UPPSC PCS 2026 – Apply Online for 500 Posts | Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Recruitment

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is the constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution of India, functioning under the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It is headquartered in Prayagraj (Allahabad) and is responsible for recruiting candidates to Group A and Group B gazetted officer posts in UP state services. Unlike UPSSSC — which handles subordinate and non-gazetted Group C posts — UPPSC conducts recruitment for Class 1 and Class 2 administrative posts: Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Deputy Superintendents of Police, Block Development Officers, and equivalent state administrative positions. The official UPPSC website and recruitment portal is uppsc.up.nic.in.

500 Group A and B gazetted posts. Against approximately 6 to 8 lakh expected applicants. That ratio — roughly one in 1,200 to 1,600 — is what makes the UPPSC PCS examination the second most competitive state civil services exam in India after UPSC itself. In UPPSC PCS 2025, only 252 vacancies were notified. The 2026 cycle nearly doubles that — but it simultaneously demands more of candidates in the Mains stage: optional subjects have been permanently removed, replaced by two entirely new UP-specific General Studies papers (GS V and GS VI, worth 400 of the 1500 Mains marks) that cannot be prepared from standard UPSC material. For aspirants who have been preparing on the UPSC GS framework alone, this structural shift in the 2026 examination is the single most important fact to account for in their preparation plan.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Overview

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has officially released the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) (General/Special) Examination 2026 notification on 25 June 2026 vide Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026, inviting online applications for approximately 500 vacancies across 36+ Group A and Group B Gazetted posts under various departments of the Uttar Pradesh Government — including the highly sought-after Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Block Development Officer (BDO), Sub-Registrar, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Labour Enforcement Officer, Food Safety Officer, and many more. Eligible graduate candidates aged 21–40 years (as on 01/07/2026) can apply online from 25 June 2026 to 27 July 2026 at uppsc.up.nic.in, after completing the mandatory One-Time Registration (OTR). The application correction window is open until 3 August 2026. As per the official UPPSC Exam Calendar 2026 (released 30 January 2026), the Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for 6 December 2026.

UPPSC PCS 2025 had notified 252 vacancies for its recruitment cycle with Prelims conducted on 12 October 2025. The 2026 cycle notifies approximately 500 posts — a near-doubling of vacancies (+98% YOY) — making this one of the largest UPPSC PCS cycles in recent years. However, the dramatically higher vacancy count will also attract proportionally more aspirants, meaning the absolute competition remains intense.

Source: UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (PCS) Examination 2026 official notification (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026) released at uppsc.up.nic.in on 25 June 2026, and UPPSC Exam Calendar 2026 (released 30 January 2026).

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Important Dates & Full Schedule

Prelims date (6 December 2026) as per UPPSC Annual Exam Calendar 2026 released 30 January 2026. All subsequent dates (Mains, Interview) are subject to UPPSC scheduling post-Prelims. Source: Official UPPSC notification (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026) and UPPSC Exam Calendar 2026, uppsc.up.nic.in.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Post-wise Vacancy Details

UPPSC PCS 2026 (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026) notifies approximately 500 vacancies across 36+ Group A and Group B Gazetted posts under various departments of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The vacancy count may increase further if additional departmental requisitions are received by UPPSC before finalisation. The full category-wise (UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST) and post-wise breakup is available in the official notification PDF at uppsc.up.nic.in. The most sought-after posts — SDM, DSP, and BDO — typically carry the highest number of vacancies. The table below lists the key posts commonly featured in the UPPSC Combined Upper Subordinate Services examination.

Post list based on UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services PCS examination pattern and posts included in previous cycles, consistent with Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026. Exact post-wise and category-wise vacancy distribution is in the official notification PDF at uppsc.up.nic.in.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Application Fee

Fee as per UPPSC PCS 2026 official notification (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026). UPPSC uses SBI's payment gateway exclusively — only SBI MOPS-supported instruments are accepted.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit for UPPSC PCS 2026 (as on 01/07/2026)

Age calculated as on 01 July 2026 (date of reckoning as per notification). Age relaxation is as per UPPSC PCS 2026 Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026 notification rules — reserved category relaxation applies only to candidates domiciled in Uttar Pradesh. Source: Official UPPSC PCS 2026 notification.

Educational Qualification for UPPSC PCS 2026

The standard minimum qualification for all posts in UPPSC PCS 2026 is a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India or State Government. Final-year students who are yet to receive their degree result may apply provisionally, provided they possess the final degree certificate or marksheet at the time of filling the Mains Detailed Application Form (DAF). Candidates without the degree certificate at the DAF-filing stage will be disqualified even if they have cleared the Prelims.

Certain posts under UPPSC PCS 2026 carry specific educational or professional requirements in addition to a graduate degree. For example, ACF/RFO posts may require a science background; Food Safety Officer requires a degree in food technology, biochemistry, microbiology, or related disciplines; and Sub-Registrar may require a law degree. Candidates must check the post-specific eligibility conditions listed in Annexure / Schedule of the official notification before selecting their preferred posts.

Domicile & Other Requirements

Indian citizenship is mandatory. Uttar Pradesh domicile is required to avail age relaxation and reservation benefits under SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories — outstation candidates may apply under the General (Unreserved) category without UP domicile. Physical and mental fitness as per UP Government standards is also required.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Pay Scale & Salary

UPPSC PCS officers selected for Group A posts (Deputy Collector, DSP, BDO, and equivalent) are placed at Pay Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) as adopted by Uttar Pradesh, with a starting basic pay of ₹56,100 per month. Group B posts (Naib Tehsildar, Forest Range Officer, Sub-Registrar, etc.) are placed at Pay Level 7 or 8. In addition to basic pay, UPPSC officers receive Dearness Allowance (currently ~46% of basic pay), House Rent Allowance, Travel Allowance, and a range of post-specific perquisites — most notably, SDM and DSP postings include official residential accommodation, a vehicle with driver, and a personal security contingent.

Salary as per 7th CPC pay matrix adopted by UP Govt. In-hand figures are approximate and vary with posting location, DA revision, and applicable allowances. SDM/DSP perquisites (car, accommodation, security) are additional non-monetary benefits applicable only to select field postings. Source: UPPSC PCS 2026 notification and 7th CPC UP pay rules.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Selection Process (Three Stages)

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Prelims Exam Pattern — UPPSC PCS 2026

Negative marking of 1/3 mark (0.33) applies for each wrong answer in BOTH Prelims papers — including CSAT (Paper II), unlike UPSC where CSAT carries no negative marking. Source: UPPSC PCS 2026 Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026.

Prelims Syllabus Highlights — GS Paper I (200 Marks, Merit-Deciding)

History of India and Indian National Movement | Indian and World Geography | Indian Polity & Governance | Economic and Social Development | General Science including Science & Technology | Environment & Ecology | Current Events (National & International) | Uttar Pradesh-specific current affairs and history. Strong emphasis on UP-specific content in Paper I, unlike UPSC Prelims.

Prelims Syllabus Highlights — CSAT Paper II (200 Marks, Qualifying)

Comprehension (English and Hindi passages) | Interpersonal skills and communication | Logical reasoning and analytical ability | Decision making and problem solving | General mental ability | Elementary Mathematics up to Class X level | General English up to Class X level | General Hindi up to Class X level.

Mains Exam Pattern — UPPSC PCS 2026

⭐ GS Papers V and VI are the most impactful structural change in UPPSC PCS 2026 Mains: together worth 400 of 1500 Mains marks (26.7%), focused entirely on UP-specific knowledge that has no standard textbook equivalent. Source: UPPSC PCS 2026 Advt. A-1/E-1/2026 and UPPSC exam pattern update from 2023 cycle onwards. No negative marking in Mains. No optional subjects from 2026.

How to Apply for UPPSC PCS 2026 – Step by Step

UPPSC PCS 2026 applications are submitted online at uppsc.up.nic.in. The process begins with the One-Time Registration (OTR) — which must be completed at least 72 hours before the application submission deadline. Candidates who already have an OTR number from a previous UPPSC examination can log in directly without re-registering.

1. Complete OTR (One-Time Registration) — mandatory first step: Visit uppsc.up.nic.in and click "Click here for One Time Registration (OTR)" on the homepage. Register using Aadhaar-linked mobile number and email. Your OTR number is your single universal ID for all current and future UPPSC examination applications — never lose it. OTR must be completed at least 72 hours before the 27 July 2026 deadline — so by approximately 24 July 2026 at the latest.
2. Log in and access the Candidate Dashboard: Log in using your OTR number and registered password. Navigate to the "Candidate Dashboard" and locate the active advertisement for UPPSC PCS 2026 (Advt. No. A-1/E-1/2026). Click "Apply for Post" next to the combined PCS 2026 advertisement.
3. Fill personal and educational details: Your OTR-registered personal details will be auto-populated. Fill additional examination-specific details: educational qualification (degree, year of passing, university, percentage), category, and domicile. Verify all entries — especially date of birth, category (UR/OBC/EWS/SC/ST), and qualification details. Incorrect entries cannot be changed after the correction window closes on 3 August 2026.
4. Upload photograph and signature: Upload a recent passport-size photograph (white or light background, taken after 1 January 2026, face including ears clearly visible) and your signature in black ink, in the format and file size specified on the UPPSC portal. Blurred, outdated, or incorrectly formatted uploads are a common cause of application rejection.
5. Pay the application fee: Pay ₹125 (General/OBC/EWS), ₹65 (SC/ST), or ₹25 (PH) via SBI MOPS — Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or SBI E-Challan at authorised SBI branches. Save the payment transaction ID and fee receipt PDF — these may be required at Document Verification.
6. Preview, submit, and print: Before clicking Submit, verify the complete preview of your application — especially category, date of birth, educational qualification, and photograph. After submission, download and print the final application confirmation. No hard copy need be sent to UPPSC at the Prelims stage. A correction window remains open until 3 August 2026 for modifications to non-locked fields.

UPPSC PCS 2026 Admit Card – How to Download

The UPPSC PCS 2026 Prelims Admit Card has not been released yet. It will be published before the 6 December 2026 Prelims examination at uppsc.up.nic.in. Candidates must download it using their OTR number and date of birth — no admit card is sent by post. The admit card will display the candidate's roll number, exam centre, and reporting time.

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Official Links & Notification PDF

UPPSC PCS 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions