Even as similar restrictions existed in earlier years’ examinations, the current notification spells out stricter and more detailed curbs, particularly for those who have already been inducted into the Indian Police Service (IPS).

The UPSC issued the detailed recruitment notification for CSE 2026 on Wednesday, which stipulated that eligible candidates can apply online through the official portal, upsc.gov.in, with the application window closing on 24 February.

The nationwide examination will be held to recruit 933 officers for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and other Group A and Group B services. The number of vacancies for this year is less than the 979 notified last year and 1,105 posts filled the year before.

Bar On Candidates Appointed To IAS Or IFS

According to the revised eligibility conditions, a candidate who has been appointed to the IAS or IFS on the basis of an earlier examination and is continuing in that service, will not be eligible to appear in CSE 2026.

In the notification, the UPSC has further clarified the timing-related implications of such appointments noting that if a candidate is appointed to the IAS or IFS after clearing the CSE 2026 preliminary examination but before the mains, they will not be permitted to appear for the mains examination. If the appointment takes place after the mains examination has commenced but before the final results are declared, the candidate will not be considered for appointment to any service on the basis of CSE 2026.

Clearer Restrictions For The IPS

For the first time, the UPSC has laid out a specific and explicit bar for the Indian Police Service. The notification states that a candidate who has been selected or appointed to the IPS on the basis of an earlier examination will not be eligible to opt for or be allocated to the IPS again on the basis of the CSE 2026 result.

This IPS-specific restriction represents a more definitive formulation compared to previous years’ notifications.

Conditions For Appearing In CSE 2027

The commission has also outlined a detailed framework for candidates allocated to the IPS or any Central Service Group A through CSE 2026 who wish to attempt the examination again in 2027.

Such candidates will be allowed to appear in CSE 2027 only if they are granted a “one-time exemption from joining training” by the competent authority. The exemption applies only to the Foundation Course. If a candidate neither joins the training nor obtains the exemption, their service allocation under CSE 2026 will be cancelled.

If recommended again in CSE 2027, candidates will be permitted to choose between the service allocated in 2026 and that allocated in 2027, with the unchosen allocation standing cancelled. However, they will not be allowed to appear in CSE 2028 or any subsequent examination unless they resign from the service to which they are allocated. Seniority will be determined by the service ultimately joined and will not be adversely affected.

One-Time Opportunity For Earlier Batches

The notification also introduces a one-time opportunity for candidates already allocated to any service based on CSE 2025 or earlier. These candidates may appear in either CSE 2026 or CSE 2027 to utilise their remaining attempt without resigning from service. For appearing in CSE 2028 or later examinations, resignation from the allocated service will be mandatory.

Compared with the CSE 2025 notification — which largely focused on the IAS and IFS — the 2026 rules provide greater clarity and impose stricter conditions for the IPS, signalling a significant shift in how repeat attempts and service allocations are regulated.