The Union Public Service Commission successfully conducted the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 and Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination on May 24 across 2,072 venues in 83 cities nationwide, with nearly 5.49 lakh aspirants appearing for the prestigious examination.
For the first time in its history, the Commission introduced real-time face authentication technology at examination centres to curb impersonation and strengthen the integrity of the examination process. The indigenously developed system, implemented through the National e-Governance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, reportedly functioned seamlessly across all venues.
Also read: UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026: Tight Security Across Patna, Aspirants Face Tricky GS Paper
67% Attendance Recorded in UPSC Prelims 2026
According to provisional data released by UPSC, out of 8,19,732 registered candidates, around 5.49 lakh candidates — approximately 67 per cent — appeared for the examination this year.
This marks a rise in attendance percentage compared to the 2025 preliminary examination, where nearly 61 per cent candidates had appeared.
The examination was conducted in two sessions:
- General Studies Paper-I: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- CSAT (Paper-II): 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Officials stated that all examination protocols and institutional guidelines were strictly followed throughout the process.
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Hails Successful Rollout of Face Authentication
Expressing satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the examination, UPSC Chairman Dr. Ajay Kumar praised the collaborative efforts of UPSC, NeGD, and the National Informatics Centre.
He described the implementation of the face-authentication system as “one of the most complex operational exercises” undertaken by the Commission and termed its successful execution a major milestone in strengthening examination integrity.
Officials also noted that this may have been the largest real-time face-authentication exercise ever conducted by UPSC.
Delhi Recorded Highest Candidate Volume
Among all examination centres, Delhi recorded the highest number of applications, with 70,885 candidates appearing across 144 venues.
Other major centres included:
- Hyderabad: 44,209 candidates across 100 venues
- Patna: 39,147 candidates across 79 venues
Meanwhile, the lowest candidate registrations were reported from:
- Kargil: 98 candidates
- Port Blair: 270 candidates
- Leh (Ladakh): 308 candidates
Mobile Jammers, Medical Support and Accessibility Measures Ensured
The Commission said all centres were equipped with drinking water facilities, sanitation arrangements, power backup, medical assistance, shaded waiting areas, and accessibility support for PwBD candidates.
To ensure secure conduct of the examination, mobile signal jammers were deployed at every venue, along with trained invigilators and security personnel.
Out of the total applicants, 11,224 candidates belonged to the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories. Eligible candidates were provided compensatory time as per prescribed norms.
Three New Exam Centres Added to Reduce Congestion
In a move aimed at reducing overcrowding in major cities, UPSC introduced three new examination centres this year:
- Bhubaneswar
- Kanpur
- Meerut
The Commission also introduced a new option allowing candidates to indicate preferred nearby cities while applying. Officials said the collected data would help identify future examination centre locations based on candidate demand.
UPSC to Release Provisional Answer Key for the First Time
In another significant reform, UPSC announced that it will release a provisional answer key shortly after the examination — a first in the Commission’s history.
Candidates will be allowed to submit objections and representations until May 31, 2026. The Commission stated that all objections, along with supporting documents, would be carefully reviewed before finalising the answer key.
However, the final answer key will continue to be released only after the declaration of the final Civil Services Examination 2026 results.
Aspirants Describe GS Paper-I as Lengthy and Analytical
Following the examination, many aspirants and coaching experts described the General Studies Paper-I as comparatively lengthy and concept-driven.
Candidates reported a higher number of analytical and statement-based questions across subjects including polity, economy, geography, environment, and history. Several aspirants noted that the paper focused more on conceptual understanding and application rather than factual recall.
Experts believe the increased difficulty level could influence this year’s expected cut-off, though UPSC has not released any official estimates.
Also read: UPSC Prelims 2026 Underway Across India; Provisional Answer Key to Be Released After Exam
