UPSC Civil Services 2027: Dates, Eligibility, Attempts and Exam Pattern

UPSC Civil Services 2027: Dates, Eligibility, Attempts and Exam Pattern

By Aaditya Vikram Parmar, Director, Career Power Mumbai Centres

The Civil Services Examination selects officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS and other central services through three stages spread over about a year. Before you buy a single book, be sure you are eligible and know exactly what each stage demands.

Dates for the 2027 cycle

• Notification: 13 January 2027.
• Last date to apply: 2 February 2027.
• Prelims: Sunday, 23 May 2027.
• Mains: from 20 August 2027, over five days.
• Interviews and final result: expected in the first half of 2028.

For reference, the 2026 cycle was notified on 4 February 2026 with 933 vacancies, and its prelims were held on 24 May 2026.

Eligibility

• Age is counted as on 1 August of the exam year.
• Qualification: a bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Final-year students can sit the Prelims and must produce the degree before the Mains.
• Appearing in even one Prelims paper counts as an attempt.

Stage 1: Preliminary exam

Both papers are objective, with one third of the marks deducted for each wrong answer. Prelims marks do not count in the final merit.

Stage 2: Main exam

Seven papers count for merit: 1,750 marks. All are descriptive, three hours each.

Stage 3: Personality test

The interview carries 275 marks. Final merit is out of 2,025: Mains 1,750 plus interview 275.

What this means for your plan

• Count your attempts honestly. Do not spend one on a trial run.
• CSAT is qualifying but has ended many attempts. Test yourself early.
• The Mains decides rank. Start answer writing well before the Prelims.
• Choose your optional within the first three months.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sit UPSC in my final year of graduation?

Yes, for the Prelims. You need the degree before applying for the Mains.

Is there negative marking in the Prelims?

Yes. One third of the marks for the question is deducted for each wrong answer.

Do Prelims marks count for the final rank?

No. Only the Mains and interview marks count.

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