The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, May 24, 2026: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 along with the Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination across the country on Sunday. The examination was held at 2,072 venues in 83 cities, marking one of the largest nationwide recruitment tests in India.
Out of 8,19,732 registered candidates, nearly 5.49 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. This accounts for about 67 percent attendance. In comparison, the 2025 prelims saw around 61 percent attendance out of nearly 9.5 lakh applicants.
Delhi recorded the highest participation with 70,885 candidates across 144 centres. Hyderabad followed with 44,209 candidates, while Patna reported 39,147 candidates. At the other end, Kargil saw the lowest attendance with 98 candidates.
For the first time, UPSC implemented real-time face authentication at all examination centres. The system was developed in collaboration with the National e-Governance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
According to the Commission, the technology was deployed successfully at all venues and recorded a 100 percent operational success rate. Officials said the step marks a major improvement in preventing impersonation and strengthening exam integrity.
UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar said the smooth execution reflected strong coordination between UPSC, NeGD, and NIC teams. He added that the process was one of the most complex technological upgrades introduced in recent years.
The exam was conducted in two sessions. The first paper, General Studies, was held from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The Civil Services Aptitude Test followed in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Authorities ensured all centres were equipped with basic facilities including drinking water, power backup, medical support, sanitation, and shaded waiting areas. Special arrangements were also made for candidates with disabilities.
Security arrangements included the deployment of trained staff and mobile signal jammers at all centres.
This year, UPSC added three new examination centres in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut to reduce congestion. Candidates were also given the option to choose nearby cities through a new dropdown facility during application.
The Commission said this data will help identify locations for future expansion of exam centres.
For the first time, UPSC will release a provisional answer key immediately after the examination. Candidates will be allowed to raise objections until May 31, 2026.
All representations will be reviewed before finalising the answer key, which will be published after the declaration of final results.
The Commission confirmed that 11,224 candidates with benchmark and other disabilities were accommodated. Extra time and additional support were provided as per medical certification and category guidelines.
UPSC stated that the successful conduct of the examination reflects strong coordination between multiple agencies and a continued focus on fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the examination system.
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