The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) declared the results of the civil services preliminary examination on Monday, with 13,343 candidates qualifying for the main examination. The prelims were held on May 24, 2026.
Key Highlights of the Results
According to an official statement, against 1,016 vacancies notified for the Civil Services Examination 2026, a total of 13,343 candidates have been shortlisted for the main stage. This is a slight decrease from last year when 14,161 candidates were shortlisted for 1,087 vacancies.
The civil services examination is conducted annually in three stages: preliminary, main, and interview/personality test. Successful candidates are selected for prestigious services such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS).
Fee Submission and Details Update Window
Qualified candidates must log in to the UPSC portal (https://upsconline.nic.in) from June 19 to 28 to provide or update details, including payment of a Rs 200 fee (exempted for female, PwBD, SC/ST candidates). They must also submit scribe details, assistive device requirements, question paper in large font (for main exam), and cadre preference. Failure to do so will result in denial of the e-admit card and participation in further stages.
The Commission clarified that even candidates who have already uploaded documents must log in and finalize submission to generate the admit card.
Availability of Marks and Answer Keys
Marks, cut-off marks, and answer keys for the prelims will be uploaded on the UPSC website (https://upsc.gov.in) only after the entire civil services and Indian Forest Service examination processes are completed, i.e., after the final result declaration.
Candidates can contact the UPSC call centre at 011-40303444 or 24041001 between 9 AM and 8 PM for any queries.
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination Shortlist
UPSC also announced that 1,046 candidates have been shortlisted for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026, based on the screening test held on May 24. This is against 80 vacancies, a significant drop from last year's 2,116 candidates for 150 vacancies.
Qualified candidates will also have a window to update details and pay the Rs 200 fee (exempted for certain categories). The dates for this window will be announced on the UPSC website.
The result of one candidate (roll number 6300119) has been withheld pending a court case.
Important Instructions for Forest Service Candidates
Shortlisted candidates must log in to the UPSC portal during the prescribed window to update or reconfirm details and submit the application form to generate the e-admit card. Failure to do so will bar them from the examination.
Marks, cut-off marks, and answer keys for the screening test will be uploaded after the final result.
CIC Directs UPSC to Proactively Disclose Merit Lists
In a related development, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has advised UPSC to proactively publish category-wise merit lists, marks, and names of selected candidates in recruitment examinations. Information Commissioner Jaya Varma Sinha emphasized the need for transparency in appointments.
The CIC recommended that UPSC publish on its website: names of selected candidates, category-wise merit lists (starting with unreserved, followed by SC, ST, OBC, PwD), their marks, and sequence of filling posts (current or backlog vacancies). This would reduce reliance on RTI applications.
The Commission also admonished UPSC for an erroneous RTI response, where an appellant was initially denied interview marks due to confusion with another candidate involved in litigation. The CIC directed UPSC to provide the waiting list information, ruling that labelling information as 'confidential' is not a valid exemption under the RTI Act.
