UPSC CSE 2026: New eligibility curbs for IAS, IPS, IFS candidates explained

Revised rules clarify who can reappear after civil services appointment; IPS restrictions spelled out in detail

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced expanded and clearly defined eligibility restrictions for candidates already inducted into the civil services, with a special focus on the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

The revised rules are part of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 notification, released on Wednesday. Applications for CSE 2026 are now open on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in, and the last date to apply is February 24.

The nationwide examination will be conducted to recruit officers into IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other Group A and Group B services. According to the notification, 933 vacancies will be filled through CSE 2026. This is lower than 979 vacancies in 2025 and 1,105 posts in 2024.

UPSC has clarified that any candidate already appointed to the IAS or IFS based on a previous examination and continuing in service will not be allowed to appear for CSE 2026.

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If the IAS or IFS appointment happens after the CSE 2026 preliminary exam but before the mains, the candidate will not be permitted to write the mains exam even if they qualify prelims.

If such an appointment takes place after the mains examination begins but before results are declared, the candidate will not be considered for any service allocation through CSE 2026.

For the Indian Police Service, the UPSC has introduced a more clearly worded restriction. A candidate already selected or appointed to the IPS through an earlier examination cannot be allocated the IPS again through CSE 2026.

While similar restrictions existed earlier, the 2026 notification spells this out explicitly, making IPS the key focus of the revised rules.

Candidates allotted to IPS or any Group A service through CSE 2026 can appear for CSE 2027 only if they receive a one-time exemption from joining training from the competent authority.

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This exemption applies only to the foundation course. If a candidate neither joins training nor secures the exemption, their CSE 2026 service allocation will be cancelled.

If selected again in CSE 2027, candidates may choose either the 2026 or 2027 service allocation, while the other will stand cancelled. However, they cannot appear for CSE 2028 or later unless they resign from service. Seniority will be decided based on the service finally joined.

The UPSC has also provided a one-time chance to candidates already allocated a service through CSE 2025 or earlier. Such candidates can appear in either CSE 2026 or CSE 2027 to use remaining attempts without resigning.

However, for CSE 2028 and beyond, resignation from the allotted service will be mandatory.