Exam Calendar
A typical year in the UPSC CSE cycle. Exact dates shift every year — always check the official notification.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination runs on a roughly 15-month cycle, from notification to final result. Use this timeline to understand what typically happens when, then set exact dates in the Exam Countdown and Study Planner tools once the official notification is released.
- 1
Notification
January – February
UPSC releases the official notification and opens online applications.
- 2
Application window closes
February – March
Last date to submit the online application form.
- 3
Prelims exam
May – June
GS Paper-I and CSAT (Paper-II), held on the same day.
- 4
Prelims result
June – July
UPSC declares the list of candidates qualified for Mains.
- 5
Mains exam
September
Nine papers over several days: Essay, GS I–IV, two Optional papers, plus qualifying English and Indian Language papers.
- 6
Mains result
December – January
UPSC declares the list of candidates called for the Personality Test.
- 7
Personality Test (Interview)
January – April (following year)
Conducted at UPSC's office in Delhi.
- 8
Final result
April – May (following year)
Final ranked list of recommended candidates.
Indicative sequence based on the typical UPSC CSE annual cycle — always confirm exact dates against the current year's official notification.
Related
Frequently asked questions
When does UPSC usually release the CSE notification?
Typically in January or February each year, with the application window closing a few weeks later in February or March. The exact date always varies, so check the official UPSC website once the window approaches.
How long is the gap between Prelims and Mains?
Roughly three to four months — Prelims is usually held in May or June, with results out by June or July, and Mains typically follows in September the same year.
How long does the entire UPSC CSE cycle take, start to finish?
From notification to the final result, the full cycle typically spans about 15 to 16 months — for example, a January notification is usually followed by a final result the following April or May.