UPPSC PCS 2026: Prelims Exam Date, Admit Card & Recruitment Status

UP PCS 2026 Current Stage & Latest Commission Updates

Current Official Status as of October 1, 2026: The UPPSC PCS 2026 Preliminary Examination is officially scheduled for December 6, 2026 (Sunday) under Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026 in accordance with the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission examination calendar. Online applications closed on August 3, 2026. Candidates searching for "UPPCS 2026 exam date", "prelims exam date", or "SDM vacancy" should note that Prelims hall tickets will be issued via candidate OTR login on uppsc.up.nic.in once the commission officially activates the admit card link. For complete syllabus analysis, subject-wise booklist, and Mains preparation strategies, visit our in-depth UPPSC PCS 2026 Complete Guide.

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) conducts the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination (PCS) annually. As the premier state civil services examination, it selects administrative leaders for prestigious executive, police, revenue, and development roles in Uttar Pradesh.

---

1. UPPSC PCS 2026 — At a Glance

Parameter	Official Status / Details
Conducting Body	Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC), Prayagraj
Exam Name	Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination 2026 (PCS)
Key Elite Posts	Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Dy. SP (DSP), BDO, Deputy Collector
Total Vacancies	Approximately 500 Posts
Selection Stages	Prelims (Dec 6, 2026) → Mains Written (1,500 Marks) → Interview (100 Marks)
Application Window	June 25, 2026 to August 3, 2026 (Closed)
Prelims Admit Card	To be notified on uppsc.up.nic.in (via OTR login)
Prelims Exam Date	December 6, 2026 (Sunday) ✅
Official Portal	uppsc.up.nic.in

---

2. UPPSC PCS 2026 — Important Recruitment Dates

Event Milestone	Confirmed Status / Official Date
Official Notification Advertisement	June 25, 2026
Online Application Start Date	June 25, 2026
Last Date for Application & Fee Payment	August 3, 2026 (Closed)
Application Modification Window	Up to August 10, 2026 (Closed)
Prelims Admit Card Release Date	To be officially notified on uppsc.up.nic.in
UPPSC PCS 2026 Prelims Exam Date	December 6, 2026 (Sunday)
Provisional Answer Key Release	Within 3–5 days post Prelims exam
Prelims Result Declaration	Expected January 2027
Mains Examination Execution	Scheduled for May 2027 (per Commission calendar)
Interview & Personality Test	August–September 2027
Final Result Declaration	October 2027

---

3. Posts Offered & Elite Cadres (SDM, DSP, BDO)

The UP Combined State Services examination recruits officers for both Group 'A' and Group 'B' gazetted services across the state:

Designation / Post	Department	Pay Scale (7th CPC)	Class / Cadre
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM / Deputy Collector)	Revenue Department	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)	Group A Gazetted
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. SP / DSP)	Home (Police) Department	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)	Group A Gazetted
Block Development Officer (BDO)	Rural Development	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)	Group A Gazetted
Commercial Tax Officer / Asst. Commissioner	Commercial Tax	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)	Group A Gazetted
District Commandant (Home Guards)	Home Guards	Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)	Group A Gazetted
District Cane Officer	Sugar Industry & Cane Dev.	Pay Level 9 (₹53,100 – ₹1,67,800)	Group B Gazetted
District Audit Officer	Finance & Accounts	Pay Level 8 (₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100)	Group B Gazetted
Naib Tehsildar	Revenue Department	Pay Level 7 (₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400)	Group B Gazetted

---

4. Rigorous Eligibility Mandates

Educational Qualification

• General Executive Posts (including SDM, BDO, Commercial Tax): Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a university established by law in India or an equivalent recognized qualification.
• Special Qualification Posts:
  • Sub Registrar / Asst. Prosecuting Officer (Transport): Law Graduate (LL.B.).
  • District Audit Officer: Commerce Graduate (B.Com).
  • District Cane Officer: Degree in Agriculture Science (B.Sc. Ag).
  • District Horticulture Officer: Degree in Agriculture Science or Horticulture (B.Sc. Horticulture).

Age Limit (Calculated as on July 1, 2026)

Category	Minimum Age	Maximum Age	Upper Age Limit
General (Unreserved)	21 Years	40 Years	40 Years
OBC (UP Domicile)	21 Years	40 Years	45 Years (+5 Years)
SC / ST (UP Domicile)	21 Years	40 Years	45 Years (+5 Years)
Skilled Players of UP	21 Years	40 Years	45 Years (+5 Years)
State Govt Employees of UP	21 Years	40 Years	45 Years (+5 Years)
PwD Candidates (UP Domicile)	21 Years	40 Years	55 Years (+15 Years)
Ex-Servicemen of UP	21 Years	40 Years	As per service rules (+3 Years)

Domicile & Category Reservation

• UP Domicile Holders: Eligible for statutory age relaxation and category reservation benefits (OBC, SC, ST, EWS).
• Candidates from Other States: Eligible to apply under the General (Unreserved) category. No domicile barrier exists for general merit seats.

---

5. UPPSC PCS 2026 Exam Pattern (All Stages)

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Screening — December 6, 2026)

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   UPPSC PCS PRELIMS                    │
│                 (Offline OMR Two Shifts)               │
├──────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┤
│ Shift 1: GS Paper 1      │ Shift 2: GS Paper 2 (CSAT)  │
│ 150 Questions · 200 Marks│ 100 Questions · 200 Marks   │
│ Decides Mains Shortlist  │ Qualifying Only (Min 33%)   │
└──────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

Paper	Subject	Questions	Max Marks	Duration	Negative Marking	Merit Contribution
Paper 1	General Studies	150	200	2 Hours (9:30–11:30 AM)	1/3rd (0.44 marks)	100% Determinant of cut-off
Paper 2	General Studies II (CSAT)	100	200	2 Hours (2:30–4:30 PM)	1/3rd (0.66 marks)	Qualifying Only (Min 33%)

Important Prelims Rule: CSAT Paper 2 is strictly qualifying. Candidates must score at least 66 marks out of 200. Merit for qualifying to Mains is based entirely on Paper 1.

Stage 2: Main Examination (Merit Deciding — 1,500 Marks)

The Mains written examination consists of 8 descriptive papers conducted over four consecutive days:

Paper Code	Subject Title	Type	Max Marks	Duration
Paper 1	General Hindi	Descriptive Written	150 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 2	Essay (Hindi, English, or Urdu)	Descriptive Written	150 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 3	General Studies I (History, Heritage, Society, Geo)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 4	General Studies II (Polity, Governance, IR, Justice)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 5	General Studies III (Economy, Science, Security, Disaster)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 6	General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 7	General Studies V (Uttar Pradesh Special - I)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Paper 8	General Studies VI (Uttar Pradesh Special - II)	Descriptive Written	200 Marks	3 Hours
Total Written Merit Base			1,500 Marks

Key Rule on General Hindi: In UPPSC PCS, General Hindi carries 150 marks that are included in the final merit calculation (unlike UPSC CSE, where regional language papers are qualifying only). Optional subjects have been abolished.

Stage 3: Interview (Personality Test — 100 Marks)

• Conducted at UPPSC Head Office in Prayagraj for candidates clearing Mains cut-off.
• Assesses mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, logical exposition, balance of judgement, and moral integrity.
• Final Merit List: Total 1,600 Marks (Mains 1,500 + Interview 100).

---

6. UPPSC PCS 2026 Detailed Syllabus

Prelims GS Paper 1 — Detailed Topics

• Indian History & Culture: Ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history; Indian National Movement; 1857 resistance; freedom fighters of UP.
• Geography (World, India & UP): Physical, social, and economic geography of India and the world; Ganga-Yamuna doab, drainage systems, mineral belts, soil types.
• Indian Polity & Governance: Constitution of India, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy, Rights issues; UP Vidhan Sabha (403 seats), Vidhan Parishad (100 seats), state administrative structure.
• Economic & Social Development: Sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, UP budget highlights, ODOP scheme.
• Environment & Biodiversity: Climate change, ecology, wildlife conservation, national parks of UP (Dudhwa National Park, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve).
• General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics (Class 10 level) and public health issues.
• Current Affairs: National, international, and UP state current events of the preceding 12 months.

Mains GS Papers — Detailed Breakup

• GS Paper 1: Indian culture, modern history (1757–1947), post-independence consolidation, world history, society, women empowerment, physical geography of India and world.
• GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution, federalism, Parliament and state legislatures, judiciary, executive, CAG, ECI, statutory bodies, welfare schemes, bilateral and multilateral international relations.
• GS Paper 3: Indian economy, planning, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, science and technology, internal security, border management, cyber security, disaster management.
• GS Paper 4: Ethics and human interface, attitude, emotional intelligence, moral philosophers, probity in governance, RTI, citizen charters, practical administrative case studies.
• GS Paper 5 (UP Special - I): History, civilization, culture, architecture, folk traditions, political system, judiciary, law and order, police system, and security dimensions of Uttar Pradesh.
• GS Paper 6 (UP Special - II): Economy of UP, state budget, agriculture, horticulture, industrial corridors (Defence Corridor, expressways), geography, natural resources, environment, science and technology parks of UP.

---

7. UPPSC PCS — Previous Year Cut-Offs

Prelims GS Paper 1 Cut-Off Trends (Out of 200 Marks)

Cycle / Year	General (UR)	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
PCS 2024	105–112 Marks	98–106 Marks	88–96 Marks	80–88 Marks	101–108 Marks
PCS 2023	102–109 Marks	95–103 Marks	86–93 Marks	78–86 Marks	98–104 Marks
PCS 2022	98–105 Marks	90–98 Marks	82–89 Marks	74–82 Marks	95–101 Marks
PCS 2021	103–110 Marks	95–103 Marks	84–92 Marks	76–84 Marks	99–105 Marks
PCS 2020	99–106 Marks	91–99 Marks	80–88 Marks	72–80 Marks	96–102 Marks

Mains Cut-Off (Out of 1,500 Marks — For Interview Call)

Cycle / Year	General (UR)	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
PCS 2023	745–775 Marks	715–745 Marks	678–708 Marks	645–675 Marks	720–750 Marks
PCS 2022	735–765 Marks	706–736 Marks	668–698 Marks	635–665 Marks	710–740 Marks
PCS 2021	740–770 Marks	712–742 Marks	672–702 Marks	638–668 Marks	715–745 Marks

---

8. UP PCS Officer Salary Structure & Benefits

Post Cadre	Pay Level	Basic Pay (7th CPC)	Gross Monthly In-Hand (Lucknow/Districts)
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)	Level 10	₹56,100	₹95,000 – ₹1,10,000
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)	Level 10	₹56,100	₹95,000 – ₹1,10,000
Block Development Officer (BDO)	Level 10	₹56,100	₹95,000 – ₹1,10,000
Deputy Collector	Level 10	₹56,100	₹95,000 – ₹1,10,000
District Cane Officer	Level 9	₹53,100	₹88,000 – ₹1,02,000
District Audit Officer	Level 8	₹47,600	₹78,000 – ₹92,000
Naib Tehsildar	Level 7	₹44,900	₹72,000 – ₹85,000

Perks and Entitlements:

• Government residential bungalow / Type V quarter allocation.
• Official vehicle with driver and security escort (for SDM and DSP posts).
• Reimbursement of medical expenses for family members under UP state government health scheme.
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and children educational allowances.
• Defined pension benefits under the National Pension System (NPS).

---

9. How to Apply for UPPSC PCS (Application Process Archive)

When UPPSC activates the application window, candidates complete the following multi-step digital procedure:

1. OTR Registration (Mandatory): Visit uppsc.up.nic.in → Register on the One Time Registration portal with name, mobile, email, and Aadhaar verification.
2. Dashboard Login: Log in using your verified OTR credentials → Navigate to the active "Examination" listing.
3. Application Form Verification: Verify pre-populated educational credentials, address details, and select post preferences.
4. Pay Application Fee:
   • General / OBC: ₹125
   • SC / ST (UP Domicile): ₹65
   • PwD Candidates: ₹25
   • Female Candidates (UP Domicile): ₹65
5. Upload Documents: Recent passport-size photograph (20–40 KB) and clear signature (10–20 KB).
6. Submit & Print: Download and preserve multiple copies of the application confirmation page.

---

10. Preparation Strategy for UPPSC PCS 2026

6-Month Intensive Preparation Blueprint

• Month 1–2 — Static Core & UP Foundations:
  • Study standard textbooks: M. Laxmikanth for Indian Polity, Spectrum for Modern History, and NCERT Class 11–12 for Geography.
  • Build dedicated UP GK notes using authentic UP government publications and state survey manuals.
• Month 3–4 — Mains Answer Writing & UP Special (GS 5 & 6):
  • Focus on UP Special papers (GS 5 and 6): compile notes on UP governance, agriculture, expressways, and ODOP clusters.
  • Practice 2 descriptive answers daily adhering to strict word limits (125 words for 8 marks; 200 words for 12 marks).
  • Study Ethics (GS 4) frameworks and practice standard case study templates.
• Month 5–6 — Prelims Intensive Mock Testing:
  • Attempt 2 full Prelims mock tests per week under simulated 2-hour exam conditions.
  • Practice CSAT Paper 2 (Maths, Hindi, Reasoning) to comfortably guarantee a score above 40% (exceeding the 33% cutoff).
  • Thoroughly revise previous 20 years' Ghatna Chakra question banks.

Recommended Books for UPPSC PCS 2026

Subject Domain	Standard Recommended Book
Indian Polity	Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth
Modern History	A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir)
Geography	NCERT Classes 11–12 + Certificate Physical and Human Geography by G.C. Leong
Indian Economy	Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh or Nitin Singhania
Uttar Pradesh Special (GS 5 & 6)	Uttar Pradesh Comprehensive Manual by Rakesh Saraswat / Drishti UP Special
Ethics & Aptitude (GS 4)	Lexicon for Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude (Chronicle)
Previous Question Analysis	Ghatna Chakra Purbavalokan Series (History, Polity, Geo, Science, Environment)

---

11. UPPSC PCS vs. UPSC CSE — Key Comparison

Parameter	UPPSC PCS	UPSC CSE
Authority	State (UPPSC, Prayagraj)	Central (UPSC, New Delhi)
Jurisdiction	Uttar Pradesh State	All India Services & Central Services
Prelims Paper 2	CSAT Qualifying (Min 33%)	CSAT Qualifying (Min 33%)
Mains Optional Subjects	Abolished (Replaced by GS 5 & 6)	One Optional Subject (2 Papers / 500 Marks)
State Special Papers	2 Dedicated Papers (GS 5 & 6 / 400 Marks)	None
Language Merit Status	General Hindi (150 Marks) counted in merit	Language papers are qualifying only
Total Mains Marks	1,500 Marks	1,750 Marks
Interview Marks	100 Marks	275 Marks
Final Total Base	1,600 Marks	2,025 Marks

---

12. Official Portal Links & Candidate Resources

Portal Section	Official Direct URL
UPPSC Official Website	uppsc.up.nic.in
UPPSC Notifications Board	Candidate Notifications
One Time Registration (OTR)	OTR Registration Portal
Official Syllabus Repository	Syllabus Directory
Previous Question Papers	Question Paper Archives
ExamDetail In-Depth Guide	UPPSC PCS Complete Guide

---

13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the UPPSC PCS 2026 Prelims exam date?

The UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Preliminary Examination 2026 is officially scheduled for December 6, 2026 (Sunday) in two shifts.

When will the UPPSC PCS 2026 Prelims admit card be released?

Prelims admit cards will be published on uppsc.up.nic.in following an official notice issued by the commission. Candidates will log in with their One Time Registration (OTR) credentials to download the hall ticket.

What posts are recruited through UPPSC PCS 2026?

UPPSC PCS recruits for Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy. SP/DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Deputy Collector, Commercial Tax Officer, District Cane Officer, and other Class A and Class B gazetted posts.

What was the application timeline for UPPSC PCS 2026?

The official notification was released on June 25, 2026, and the online application window concluded on August 3, 2026 on uppsc.up.nic.in. The form is now closed and candidates are preparing for the December 6 Prelims.

What is the age limit for UPPSC PCS 2026?

For General category: 21 to 40 years as of July 1, 2026. Candidates belonging to OBC, SC, and ST categories of Uttar Pradesh receive a 5-year relaxation (up to 45 years). PwD candidates receive up to 15 years relaxation (up to 55 years).

What is the UPPSC PCS Mains exam pattern?

UPPSC PCS Mains consists of 8 descriptive papers: General Hindi (150 marks — counted in merit), Essay (150 marks), and General Studies Papers 1 to 6 (200 marks each, including UP Special GS Papers 5 and 6). Total written merit marks: 1,500. Interview: 100 marks. Final merit = 1,600 marks.

What is the salary of a UP PCS officer (SDM / DSP)?

A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or DSP in UP is placed in Pay Level 10 (basic pay ₹56,100 under 7th CPC). Gross in-hand monthly salary with DA, HRA, and local allowances is approximately ₹95,000 to ₹1,10,000.

How many attempts are allowed in UPPSC PCS?

There is no restriction on the number of attempts for UPPSC PCS. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish, provided they satisfy the age eligibility criteria.

यूपी पीसीएस 2026 प्रीलिम्स परीक्षा कब होगी?

UPPSC द्वारा जारी परीक्षा कैलेंडर के अनुसार UP PCS 2026 की प्रारंभिक परीक्षा 6 दिसंबर 2026 (रविवार) को आयोजित की जाएगी। एडमिट कार्ड जारी होने की आधिकारिक तिथि UPPSC द्वारा विज्ञप्ति के माध्यम से घोषित की जाएगी।