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 administrative positions in the state government. UP PCS 2026 will select candidates for Group A and Group B posts including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Block Development Officer, and other gazetted positions in the Uttar Pradesh state administration. This prestigious state civil service exam is one of the most competitive examinations in Uttar Pradesh, attracting lakhs of aspirants each year. The selection process consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination (objective type), Main Examination (descriptive type), and Personality Test (Interview). Successful candidates will be appointed to various departments across Uttar Pradesh and play a crucial role in state governance and public administration.

Typical / Indicative Timeline

Typical / Indicative Vacancy Distribution

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University established by law in India or possess an equivalent qualification.

Age Limit

Age as on July 1, 2026:

Age Relaxation:

Nationality

Candidate must be a citizen of India.

1. Visit the official UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in
2. Click on the 'Online Application' link and select 'UP PCS 2026' notification
3. Register as a new user by providing basic details (name, email, mobile number) and create login credentials
4. Log in using registration number and password
5. Fill in the application form with personal details, educational qualifications, category, and upload photograph and signature in prescribed format (JPG/JPEG, size as specified)
6. Preview the filled application form carefully and verify all details
7. Proceed to payment section and pay the application fee through online mode (Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI)
8. Submit the application form and save the confirmation page
9. Take printout of the filled application form for future reference

Application Fees

Note: Fee payment must be completed before the last date. No fee is refundable under any circumstances.

1. Preliminary Examination (Screening Test): An objective-type examination consisting of two papers - General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). This is a qualifying test designed to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted for final merit.

1. Main Examination (Written Test): A descriptive-type examination consisting of eight papers covering General Studies (four papers), General Hindi, Essay, Optional Subject Paper I, and Optional Subject Paper II. This is the primary selection stage where marks are counted for final merit ranking.

1. Personality Test (Interview): Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for a Personality Test/Interview conducted by UPPSC. The interview assesses the candidate's personality, intellect, overall awareness, and suitability for civil services. Interview carries 220 marks.

1. Document Verification: Shortlisted candidates after interview must appear for document verification where all original certificates (educational qualifications, age proof, category certificates, domicile) are verified.

1. Medical Examination: Final selected candidates undergo medical fitness test to ensure they meet the physical and medical standards required for civil service positions.

1. Final Merit List: Based on combined marks of Main Examination and Interview, a final merit list is prepared and candidates are allocated to various services based on their rank and preferences.

Preliminary Examination Pattern

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

Qualifying Nature: Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying in nature with minimum 33% marks required. Only Paper I marks determine the merit for Mains qualification.

Main Examination Pattern

Total Main Exam Marks: 1500

Interview Marks: 220

Grand Total: 1720 marks

Note: General Hindi paper is qualifying in nature (minimum 30% required). Remaining papers counted for merit.

Preliminary Examination Syllabus

#### Paper I - General Studies I

• Current Events: National and international importance, major developments in India and world
• History of India: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian history with emphasis on Indian National Movement
• Indian Polity and Governance: Constitutional framework, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, rights issues
• Economic and Social Development: Sustainable development, poverty, population, demographic trends, social sector initiatives
• Environmental Ecology: Biodiversity, climate change, general science concepts
• General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology fundamentals and their applications
• Geography of India and World: Physical, social, economic geography of India and the world

#### Paper II - CSAT (Qualifying)

• Comprehension: Reading comprehension and understanding passages
• Interpersonal Skills: Communication and interpersonal abilities
• Logical Reasoning: Analytical ability and logical reasoning
• Decision Making: Problem-solving and decision-making skills
• General Mental Ability: Basic numeracy, data interpretation
• Mathematics: Numbers, percentages, ratios, time-distance, averages (Class X level)
• English Language: Basic comprehension and language skills

Main Examination Syllabus

#### Paper I - General Hindi

• Grammar: Sandhi, Samas, Prefixes, Idioms, Phrases, Error correction
• Comprehension: Passage-based questions testing understanding
• Essay Writing: On given topics in Hindi
• Translation: English to Hindi and Hindi to English

#### Paper II - Essay Writing

• Essays on topics of national and international importance
• Social, economic, and political issues
• Contemporary topics and current affairs
• Three essays to be written from given sections

#### Paper III - General Studies I

• Indian Culture: Art forms, literature, architecture from ancient to modern times
• Ancient Indian History: Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic period, Mauryas, Guptas
• Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, regional kingdoms
• Modern Indian History: British rule, freedom struggle, post-independence consolidation
• World History: 18th century events, World Wars, colonization, decolonization
• Indian Society: Features, diversity, social issues, women's issues
• Geography: Physical geography of world and India, natural resources, environmental issues

#### Paper IV - General Studies II

• Indian Constitution: Historical background, evolution, features, amendments
• Governance: Structure, organization of Government, constitutional posts
• Social Justice: Welfare schemes, rights issues, mechanisms for protection
• International Relations: India and neighbors, bilateral relations, international organizations
• Statutory Bodies: Functions and responsibilities of constitutional and non-constitutional bodies

#### Paper V - General Studies III

• Economic Development: Indian economy, planning, mobilization of resources, infrastructure
• Technology: Science and technology developments, IT, space, biotechnology
• Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution, climate change
• Disaster Management: Natural and man-made disasters, mitigation strategies
• Internal Security: Challenges to security, role of forces

#### Paper VI - General Studies IV

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, consequences of ethics
• Attitude: Content, structure, function, influence on thought and behavior
• Aptitude: Foundational values for civil service, integrity, probity
• Emotional Intelligence: Concepts, application to administration
• Case Studies: Ethical dilemmas and case-based questions

#### Optional Subjects (Choose One)

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

Typical / Indicative Salary Structure for UP PCS Officers

Additional Benefits: Government accommodation or HRA, medical facilities for self and family, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), pension benefits, various official allowances, and other perquisites as per government norms.

UP PCS officers have excellent career progression opportunities within the state civil services. Officers typically get promoted from Deputy Collector/Assistant Commissioner to Additional District Magistrate, then to District Magistrate/Collector level positions through departmental promotion exams and time-bound promotions. Senior positions include Divisional Commissioner, Principal Secretary, and Chief Secretary level posts in various state government departments with corresponding pay scale upgrades to Level 13, 14, and higher.

UPPSC releases admit cards for Preliminary and Main examinations separately on its official website approximately 15-20 days before the respective exam dates. Candidates must download the admit card by logging into their account using registration number and password. The admit card contains important details like exam centre address, reporting time, candidate's photograph, and important instructions. No physical admit card is sent by post; candidates must carry a printed copy along with valid photo ID proof to the examination centre.

UPPSC declares the Preliminary Examination result typically 4-6 weeks after the exam, publishing the roll numbers of qualified candidates on the official website and in leading newspapers. The Main Examination result is announced 3-4 months after the mains exam, followed by the interview schedule for qualified candidates. The final result with merit list and service allocation is published after completion of interviews, usually 2-3 months after the personality test. Candidates can check their results online by entering their roll number on the UPPSC portal.

Typical / Indicative Cutoff Trends: UP PCS Preliminary cutoff marks vary each year based on difficulty level and number of vacancies. Generally, General category cutoff ranges between 95-110 marks out of 200 in Paper I. OBC category cutoff is typically 5-7 marks lower (88-103), SC category cutoff is around 80-95 marks, and ST category cutoff ranges from 75-90 marks. Main examination cutoff for final selection usually ranges between 850-950 marks out of 1500 for General category, with proportionate reduction for reserved categories. These figures fluctuate based on paper difficulty and competition level.

North India: Lucknow, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Aligarh, Mathura, Ghaziabad, Noida, Saharanpur

Note: UPPSC primarily conducts UP PCS examination in centres across Uttar Pradesh only. The exam is not conducted in other states as it is a state-level civil services examination specifically for Uttar Pradesh state administration. Candidates can choose their preferred exam centre from the available options in UP during the application process, subject to availability.