The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced a significant rescheduling of the Personality Test, commonly known as the Interview, for the Civil Services Main Examination (CSME) 2025. This change affects candidates who were originally slated for the afternoon session on January 22, 2026.
Reason for Postponement
The interview has been postponed due to the early closure of UPSC offices on January 22, 2026. This closure is in preparation for the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade 2026, a major national event that requires extensive coordination and security measures.
New Interview Date and Session
According to the official UPSC notification, the rescheduled Personality Test will now take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, during the forenoon session. The commission stated, "The Personality Test of the candidates of CSME-2025 which was scheduled on 22.01.2026 (Afternoon Session) has now been rescheduled on Friday, 27.02.2026 (Forenoon Session) due to early closure of office on 22.01.2026 on account of full dress rehearsal for Republic Day Parade, 2026."
Phase-Wise Interview Schedule
The UPSC had previously released a detailed phase-wise schedule for the Personality Tests:
- Phase 1: Conducted between December 8 and December 19, 2025, covering 649 candidates. This schedule was announced on December 2, 2025.
- Phase 2: Scheduled from January 5 to February 27, 2026, involving the remaining 2,107 candidates. The rescheduled interview on February 27 falls within this phase.
Reporting Times for Candidates
Candidates appearing for the Personality Test must adhere to strict reporting times to ensure a smooth process:
- Forenoon Session: Report by 9 AM
- Afternoon Session: Report by 1 PM
Travelling Allowance Reimbursement
The UPSC will reimburse travelling expenses for candidates attending the interview, but only under specific conditions:
- Reimbursement is limited to second-class and sleeper-class train fares.
- Candidates must submit hard copies of the following documents in duplicate:
- Onward and return tickets
- Fare details
- The Travelling Allowance (TA) claim form, available on the official UPSC website
UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Notification
In related news, the UPSC is expected to release the notification for the Civil Services Examination 2026 soon. Once declared, the online registration process will commence on the official website, upsc.gov.in.
According to the UPSC calendar, the Civil Services Preliminary Examination for 2026 is scheduled for May 24, 2026. The notification, initially planned for January 14, was postponed due to administrative reasons. It will include crucial details such as the number of attempts allowed for various categories, including General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
This rescheduling underscores the UPSC's commitment to maintaining a fair and organized examination process while accommodating national events. Candidates are advised to stay updated through official channels for any further announcements.
