UP PCS 2026 Notification

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) conducts the UP PCS (Provincial Civil Services) examination annually to recruit candidates for various Group A and Group B posts in the state administrative services. The UP PCS 2026 exam will select candidates for positions like Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Block Development Officer, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, and other state civil services posts. This is one of the most prestigious state-level competitive examinations in India, offering administrative careers within Uttar Pradesh government. The exam follows a three-tier selection process comprising Preliminary examination (objective type), Main examination (descriptive type), and Personality Test (Interview). Successful candidates are appointed to various departments including revenue, police, development, and other administrative wings of the UP government.

Note: UP PCS 2026 dates are indicative based on typical UPPSC examination schedules.

Typical/Indicative: Vacancy details for UP PCS 2026 will be announced in the official notification. Based on recent UP PCS examinations, the approximate breakdown is:

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institution. Candidates appearing in the final year of their degree examination are also eligible to apply, subject to producing the degree certificate at the time of interview.

Age Limit

Typical/Indicative Age Criteria:

Age as on: July 01, 2026

Age Relaxation

Nationality

Candidate must be a citizen of India. Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India are also eligible.

How to Apply for UP PCS 2026

1. Visit the official UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in
2. Click on the "UP PCS 2026" notification link on the homepage
3. Read the detailed notification and instructions carefully
4. Click on "Apply Online" or "One Time Registration" (if new user)
5. Complete the One Time Registration by providing basic details, email ID, and mobile number
6. Login using the generated Registration ID and password
7. Fill in the online application form with personal, educational, and contact details
8. Upload scanned photograph (10-100 KB, JPG format) and signature (10-100 KB, JPG format) as per specifications
9. Select examination centre preferences
10. Review all filled information carefully before final submission
11. Pay the application fee through online mode (Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI) or generate challan for offline payment
12. Submit the application form and take a printout of the submitted form for future reference

Application Fee

Typical/Indicative:

Payment Mode: Online (Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI) or Offline (Challan at designated banks)

The UP PCS 2026 selection process consists of three distinct stages:

1. Preliminary Examination (Screening Test): An objective-type screening test consisting of two papers - General Studies Paper I (200 marks) and General Studies Paper II (200 marks, CSAT). This is a qualifying exam, and marks obtained are not counted for final merit. Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks are shortlisted for the Main examination.

1. Main Examination (Written Test): A descriptive-type examination consisting of eight papers totaling 1,500 marks. This includes one compulsory General Hindi paper (150 marks, qualifying), one Essay paper (150 marks), four General Studies papers (200 marks each), and two optional subject papers (200 marks each). Marks obtained in Main examination are counted for final merit.

1. Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who qualify the Main examination are called for Personality Test/Interview worth 220 marks. The interview panel assesses the candidate's suitability for civil services through questions on current affairs, general awareness, and personality traits.

1. Document Verification: After the interview, selected candidates must undergo document verification where all original certificates (educational, caste, domicile, etc.) are verified.

1. Final Merit List: The final merit list is prepared based on combined marks of Main examination (1,500 marks) and Interview (220 marks), totaling 1,720 marks. Candidates are allocated services and posts based on merit rank and preferences.

Preliminary Examination Pattern

Negative Marking: 1/3 mark deducted for each wrong answer in both papers.

Qualifying Marks: Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature with minimum 33% marks required. Only Paper I marks determine the cut-off for Main examination.

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Main Examination Pattern

Note: General Hindi paper is qualifying in nature (minimum 30% required). All other papers are counted for merit. No negative marking in Main examination.

Preliminary Examination Syllabus

General Studies Paper I

• Current Events: National and international importance, recent developments in science and technology
• History of India: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History, Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography: Physical, Social, Economic geography of India and the World, Indian Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution of India, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues
• Economic and Social Development: Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector initiatives
• General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology covering Class X level
• General Issues on Environmental Ecology: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

General Studies Paper II (CSAT)

• Comprehension: Reading comprehension and communication skills
• Interpersonal Skills: Including communication skills
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: Problem-solving, data interpretation
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Analytical and logical reasoning
• General Mental Ability: Basic numeracy, data interpretation (charts, graphs, tables)
• Mathematics: Class X level - Numbers, Percentage, Ratio and Proportion, Averages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Time & Work, Speed & Distance

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Main Examination Syllabus

Paper I - General Hindi

• Hindi Language and Nagari Script development
• Hindi Grammar: Sandhi, Samas, Prefixes, Idioms, and Proverbs
• Prescribed Hindi and Hindi Literature texts
• Essay writing, Comprehension, Precis writing, Translation from English to Hindi

Paper II - Essay

• Candidates required to write essays on topics of national and international importance
• Focus on analytical and critical thinking
• Three sections with choice of topics from each

Paper III - General Studies I

• Indian Culture: Ancient to modern period, Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture
• Modern Indian History: Mid-18th century to present, Freedom Struggle, Post-independence consolidation
• Indian Society: Main features, Diversity, Social issues, Women-related issues
• World History: Events from 18th century, World Wars, Redrawing of national boundaries, Colonization, decolonization
• Indian Geography: Physical features, Resources, Industries, Regional development

Paper IV - General Studies II

• Governance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, e-governance
• Social Justice: Mechanisms, laws, institutions for vulnerable sections, Government policies and interventions
• International Relations: India and neighbors, Regional groupings, Important International institutions
• Comparison of Indian Constitutional Scheme: With other countries
• Parliament and State Legislatures: Structure, functioning, powers and privileges

Paper V - General Studies III

• Economic Development: Indian Economy, Planning, Resource mobilization, Growth & Development
• Science and Technology: Developments and applications, IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Biotechnology
• Environment: Biodiversity, Conservation, Climate change, Disaster Management
• Security: Internal security challenges, Role of external state and non-state actors, Cybersecurity, Money laundering
• Agriculture: Issues of production, Marketing, e-technology, Animal husbandry

Paper VI - General Studies IV

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics, Moral and Political attitudes
• Attitude: Content, structure, function, Moral and political attitudes, Social influence and persuasion
• Aptitude: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration, Probity in Governance
• Emotional Intelligence: Concepts and utilities, Application in administration
• Case Studies: On ethics, integrity, and aptitude

Optional Subjects (Choose One)

Candidates must choose ONE optional subject from the prescribed list including:

• Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Anthropology, Botany, Chemistry, Civil Engineering
• Commerce & Accountancy, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Geography, Geology, History
• Law, Management, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Science, Philosophy
• Physics, Political Science & International Relations, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics, Zoology

Each optional subject has detailed syllabus covering fundamental and advanced topics across two papers.

Typical/Indicative: Salary structure for UP PCS officers as per 7th Pay Commission and UP state rules:

Additional Benefits:

• Grade Pay and annual increments
• Medical facilities for self and family
• Government accommodation or HRA
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Pension and retirement benefits (as per NPS/Old Pension Scheme)
• Vehicle advance and other loans at subsidized rates

Note: Actual salary varies based on posting location (X, Y, Z class cities), allowances, and deductions.

UP PCS officers enjoy excellent career progression with opportunities to rise to senior administrative positions. The typical promotion hierarchy includes: Deputy Collector → Additional District Magistrate → Chief Development Officer → District Magistrate/District Collector. Officers can also be promoted to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) through departmental promotions after completing requisite service years and passing departmental examinations. With experience, officers may reach secretary-level positions in state government departments, handling policy formulation and implementation across various sectors.

The UPPSC releases admit cards for UP PCS Preliminary examination approximately 2-3 weeks before the exam date on its official website. Candidates must login to the UPPSC portal using their registration number and date of birth to download the admit card. The admit card contains important details including candidate's name, photograph, exam centre address, reporting time, and exam day instructions. No physical admit cards are dispatched; candidates must carry a printed copy of the downloaded admit card along with a valid photo ID proof to the examination centre.

The UP PCS Preliminary examination result is typically declared within 6-8 weeks after the exam date. The Main examination result takes approximately 3-4 months after the exam. Final results after the interview are announced within 4-6 weeks of completing all interviews. All results are published on the official UPPSC website, and shortlisted candidates can download their scorecards using registration details. The result includes roll numbers of qualified candidates, category-wise cut-off marks, and detailed marks sheets are provided to individual candidates through their login portal.

UP PCS cutoff marks vary significantly based on exam difficulty, number of vacancies, and candidate performance. For Preliminary examination, the typical qualifying cutoff ranges from 75-85 marks (out of 200) for General category, 65-75 marks for OBC, and 55-65 marks for SC/ST categories. Main examination cutoffs generally range from 45-50% for General, 40-45% for OBC, and 35-40% for SC/ST categories. The final cutoff (after interview) typically ranges from 900-1000 marks out of 1720 for General category, with proportionately lower cutoffs for reserved categories. Actual cutoffs are announced with the results and vary each year.

UP PCS examinations are conducted across multiple centres throughout Uttar Pradesh and selected cities in India:

Uttar Pradesh: Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Azamgarh, Bareilly, Deoria, Faizabad (Ayodhya), Fatehpur, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Noida, Saharanpur, Varanasi

Outside UP: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai

Candidates can choose their preferred examination centre while filling the application form, subject to availability. The final allotment of examination centre is at the discretion of UPPSC.