UPSC Civil Services Exam 2026: IAS & IFS Officers Ineligible to Apply

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the notification for the Civil Services Exam 2026 on January 5. This year’s notification has drawn attention due to changes in the eligibility rules. UPSC has clarified that any candidate already serving as an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) or IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer will not be eligible to appear in the 2026 exam.

If a candidate is appointed to IAS or IFS after clearing the preliminary exam, they will still not be eligible to appear for the main examination. Similarly, if a candidate is appointed to any service after the main exam has started but before the results are declared, their candidature will not be considered for any service.

Candidates selected for IPS (Indian Police Service) or other Central Group ‘A’ services will be granted a one-time exemption to join training, allowing them to appear for the next year’s exam.

The Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2026 is scheduled to be held on May 24. UPSC has made facial verification mandatory for all candidates at exam centers and has imposed strict eligibility restrictions for candidates already appointed to certain services.

Vacancies for 2026

UPSC has announced a total of 933 vacancies for the 2026 recruitment process. Among these, 33 positions are reserved for candidates with special disabilities. The prestigious examination is conducted annually by UPSC in three stages: Preliminary, Main, and Interview. Through this exam, officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS) are selected.

UPSC Guidelines

UPSC has stated that facial verification is mandatory at the exam centers to ensure a secure and smooth examination process. Candidates are advised to reach the exam center in advance for facial verification and security checks. They are also recommended to use their Aadhaar card for seamless identity verification.