UPSC 2026: New Rules, Face Authentication Mandate, and Eligibility Restrictions

The Union Public Service Commission has introduced major changes for the Civil Services Examination 2026, including mandatory face authentication and new eligibility restrictions. Candidates already appointed to certain services being restricted from reappearing for the exam. Online application submission ends on February 24, 2025, with mandatory Aadhaar-based verification.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced significant changes to the Civil Services Examination (CSE) for 2026, emphasizing security and streamlined processes. This year's recruitment cycle will feature face authentication for all candidates at examination centers, ensuring more secure identity verification. The commission aims to enhance procedural integrity and efficiency.

Among the announced changes, UPSC has introduced stringent eligibility guidelines. Candidates already employed in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) are barred from appearing in the 2026 examination. Similarly, newly appointed IAS or IFS officers after the preliminaries can't advance to the mains, even if they've qualified for the latter.

For aspirants, the application deadline is set for February 24, 2025, with a stipulation to use Aadhaar cards for identity verification. The UPSC also reduced the timeframe for raising objections to exam questions from seven to five days, underscoring their pursuit of an optimized examination process.

(With inputs from agencies.)