The Union Public Service Commission Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 concluded in Chennai on Sunday, with 642 out of 651 registered candidates appearing for the examination across three centres in the city, according to the Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE).
Nine candidates remained absent during the examination, which was conducted over four dates — August 21, 23, 29 and 30 — in two sessions each day.
The examination was held from 9 am to noon in the morning session and from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm in the afternoon session.
642 Candidates Appear Across Three Chennai Centres
Of the 651 candidates registered to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Mains examination in Chennai, 642 candidates attended the examination, while nine were absent.
The DGE said the examination was conducted smoothly across the three designated centres in the city. Attendance of candidates was also verified through a face-authentication app, which was used as part of the examination monitoring and verification process.
According to the DGE, no complaints were received regarding the conduct of the examination during the four-day schedule.
The smooth completion of the examination marks the end of the written stage of the Civil Services Examination for candidates who appeared in Chennai.
13 PwD Candidates Given Additional One Hour
Among the candidates registered in Chennai, 13 were persons with disabilities (PwD).
These candidates were provided an additional one hour to complete their examination papers as part of the arrangements made for candidates requiring additional support.
The examination was otherwise conducted in the standard two-session format, with candidates appearing for papers between 9 am and noon and again between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm.
Aspirants Find Ethics Paper the Toughest
While the examination process in Chennai concluded without any reported complaints, aspirants had mixed reactions to the difficulty and pattern of this year’s papers.
Among the different papers, General Studies Paper IV, or the Ethics paper, emerged as a major talking point among candidates, with many describing it as the toughest paper.
Aspirants particularly highlighted the significant change in the structure of the Ethics paper compared with last year.
The paper featured 19 questions, all of which were case-study based, requiring candidates to apply ethical principles to practical situations rather than relying primarily on direct theoretical responses.
This represented a notable departure from last year’s pattern, when the paper included 13 direct questions and six case studies.
Entire Ethics Paper Focused on Case Studies
Candidates said the shift towards an entirely case-study-based paper made the examination more application-oriented.
Rather than simply testing candidates on their understanding of ethical concepts, the questions required them to assess situations, identify competing considerations and arrive at practical decisions.
One aspirant said the questions were considerably more application-oriented and included scenarios involving medical ethics and real-life decision-making.
The increased emphasis on practical situations meant that candidates had to demonstrate not only knowledge of ethical concepts but also their ability to apply those concepts while dealing with complex and often conflicting circumstances.
The change in pattern consequently became one of the key features of this year’s Ethics paper.
Pattern Change Could Challenge First-Time Aspirants
T Sankara Saravanan, Additional Director at the All India Civil Services Coaching Centre, said the change in the Ethics paper pattern could prove particularly challenging for candidates appearing for the examination for the first time.
The shift from a combination of direct questions and case studies to a paper consisting entirely of case studies requires a different approach to preparation and answer writing.
First-time aspirants may have to develop stronger skills in analysing situations, identifying ethical dilemmas and presenting practical solutions within the limited time available in the examination.
The changed pattern also places greater emphasis on the candidate’s ability to connect theoretical understanding with real-world administrative situations.
320 Candidates from State-Run Civil Services Coaching Centre
The state-run All India Civil Services Coaching Centre also saw a substantial number of its students appear for the UPSC Mains examination.
A total of 320 candidates from the centre appeared for the examination this year.
Of these, 220 were full-time aspirants, while 100 were part-time aspirants.
The participation reflects the continued role of state-run coaching initiatives in supporting candidates preparing for the highly competitive Civil Services Examination.
UPSC Mains Examination Conducted Over Four Days
The Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 in Chennai was conducted on August 21, 23, 29 and 30.
Candidates appeared in two sessions each examination day:
- Morning session: 9 am to 12 noon
- Afternoon session: 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm
With 642 candidates attending out of 651 registered candidates, the Chennai centres recorded a high attendance rate. The DGE also confirmed that attendance verification was carried out using a face-authentication application.
No complaints were reported regarding the conduct of the examination, according to the Directorate.
Focus Shifts to Next Stage of Civil Services Selection
With the written examination now over, candidates will await the next stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination process.
For aspirants who qualify in the Mains, the selection process will move towards the Personality Test/Interview stage, which evaluates candidates on qualities considered relevant to a career in the civil services.
For those who appeared in Chennai, the conclusion of the four-day examination brings an end to a crucial stage of their preparation journey. The reactions to the Ethics paper, particularly its completely case-study-based format, are likely to remain a major point of discussion among aspirants and civil services coaching experts as they assess the overall difficulty and changing pattern of UPSC Mains 2026.
