies II (CSAT)Qualifying: at least 33% | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | Qualifying: at least 33% |
About 15 times the number of vacancies qualify for Mains. Each wrong answer costs one-third of that question's marks. Question counts are as reported by coaching sites; the advertisement gives marks and time.
Mains
Eight descriptive papers of three hours each. There is no optional subject: since 2023 its place has been taken by two General Studies papers on Uttar Pradesh.
| Paper | Marks | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General HindiA minimum mark set by UPPSC must be reached | 150 | 3 hours | A minimum mark set by UPPSC must be reached |
| EssayOne topic from each of three sections | 150 | 3 hours | One topic from each of three sections |
| General Studies I | 200 | 3 hours | |
| General Studies II | 200 | 3 hours | |
| General Studies III | 200 | 3 hours | |
| General Studies IV | 200 | 3 hours | |
| General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours | |
| General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh) | 200 | 3 hours | |
| Total | 1,500 |
Interview
A personality test (viva-voce). About three times the number of vacancies are called.
| Paper | Marks |
|---|---|
| Personality test | 100 |
The final merit list is made on Mains and Interview marks together.
Who can apply for UPPCS?
| Education | A bachelor's degree from a recognised university by the last date of application. Some posts ask for more. |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 to 40 years as on 1 July 2026, that is, born between 2 July 1986 and 1 July 2005. |
| Age relaxation | For Uttar Pradesh candidates: SC, ST and OBC 5 years; UP government employees 5 years; ex-servicemen 3 years plus their period of service; persons with disabilities up to 55 years. |
Relaxations and post-wise conditions are set out in full in each year's advertisement.
How does UPPCS selection work?
- PrelimsTwo objective papers. General Studies I decides the Mains shortlist; CSAT only has to be passed with 33%.
- MainsEight descriptive papers for 1,500 marks, answered in Hindi, English or Urdu.
- InterviewA 100-mark personality test for about three times the number of vacancies.
- Final meritMains and Interview marks together decide the final list.
UPPCS dates and status
UPPCS 2026 cycle, and where the 2025 cycle stands
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| UPPCS 2026 notification (Advt. A-1/E-1/2026) | 25 June 2026 | Released |
| Last date to apply (extended) | 3 August 2026 | Closed |
| UPPCS Prelims 2026 | 6 December 2026 | As per UPPSC calendar |
| UPPCS Mains 2026 | To be announced | Awaited |
| UPPCS 2025: Mains | 29 March – 1 April 2026 | Held |
| UPPCS 2025: Mains result | 17 September 2026 (2,297 called for interview) | Declared |
| UPPCS 2025: Interviews | 28 September – 24 October 2026 | Scheduled |
Dates change. Before you plan around one, check it on uppsc.up.nic.in.
How NotesCafe helps with UPPCS
UPPCS is the exam NotesCafe is built around, in English and Hindi. Everything below is filed on the topic it belongs to.
The Whole Syllabus, to the Topic
Prelims and all eight Mains papers — including GS V and GS VI on Uttar Pradesh — broken down to the topic, with a completion bar on every level.
Smart Notes in Both Mediums
Ready notes on every topic in English and Hindi, with space for your own class notes on the same page.
PYQs on Their Topic
Previous-year UPPCS questions filed against the topic they test, so you see what keeps being asked.
Prelims 2026 Test Series
Sectional, full-length, current-affairs and CSAT tests from 1 September to 30 November 2026, with mistakes marked topic by topic.