UPSC Overhauls Exam Center Allocation to Support Candidates with Disabilities
For years, aspirants with benchmark disabilities have navigated a persistent uncertainty during the civil services examination cycle: the availability of their preferred examination center by the time of application. The Union Public Service Commission has now fundamentally altered this dynamic with a series of reforms aimed at enhancing accessibility and examination security for the Civil Services Examination 2026 and the Indian Forest Service Examination 2026.
No Capacity Caps for PwBD Candidates
Under the revised framework, there will be no capping on examination center capacity for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. Initially, both PwBD and non-PwBD candidates will utilize the existing capacity of each center. However, once a center reaches full capacity, it will become unavailable for selection by non-PwBD candidates, while PwBD candidates will retain the option to choose that same center.
According to a statement issued by the UPSC and reported by PTI, additional capacity will be created wherever necessary to ensure that no PwBD candidate is denied their preferred examination center. This strategic shift addresses a structural flaw in the application process where high-demand centers would fill rapidly, leaving PwBD candidates with limited alternatives.
Expanded Network of Examination Centers
The Commission has significantly expanded its network of examination centers to alleviate pressure on high-demand locations. For the preliminary examination, three new centers have been added:
- Meerut to decongest Delhi-NCR
- Kanpur to ease pressure around Lucknow
- Bhubaneswar to supplement centers near Cuttack
This expansion increases the total number of preliminary examination centers from 80 to 83. For the main examination, the number of centers has grown from 24 to 27 with the addition of Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, and Imphal.
Rationale Behind the Reforms
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar explained the reasoning behind these changes, stating that analysis of examination center data over the past five years revealed certain centers—including Delhi, Cuttack, Patna, and Lucknow—reached capacity at very early stages due to high application volumes, creating significant difficulties for PwBD candidates.
"With the revised mechanism, every PwBD candidate will be assured of their preferred examination center, ensuring greater ease and convenience while appearing for UPSC examinations," Kumar said, as per PTI reports.
Revamped Online Application Portal
As part of this comprehensive overhaul, the UPSC has introduced a completely redesigned Online Application Portal for submission of applications and conduct of examinations. The enhanced portal aims to reinforce integrity across all stages of the examination process while simplifying the application experience for candidates.
The portal now includes innovative features related to examination center preferences. In addition to selecting from notified centers, candidates will be asked to indicate preferred nearby cities through a dropdown list. This data will serve as a survey of candidate preferences and may be used to identify locations for creating new centers where feasible.
Advanced Technology Integration
The portal incorporates sophisticated photo verification and face recognition technology to strengthen identity verification across various stages of the examination process. Kumar emphasized that the Commission has adopted the latest technology to ensure "a free, fair, inclusive, and accessible examination process, with a strong focus on enhancing candidate convenience and ease of participation, while ensuring that selections are made strictly on the basis of merit."
Examination Details and Vacancies
The civil services preliminary examination is scheduled for May 24, with the Commission having issued the official notification on Wednesday. A total of 933 vacancies will be filled through the examination, including 33 posts specifically reserved for PwBD candidates.
The civil services examination is conducted annually in three stages—preliminary, main, and interview—to select officers for prestigious services including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, and other central services.
These initiatives form part of the UPSC's centenary year efforts to modernize its processes while maintaining the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and accessibility for all candidates.
