UPSC Calendar 2027: Complete Exam Schedule, Notification Dates & Last Date to Apply (Official PDF)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the UPSC Calendar 2027 on 20th May 2026. This is the master schedule every civil services aspirant in India waits for, because it tells you exactly when each notification will go live, when the application window closes, and when you’ll sit in the exam hall.

If you’re preparing for UPSC Civil Services 2027, NDA, CDS, Engineering Services, CAPF, CMS, or any other UPSC exam, this post will walk you through every important date . Lets break it down for you reference:

UPSC Exam calendar 2027 | Last Updated: May 28, 2026 | Source: Union Public Service Commission (Verified from Official Notice dated 20.05.2026)

Quick Summary: What’s New in the UPSC Calendar 2027?

Before we get into the full table, here are the highlights you should remember:

• Civil Services Prelims 2027 will be held on 23rd May 2027 (Sunday).
• Civil Services Mains 2027 begins on 20th August 2027 (Friday) and runs for 5 days.
• NDA & NA (I) and CDS (I) are both scheduled for 11th April 2027.
• Engineering Services Prelims 2027 is on 31st January 2027.
• The earliest exam of the year is the Combined Geo-Scientist Prelims on 10th January 2027.
• The Indian Forest Service (Main) Exam will be the longest — running for 7 days starting 21st November 2027.

Full UPSC Exam Calendar 2027 — Exam Schedules

There are total 27 examinations scheduled for the year 2027. Here is the official schedule released by UPSC. I’ve kept the exact dates as published so you can rely on this for your planning.

Important: UPSC has clearly mentioned that “the dates of notification, commencement and duration of Examinations/RTs are liable to alteration if the circumstances so warrant.” So always cross-check with the official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) before your application deadline.

UPSC – Exam-by-Exam Breakdown

1. Civil Services Examination 2027 — The Big One

This is the exam most readers are here for. The CSE 2027 is your route to IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other Group A and B central services.

• Notification: 13th January 2027
• Last Date to Apply: 2nd February 2027
• Prelims: 23rd May 2027 (Sunday)
• Mains: 20th August 2027 (Friday) — 5 days

My honest advice: If you’re starting now (mid-2026), you have roughly one year to build your foundation before Prelims. That’s enough — but only if you start with NCERTs, lock in a daily newspaper habit, and treat optional subject selection as a serious decision, not an afterthought.

2. Indian Forest Service (IFoS) 2027

The IFoS Prelims is combined with the Civil Services Prelims (same exam, same day — 23rd May 2027). You apply for it through the CS(P) application form.

• IFoS Mains: 21st November 2027 — runs for 7 days (the longest in the calendar)

3. NDA & NA Examination 2027 — For Class 12 Students

UPSC conducts two NDA exams every year. For 2027:

• NDA I: Exam on 11th April 2027 | Apply by 22nd December 2026
• NDA II: Exam on 19th September 2027 | Apply by 1st June 2027

The CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam shares the exact same dates as NDA in both cycles — useful to know if you’re a graduate eyeing the armed forces.

4. Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027

For engineering graduates targeting Group A technical services:

• Prelims: 31st January 2027 (apply by 6th October 2026 — notification drops 16th September 2026)
• Mains: 18th June 2027

If you’re an engineer, this is one of the toughest but most rewarding paths. Start early — the Prelims is just 8 months away from the notification date.

5. Combined Medical Services (CMS) 2027

For MBBS graduates wanting central government medical service:

• Notification: 3rd March 2027
• Exam: 18th July 2027

6. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF AC) 2027

For graduates aiming to become Assistant Commandants in CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB:

• Notification: 17th February 2027
• Exam: 4th July 2027

7. Other Specialised Exams

• Combined Geo-Scientist Prelims: 10th January 2027 (Mains on 19th June 2027) — for geology, geophysics, chemistry graduates.
• IES/ISS: 18th June 2027 — for economics and statistics postgraduates.
• CBI (DSP) LDCE: 27th February 2027 — limited departmental exam.
• CISF AC (EXE) LDCE: 14th March 2027 — limited departmental.
• SO/Steno LDCE: 18th December 2027 — for departmental promotion.

How to Read This Calendar (For First-Time Aspirants)

If you’re new to UPSC preparation, this calendar can look intimidating. Here’s the simple framework I use:

Three dates matter for every exam:

1. Notification Date — This is when UPSC officially releases the detailed exam notification on its website. Eligibility, syllabus, vacancies, and application link all open on this day.
2. Last Date for Application — Usually about 20 days after notification. Miss this and you wait an entire year.
3. Exam Date — When you actually sit in the exam hall.

Rule of thumb: Set a calendar reminder 3 days before the last application date. Server crashes and document issues are real on the last day. Don’t be that person.

How to Apply for UPSC Exams 2027

The process is standardised across all UPSC exams:

1. Visit the official UPSC website: https://upsc.gov.in or the dedicated portal at https://upsconline.nic.in
2. Register using your name, date of birth, email, and phone number (One-Time Registration / OTR).
3. Fill the application form for the specific exam after the notification goes live.
4. Upload your photograph, signature, and ID proof in the prescribed format.
5. Pay the application fee online (debit card / credit card / net banking / UPI).
6. Download and save the final submitted form. You’ll need this on exam day.

Fee note: Application fee is generally ₹100 for general/OBC candidates. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are usually exempt. Confirm in each notification.

Smart Preparation Tips Based on the Calendar

Having tracked UPSC calendars for several years, here are the patterns I’ve noticed:

1. Use the gap between Prelims and Mains wisely. After Civil Services Prelims on 23rd May 2027, you get roughly three months before Mains begins on 20th August. This is the make-or-break window. Most toppers write 8–12 full-length mock tests in this period.

2. Don’t ignore “smaller” exams. NDA, CDS, ESE, CAPF — these have lower competition than CSE and shorter syllabi. If you’re eligible, applying gives you a real backup and removes the all-or-nothing pressure from your prep.

3. Plan your optional subject by July 2026. If you’re targeting CSE 2027, your Mains is in August 2027. Optional alone is 500 marks. Don’t pick it casually in March 2027.

4. The reserved dates are not “free” dates. The calendar has many “Reserved for UPSC RT/Examination” entries. These are kept for Recruitment Tests (interviews and skill tests for various posts) — the dates can be activated anytime, so don’t plan a wedding around them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Word — From One Aspirant to Another

The UPSC Calendar 2027 isn’t just a list of dates. It’s a 12-month battle plan handed to you for free. Print it. Stick it above your study desk. Mark every notification date and last-date-of-application in red.

The aspirants who clear UPSC aren’t always the smartest in the room — they’re the ones who never missed an application deadline, never skipped a mock test, and never let “next year” become a habit.

Disclaimer: This blog post is based on the official UPSC Annual Calendar dated 20.05.2026. All dates are subject to change as per UPSC notifications. For the most current information, always refer to the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in. This article is for informational purposes and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Union Public Service Commission.

Written for aspirants preparing for UPSC 2027. If you found this helpful, bookmark it — we’ll update the post whenever UPSC revises any date in the official calendar.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more

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