**Executive Summary**
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced three new examination centres in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination-2026 to reduce congestion at existing locations. This initiative, announced on 21 May 2026, increases the total number of centres to 83 and aims to enhance candidate accessibility and inclusivity. Nearly 23,000 candidates have opted for these new centres, while a new data-collection mechanism has been implemented to plan future examination infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Expansion of Examination Centres**
* Three new centres were added in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut, bringing the total count from 80 to 83.
* The expansion aims to make the examination process more candidate-friendly, efficient, and accessible.
* Nearly 23,000 candidates applied to use these new locations, easing the rush at adjoining centres.
**Decongestion of Specific Regions**
* **Bhubaneswar:** Received 10,656 applications, significantly reducing the burden on the Cuttack centre.
* **Kanpur:** Attracted 6,938 applications, easing pressure on the Lucknow centre.
* **Meerut:** Received 5,902 applications, reducing candidate dependence on Ghaziabad and benefiting western Uttar Pradesh.
**Commitment to Inclusivity**
* A revised mechanism ensures Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) are allotted their preferred centres.
* The Commission creates additional capacity where required to accommodate PwBD preferences; nearly 805 PwBD candidates secured their choice in the Delhi area alone.
**Future Planning and Infrastructure**
* UPSC received a total of 8,19,372 applications for the 2026 Preliminary Examination.
* A new dropdown option was introduced in the CSP-2026 application form for candidates to indicate preferred nearby cities.
* This data serves as a survey to identify feasible locations for establishing more centres in the future.
**Impact Analysis**
**Aspirants / Candidates**
**Impact**
Candidates benefit from reduced travel times, greater convenience, and less crowded examination environments due to the decentralization of centres.
**Action Required**
Candidates should utilize the dropdown option in application forms to indicate preferred nearby cities to assist in future infrastructure planning.
**Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)**
**Impact**
Geographical and physical barriers are reduced as PwBD candidates are guaranteed their preferred centres, even if those centres have reached standard capacity.
**Action Required**
Candidates must indicate their preferred centre during the application process to trigger the revised allotment mechanism.
**Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)**
**Impact**
The Commission gains valuable data on candidate geographical preferences, allowing for more strategic and transparent infrastructure expansion.
**Action Required**
The Commission must analyze the preference data collected from the CSP-2026 applications to identify and establish feasible new centre locations for future cycles.
Key Entities Referenced
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): The primary regulatory body responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination and implementing infrastructure improvements for candidates.
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination: The specific national-level examination for which the number of testing centres was expanded from 80 to 83 to improve accessibility and decongest existing facilities.
Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut: The three newly established examination centres introduced to reduce the application burden on nearby cities like Cuttack, Lucknow, and Ghaziabad.
Dr. Ajay Kumar: The Chairman of the UPSC who led the initiative to modernize the examination infrastructure and ensure inclusivity for candidates with benchmark disabilities.
UPSC
Over 23,000 Candidates Opt for Three Newly
Added Centres in UPSC Civil Services
(Preliminary) Examination-2026; Eases Pressure
on existing Centres
Posted On: 21 MAY 2026 11:56AM by PIB Delhi
In an effort to decongest examination centres for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination-2026, the
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced three new examination centres at Bhubaneswar,
Kanpur, and Meerut. With the addition of these centres, the total number of centres for the Preliminary
Examination has increased from 80 to 83. Nearly 23,000 candidates have applied to these new centres,
easing the rush at the adjoining centres for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination-2026.
Reflecting on the initiative, UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar said, “Our objective is to make the
examination process more candidate-friendly, accessible, and efficient. The addition of three new centres
is aimed at easing congestion and providing greater convenience to aspirants. Further, by ensuring that
PwBD candidates are allotted their preferred examination centres, the Commission is actively breaking
down geographical and physical barriers to make the UPSC journey truly accessible and inclusive for all.”
The newly introduced Bhubaneswar centre substantially reduced the burden on Cuttack. The Bhubaneswar
centre has received 10,656 applications for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination - 2026. Similarly,
the addition of the Kanpur centre helped ease pressure on Lucknow. The newly established Kanpur centre
attracted 6,938 applications. In western Uttar Pradesh, the introduction of the Meerut centre benefited
candidates from nearby regions and reduced dependence on Ghaziabad. The newly added Meerut centre
received 5,902 applications.
The Commission has also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for Persons with
Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Under the revised mechanism, it was ensured that the PwBD candidate,
will get the centre of his/her choice, even beyond the capacity of existing centres, by creating additional
capacities, if required. As a result, nearly 805 PwBD candidates got the centre of their choice in Delhi area
alone.
UPSC has received, a total of 8,19,372 applications, this year, for the Civil Services (Preliminary)
Examination-2026. To further strengthen its examination infrastructure, the Commission introduced a
dropdown option in the CSP-2026 application form, enabling candidates to indicate their preferred nearby
cities. The data collected through this exercise will serve as a survey of candidate preferences and help
identify feasible locations for establishing additional examination centres in the future.
These initiatives reflect the UPSC’s continued efforts to evolve its processes in line with contemporary
requirements, while upholding the highest standards of fairness, transparency, and integrity.
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