**Executive Summary**
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched technological interventions for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and the Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS) in 2026 to enhance candidate accessibility and examination security. Notifications for 2026 announce 933 and 80 vacancies under CSE and IFoS respectively. The UPSC is implementing a revamped Online Application Portal, new examination centers, and is removing capacity caps for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Examination Updates for 2026:**
* A total of 933 vacancies are announced for the Civil Services Examination (CSE).
* A total of 80 vacancies are announced for the Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS).
* **Online Application Portal:**
* A revamped portal aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and candidate convenience.
* The redesigned portal includes photo verification and face recognition.
* Candidates can indicate preferred nearby cities for new examination centers through a dropdown list.
* **PwBD Candidate Support:**
* There is no cap on examination center capacity for PwBD candidates.
* PwBD candidates will always have the option to select their preferred examination center.
* Additional capacity will be created to ensure no PwBD candidate is denied their preferred center.
* **New Examination Centers:**
* Three new centers have been added for both Preliminary and Mains Examinations.
* For Prelims: Meerut, Kanpur, and Bhubaneswar were added to reach 83 centers.
* For Mains: Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, and Imphal were added to reach 27 centers.
**Impact Analysis**
**PwBD Candidates**
* **Impact:** Greater ease and convenience in selecting preferred examination centers due to the removal of capacity caps.
* **Action Required:** To select their preferred examination center without being limited by capacity restrictions.
**All Candidates**
* **Impact:** Improved examination process through enhanced identity verification and a wider selection of examination centers.
* **Action Required:** To adapt to the new online application portal features and examination center options.
**UPSC**
* **Impact:** Improved fairness, transparency, and integrity of the examination process, along with more efficient center allocation.
* **Action Required:** Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the new measures and continue to evolve processes.
Key Entities Referenced
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): The primary body responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination and the Indian Forest Service Examination.
Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026: A national competitive examination in India conducted by the UPSC.
Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS) 2026: A national level examination for recruitment to the Indian Forest Service, conducted by the UPSC.
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): A category of candidates with disabilities, for whom the UPSC has revised its examination center allocation framework to ensure accessibility.
UPSC
UPSC Enhances Accessibility with ‘Centre of
Choice’ Safeguards for PwBD Candidates
Adds Three New Exam Centres for Prelims and Mains each;
Introduces Survey of Candidate Preferences for Future
Expansion
No cap on examination centre capacity for PwBD candidates
will ensure greater ease and convenience, says UPSC
Chairman, Dr. Ajay Kumar
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 5:37PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a series of technological interventions for
the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 and the Indian Forest Service Examination (IFoS) 2026, with
a focus on enhancing candidate accessibility and strengthening examination security. The notifications for
2026 announce a total of 933 vacancies under the Civil Services Examination and 80 vacancies under the
Indian Forest Service Examination.
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, transparency, and candidate convenience, the
Commission has introduced a revamped Online Application Portal for the submission of applications and
conduct of examinations. The redesigned portal aims to reinforce integrity across various stages of the
examination process while simplifying the application experience for candidates.
In a significant reform aimed at supporting Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), UPSC has
overhauled its examination centre allocation framework. Under the revised mechanism, there will be no
capping on examination centre capacity for PwBD candidates. Initially, the existing capacity of each
centre will be utilised by both PwBD and non-PwBD candidates. However, once a centre reaches full
capacity, it will no longer be available for selection by non-PwBD candidates, while PwBD candidates
will continue to have the option to select the same centre. Additional capacity will be created wherever
required to ensure that no PwBD candidate is denied their preferred examination centre.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chairman, UPSC, said “an analysis of
examination centre data over the past five years revealed that certain centres - including Delhi, Cuttack,
Patna, and Lucknow - reach capacity at a very early stage due to high application volumes, creating
difficulties for PwBD candidates. “With the revised mechanism, every PwBD candidate will be assured of
their preferred examination centre, ensuring greater ease and convenience while appearing for UPSC
examinations,” he said.
The Commission has also expanded its network of examination centres to reduce pressure on high-
demand locations. Meerut has been added to decongest Delhi-NCR, Kanpur to ease pressure around
Lucknow, and Bhubaneswar to supplement centres near Cuttack. These three centres have been added forthe Preliminary Examination, increasing the total number of prelims centres from 80 to 83. For the Mains
Examination, the number of centres has been increased from 24 to 27, with the addition of Bhubaneswar,
Srinagar, and Imphal.
Further strengthening its centre planning process, the revamped application portal now includes a new
feature related to examination centre preferences. In addition to selecting from notified examination
centres, candidates will be asked to indicate preferred nearby cities through a dropdown list. This data will
serve as a survey of candidate preferences and may be used to identify locations for the creation of new
examination centres, where feasible.
The portal also incorporates a technology-enabled measure of photo verification and face recognition to
enhance the overall integrity of the examination process. This intervention strengthens identity verification
across various stages of examination, contributing to a more robust and transparent system.
Emphasising the Commission’s approach, Dr. Ajay Kumar noted that “the Commission has adopted the
use of the latest technology to ensure a free, fair, inclusive, and accessible examination process, with a
strong focus on enhancing candidate convenience and ease of participation, while ensuring that selections
are made strictly on the basis of merit.”
These initiatives form part of UPSC’s Centenary Year celebrations and reflect the Commission’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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NKR/AK
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