The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully conducted the Civil Services Examination (CSE) Preliminary Exam 2026, a crucial step in selecting candidates for prestigious administrative roles in India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). The examination features two objective-type papers: General Studies (GS) Paper I and Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) Paper II, both administered on the same day across multiple sessions nationwide.

GS Paper I evaluates candidates' awareness and understanding of diverse subjects, including Indian History, Geography, and Current Affairs, comprising 100 questions for a total of 200 marks, with negative marking for incorrect answers. In contrast, CSAT Paper II, which is a qualifying paper, assesses basic aptitude and reasoning skills through 80 questions, also totaling 200 marks. Candidates are only required to achieve minimum qualifying marks in CSAT, while GS Paper I is critical for determining merit ranking. Official question papers will be available post-examination cycle, allowing candidates to analyze their performance and prepare for future attempts.