UPSC CSE 2027: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The Civil Services Examination is how the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recruits for the IAS, IFS, IPS and the other Group A and Group B services named in its notice. The question most people have now is when the next one is: UPSC's annual calendar for 2027 puts the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 on Sunday 23 May 2027, with the notification on 13 January 2027 (checked 20 October 2026). This guide covers the dates, how to apply, the pattern, the syllabus and a plan for the months that are left.
UPSC CSE at a glance
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| What it is for | IAS, IFS, IPS and other Group A and Group B central services |
| Stages | Prelims (objective), Mains (written), personality test |
| Prelims mode | Pen and paper, OMR sheet, two papers on one day |
| Prelims questions | GS Paper I: 100 questions; GS Paper II (CSAT): 80 questions |
| Prelims time | 2 hours for each paper |
| Marking | One-third of a question's marks taken away for a wrong answer |
| Languages | Prelims papers in Hindi and English |
| How often | Once a year |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CSE 2027 exam date
UPSC publishes a programme of examinations a year ahead. Its Annual Calendar 2027 (dated 20 May 2026, read on 20 October 2026) lists:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification of CSE 2027 | 13 January 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 2 February 2027 |
| Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 | Sunday 23 May 2027 (one day) |
| Civil Services (Main) Examination 2027 | From Friday 20 August 2027 (five days) |
The same Prelims also screens candidates for the Indian Forest Service (see our IFoS guide). The calendar itself says these dates can change "if the circumstances so warrant", so check the UPSC exam calendar page and the 2027 notice when it comes out. We keep the dates on our UPSC CSE exam-dates page.
How to apply for UPSC CSE 2027
Applications are online only. UPSC's current notices send candidates to upsconline.nic.in, where the form has four parts.
- Create an account on the portal.
- Universal Registration: you get a Universal Registration Number (URN), made once in a lifetime and used for every UPSC exam.
- Common Application Form: your personal and education details, an uploaded photograph and a live photograph taken while filling it. UPSC advises using Aadhaar as the ID document.
- Examination-specific form: opens only between the notification (13 January 2027) and the last date (2 February 2027). Here you choose the exam, centre and pay the fee if you are not exempt. Centres are allotted first-apply-first-allot, so do not wait for the last day.
Keep ready: a photo ID (Aadhaar preferred), a scanned photograph and signature, your date-of-birth and degree documents, and any category or disability certificate. Read the fee and exemption rules in the 2027 notice itself.
Eligibility (2026 notice, the latest published): a graduate degree; age at least 21 and below 32 on 1 August of the exam year, with relaxations by category; six attempts for General and EWS, nine for OBC, no limit for SC and ST. Check the 2027 notice for the exact dates of birth.
UPSC CSE exam pattern
Preliminary Examination (screening; marks do not count in the final merit):
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 100 | 200 (2 each) | 2 hours | Decides who goes to Mains |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 80 | 200 (2.5 each) | 2 hours | Qualifying: 33% (66 marks) |
A wrong answer loses one-third of that question's marks: 0.67 in Paper I and about 0.83 in Paper II. A blank costs nothing. You must sit both papers. Our article on Prelims and CSAT explains the qualifying rule in detail.
Main Examination and interview:
| Paper | Marks | Counts for merit? |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A: Indian language | 300 | No, qualifying at 25% |
| Paper B: English | 300 | No, qualifying at 25% |
| Essay | 250 | Yes |
| General Studies I to IV | 250 each | Yes |
| Optional subject, Papers 1 and 2 | 250 each | Yes |
| Personality test | 275 | Yes |
The merit total is 1,750 written plus 275 interview, or 2,025.
UPSC CSE syllabus
- GS Paper I: current events, history of India and the national movement, Indian and world geography, polity and governance, economic and social development, environment and climate change, general science.
- CSAT: comprehension, interpersonal and communication skills, logical reasoning, decision-making, general mental ability, basic numeracy and data interpretation at Class X level.
- Mains: heritage and culture, history and geography (GS I); governance, Constitution, social justice, international relations (GS II); economy, technology, environment, security, disaster management (GS III); ethics with case studies (GS IV); and one optional subject.
The full topic list is on our UPSC CSE syllabus page.
A plan for the 31 weeks to Prelims 2027
From late October 2026 to 23 May 2027 is about 31 weeks.
- Weeks 1 to 14 (to January): finish one pass of the GS Paper I subjects: polity, modern history, geography, economy, environment, then ancient and medieval history, art and culture, science. Read the news daily and make short notes. Do one CSAT practice set a week from the start; do not leave it to the end.
- January: apply as soon as the form opens. Begin a full UPSC CSE mock test every week, both papers, timed at two hours each.
- February to April: second revision of every subject with mock tests twice a week. After each, sort your wrong answers into "did not know", "knew but slipped" and "guessed wrong", as in how to analyse a mock test.
- May: revise notes and current affairs only, and take two or three full mocks at the real timings (morning Paper I, afternoon Paper II).
On negative marking, a wrong answer costs a third of a right one, so a guess between two options you cannot separate is worth taking; a blind guess among four is close to even. Our negative-marking article works through the numbers.
Useful links
- Apply online: UPSC portal (upsconline.nic.in)
- UPSC Annual Calendar 2027 (PDF)
- CSE 2026 notice with the scheme and syllabus (PDF)
- Free UPSC CSE mock tests
- UPSC CSE syllabus
- UPSC CSE exam dates
- UPSC Prelims and CSAT explained
Frequently asked questions
When is the UPSC CSE 2027 exam date?
UPSC's Annual Calendar 2027 puts the Prelims on Sunday 23 May 2027 and the Mains from 20 August 2027 (checked 20 October 2026). The calendar says dates can change, so confirm them in the notice due on 13 January 2027.
Is there negative marking in UPSC Prelims?
Yes. A wrong answer loses one-third of the marks of that question, in both papers. An unanswered question costs nothing.
What is the pass mark in CSAT?
CSAT (GS Paper II) is qualifying at 33%, which is 66 out of 200. Its marks are not added to your Prelims total; only GS Paper I decides who goes to Mains, against a cut-off UPSC fixes each year.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC CSE?
Under the 2026 notice: six for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC, and no limit for SC and ST, within the age limit. Read the 2027 notice, including its table for candidates with disabilities.
Can I write the UPSC exam in Hindi?
Prelims papers are set in Hindi and English. In Mains you may write the merit papers in English or in a language of the Eighth Schedule, including Hindi.
Where do I apply for UPSC CSE?
Only online, at upsconline.nic.in, between the notification and the last date. The account, URN and Common Application Form can be filled in earlier.