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 examination will select candidates for positions like Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Block Development Officer, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, and other state civil service positions. This is one of the most prestigious state-level civil service examinations in India, offering candidates the opportunity to serve in various administrative capacities across Uttar Pradesh. The examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination (objective type), Main Examination (descriptive type), and Personal Interview. Successful candidates are appointed to different departments of the Uttar Pradesh Government based on their rank and preference.

Important Dates (Indicative)

Vacancy Distribution (Typical / Indicative)

Note: Actual vacancies will be announced in the official notification. The above figures are indicative based on recent UP PCS recruitments.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or Institution as per UGC norms. Candidates appearing in the final year of their Bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply, subject to producing the degree certificate at the time of interview/document verification.

Age Limit

Age as on July 1, 2026:

Age Relaxation:

Nationality

Candidate must be a citizen of India. For certain posts, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens may also be eligible as per the rules.

How to Apply

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 ID, Mobile Number) and create login credentials
4. Login using the generated credentials and fill in the application form with personal, educational, and contact details
5. Upload scanned copies of recent photograph (50 KB, JPG format), signature (20 KB, JPG format), and other required documents as specified
6. Select examination centre preference from the available options
7. Pay the application fee through online mode (Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI) or offline mode (SBI Challan)
8. Submit the application form and take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference
9. Note down the Registration Number and Transaction ID for tracking application status

Application Fee

Payment can be made online or through SBI Challan at designated branches.

Selection Stages

1. Preliminary Examination (Objective Type): This is a screening test consisting of two papers - General Studies Paper I (200 marks, 2 hours) and General Studies Paper II or CSAT (200 marks, 2 hours). Both papers are objective type with multiple choice questions. Candidates must qualify both papers, but only Paper I marks are counted for merit ranking for Mains.

1. Main Examination (Descriptive Type): Candidates who qualify the Prelims are called for Mains, which consists of 8 papers - 6 General Studies papers (200 marks each), 1 Essay paper (150 marks), and 2 Optional Subject papers (200 marks each). Total marks: 1750. All papers are descriptive/conventional type requiring written answers.

1. Personal Interview/Personality Test: Candidates who qualify the Mains examination are called for an Interview of 100 marks conducted by the UPPSC Board. The interview assesses personality, general awareness, communication skills, decision-making ability, and suitability for civil services.

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

1. Medical Examination: Finally selected candidates must pass a medical examination to ensure they meet the physical and mental fitness standards prescribed for the respective posts.

1. Final Merit List: The final selection is based on the combined marks of Main Examination (1750 marks) and Interview (100 marks). Prelims marks are not counted for final merit. Candidates are allocated to various services based on their rank, preference, and availability of vacancies.

Preliminary Examination Pattern

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

Qualifying Nature: Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in Paper II (CSAT) - 33% for General/OBC/EWS and 30% for SC/ST. However, only Paper I marks are counted for Prelims merit/cutoff.

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Main Examination Pattern

Total Marks: 1750 (Paper II - General Hindi is qualifying only, minimum 30% required)

Negative Marking: No negative marking in Main Examination.

Medium: Candidates can write answers in Hindi or English except for language papers.

Preliminary Examination Syllabus

Paper I - General Studies

• Indian History and Indian National Movement: Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, Freedom Struggle, Social and Religious Reform Movements
• Indian and World Geography: Physical Geography of India and World, Indian Agriculture, Natural Resources, Climate and Weather patterns, Economic Geography
• Indian Polity and Governance: Constitution of India, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, Welfare Schemes
• Economic and Social Development: Poverty, Inclusive Growth, Budgeting, Major Economic Reforms, Employment Generation
• Environmental Ecology and Biodiversity: Climate Change, Pollution, Conservation, Environmental Acts and Policies
• General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics and everyday applications
• Current National and International Events: Important current affairs of national and international importance

Paper II - CSAT (General Studies II)

• Comprehension: Reading comprehension passages with questions
• Interpersonal Skills and Communication: Communication skills, social cohesion
• Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability: Pattern recognition, logical deduction, analogies
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Situation-based problem solving questions
• General Mental Ability: Numerical ability, data interpretation
• Basic Numeracy: Number systems, percentages, ratios, averages, profit-loss
• Data Interpretation: Charts, graphs, tables interpretation (10th standard level)

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Main Examination Syllabus

Paper I - Essay Writing

• Three essays to be written on topics of national and international importance
• Social, economic, political issues
• Contemporary issues and philosophical themes

Paper II - General Hindi (Qualifying)

• Grammar and usage
• Comprehension
• Precis writing
• Essay writing in Hindi

Paper III - General Studies I

• Indian Heritage and Culture: Art forms, Literature, Architecture from ancient to modern times
• History of India: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History with emphasis on freedom movement
• World History: Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Colonization, Decolonization
• Geography of India: Physical, Social, Economic Geography, Location of important geographical features
• World Geography: Geographical features of global importance

Paper IV - General Studies II

• Indian Constitution: Historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
• Functions and Responsibilities: Parliament, Judiciary, Executive at Union and State levels
• Comparison of Indian Constitution with other countries
• Governance: Mechanisms, laws, institutions related to governance, transparency, accountability
• Social Justice: Welfare schemes, mechanisms for vulnerable sections
• International Relations: India and neighbouring countries, bilateral and multilateral groupings

Paper V - General Studies III

• Indian Economy: Planning, mobilization of resources, growth and development
• Agriculture: Various types of irrigation, agricultural production, issues
• Science and Technology: Developments and applications in everyday life, IT, Space, Computers, Robotics
• Environment and Biodiversity: Conservation, Climate Change, Disaster Management
• Security: Internal security challenges, role of external actors, border management

Paper VI - General Studies IV (Ethics)

• Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants, consequences of ethics
• Attitude: Content, structure, function, influence on thought and behaviour
• Aptitude and Foundational Values: Integrity, impartiality, objectivity, dedication to public service
• Emotional Intelligence: Concepts and applications in administration
• Case Studies: Ethical dilemmas and practical case studies in governance

Paper VII - General Studies V (UP-Specific)

• History of Uttar Pradesh: Ancient, Medieval, Modern history of UP region
• Geography of UP: Physical features, climate, rivers, agriculture, minerals
• Economy of UP: Agriculture, industry, infrastructure, development schemes
• Polity and Administration: Administrative structure, local self-government, important government schemes
• Social and Cultural Heritage: Art, literature, festivals, traditions of UP
• Current Affairs: UP-specific current events and developments

Paper VIII - General Studies VI

• General Knowledge: Comprehensive general knowledge questions
• Current Affairs: National and international events of past 12 months
• Science and Technology: Recent developments and innovations
• Contemporary Issues: Social, economic, political issues

Optional Subjects (Choose One)

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

Detailed syllabus for each optional subject is available in the official notification.

Salary Structure (Typical / Indicative as per 7th Pay Commission)

Additional Benefits:

• Government accommodation or HRA
• Medical facilities for self and family
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Pension and gratuity benefits
• Vehicle facility for certain posts (DSP, SDM)
• Official vehicles and drivers for senior positions
• Education allowance for children
• Annual increments and promotional benefits

Salary varies based on the specific post allocated (Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO, ARTO, etc.) and place of posting.

UP PCS officers enjoy excellent career progression with regular promotions based on seniority-cum-merit. A Deputy Collector can be promoted to Additional Collector, Joint Collector, and eventually to District Magistrate/Collector positions. Similarly, Deputy Superintendents of Police can rise to SP, DIG, and higher ranks. Block Development Officers and other Group B officers can reach Secretary-level positions in state departments through regular departmental promotions and good performance. The average time for each promotion is typically 4-7 years, and officers can reach top administrative positions within 20-25 years of service.

Admit cards for the UP PCS Preliminary Examination are released approximately 15-20 days before the exam date on the official UPPSC website (uppsc.up.nic.in). Candidates must download the admit card by logging in with their registration number and password. No physical admit cards are sent by post. The admit card contains important details like exam centre, reporting time, roll number, and examination instructions. Candidates must carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Driving License, Voter ID) to the examination centre. For Main Examination, separate admit cards are issued following the same procedure after Prelims results are declared.

UP PCS Preliminary Examination results are typically declared 2-3 months after the exam date. The result is published on the official UPPSC website as a PDF list containing roll numbers of qualified candidates. Main Examination results are declared 4-5 months after the Mains exam. The final result, after interviews, is published in order of merit with candidate names, roll numbers, and allocated services. Candidates can check their results by visiting the official website and downloading the result PDF. Selected candidates receive individual communication via registered post for joining formalities and training.

UP PCS cutoff marks vary significantly based on category and the difficulty level of the examination. For Preliminary Examination (Paper I), General category cutoff typically ranges between 85-95 marks out of 200 (42-48%), OBC cutoff is around 80-90 marks (40-45%), while SC/ST cutoff ranges from 70-80 marks (35-40%). For Main Examination, the qualifying cutoff is generally around 45-50% for General, 40-45% for OBC, and 35-40% for SC/ST categories. The final cutoff (Mains + Interview combined) depends on the number of vacancies and candidate performance. Generally, candidates scoring above 55% in Mains and performing well in the interview have good chances of selection in the General category.

Examination Centres

UP PCS examination is conducted across multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh and some neighbouring states:

Within Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Moradabad, Aligarh, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Noida, Jhansi, Mathura, Faizabad, Muzaffarnagar, Firozabad, Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Etawah, Rampur, Sultanpur, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Basti, Mau

Outside UP (if centres are available): Delhi NCR, Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

Candidates can select their preferred examination centre while filling the online application form. However, the UPPSC reserves the right to add, delete, or change centres and allot candidates to any centre based on administrative convenience.