The Union Public Service Commission conducted the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 across four cities in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday: Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, and Jabalpur. A strict reporting cut-off left several aspirants stranded outside examination centres in Indore.
Exam Centres and Candidate Turnout
More than 12,000 candidates appeared at 27 centres in Indore. In Bhopal, around 12,000 candidates sat the exam across 36 centres. Gwalior saw about 6,000 candidates at 21 centres, while Jabalpur recorded around 8,000 candidates. The exam was held in two shifts: 9:30 am to 11:30 am and 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
Strict Entry Timings Cause Disappointment
Strict entry timings led to disappointment for several candidates who arrived late. At some centres, aspirants were denied entry after reaching beyond the permitted reporting time of 9 am. Rohit Shrivastava, a candidate from Ujjain, said he reached the centre nearly 10 minutes late due to traffic congestion near Lav Kush Square while travelling by bus. “This was my first UPSC attempt. I understand rules are important, but there should be some flexibility in exceptional situations,” he said.
Nitin Jain from Damoh reported that some aspirants were turned away for failing to carry mandatory documents. “A few candidates either forgot their admit cards or did not have original identity proof with them. They could not arrange them in time,” he said.
Mandatory Requirements and Prohibited Items
Authorities instructed candidates to reach centres well in advance, as entry was allowed only up to a fixed time. E-admit cards and original photo identity cards were mandatory. Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, digital gadgets, handbags, and other prohibited items were not allowed inside examination centres. Candidates underwent physical frisking and face authentication through the commission’s mobile application before entering examination halls.
Security and Monitoring Arrangements
A special control room was set up at the divisional commissioner’s office for smooth conduct of the examination. Police personnel and monitoring teams remained deployed across all centres to ensure compliance and order.
