UPSC Calendar 2027: Exam Dates, Notification Schedule and PDF
UPSC released the Calendar 2027 on 20 May 2026 at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 will be held on 23 May 2027 and Mains from 20 August 2027. This guide covers all 2027 exam dates, notification schedule, application windows and the official PDF link for CSE, NDA, CDS, IFS, ESE and other UPSC exams.
Key Highlights
UPSC released the Calendar 2027 on 20 May 2026 at upsc.gov.in.
UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 scheduled for 23 May 2027 (Sunday).
UPSC CSE Mains 2027 begins on 20 August 2027 (Friday), runs for 5 days.
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 on 31 January 2027.
NDA & NA Examination (I) and CDS (I) 2027 on 11 April 2027 (Sunday).
NDA & NA Examination (II) and CDS (II) 2027 on 19 September 2027 (Sunday).
The calendar covers all UPSC exams: CSE, NDA, CDS, ESE, IFS, IES/ISS, CAPF, CMS, Geo-Scientist.
Official PDF available at upsc.gov.in under Examinations → Examination Calendar.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released its official UPSC Calendar 2027 on 20 May 2026.
The annual schedule lists every recruitment examination the Commission will conduct during the 2027 calendar year, along with the notification release dates, application windows and exam dates for each test.
UPSC, constituted under Article 320 of the Constitution of India, conducts more than fifteen examinations every year to fill Group A and Group B posts across central services.
The annual calendar is the single most important planning document for any serious aspirant, regardless of which exam they target.
The 2027 calendar gives you roughly twelve months of clear visibility.
For the Civil Services Examination 2027, the key dates are locked in.
UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 will be held on 23 May 2027 (Sunday), and the Mains exam will begin on 20 August 2027 (Friday) and run for five days.
Indian Forest Service Prelims will be conducted alongside the CSE Prelims on the same day, as is the standard practice. The Mains for IFS 2027 will be held in November 2027.
The notice attached to the calendar carries the standard caveat used by UPSC every year, "The dates of notification, commencement and duration of Examinations and RTs are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant."
Treat this calendar as firm for planning purposes, but watch out for revised notices that occasionally appear three or four months before a specific exam.
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A quick snapshot of the most-searched dates from the upsc exam calendar 2027.
Particulars | Details |
Calendar Release Date | 20 May 2026 |
Issuing Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Official Website | upsc.gov.in, upsconline.nic.in |
Total Examinations Covered | |
First Exam of 2027 | Combined Geo-Scientist Prelims, 31 January 2027 |
Civil Services Prelims 2027 | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) |
Civil Services Mains 2027 | 20 August 2027 (Friday) onwards |
NDA / CDS (I) 2027 | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) |
NDA / CDS (II) 2027 | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) |
IFS Prelims 2027 | 23 May 2027 (along with CSE) |
Application Mode | Online only, via upsconline.nic.in |
Validity Caveat | Subject to revision by UPSC if conditions change |
The official upsc calendar pdf is hosted on upsc.gov.in. Follow these four steps to download it.
Open
upsc.gov.in.Click on the "Examinations" tab in the main navigation bar.
Select "Examination Calendar 2027" from the dropdown menu.
Click on the PDF link to open, then save to your device.
Save the PDF offline. UPSC occasionally refreshes the document with revised dates, so check upsc.gov.in every six to eight weeks to ensure your saved version is the latest.
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The table below is the complete upsc academic calendar for 2027, sourced from the official notification dated 20 May 2026. The dates of notification, last date for receipt of applications, and the date of commencement of each examination are listed in chronological order.
Examination | Notification Date | Last Date to Apply | Exam Start Date | Duration |
Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination | - | - | 9 January 2027 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2027 | 2 September 2026 | 22 September 2026 | 31 January 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 | 16 September 2026 | 6 October 2026 | 31 January 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
CBI (DSP) LDCE | 16 December 2026 | 5 January 2027 | 27 February 2027 (Saturday) | 1 Day |
Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination | - | - | 6 March 2027 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
CISF AC (EXE) LDCE 2027 | 25 November 2026 | 15 December 2026 | 13 March 2027 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
NDA & NA Examination (I) 2027 | 2 December 2026 | 22 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
CDS Examination (I) 2027 | 2 December 2026 | 22 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 | January 2027 (Tentative) | February 2027 | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination 2027 | January 2027 (Tentative) | February 2027 | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination | - | - | 12 June 2027 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination 2027 | - | - | 19 June 2027 (Saturday) | 2 Days |
IES / ISS Examination 2027 | March 2027 (Tentative) | April 2027 | 25 June 2027 (Friday) | 3 Days |
Engineering Services (Main) Examination 2027 | - | - | 18 June 2027 (Friday) | 1 Day |
Combined Medical Services Examination 2027 | March 2027 (Tentative) | April 2027 | July 2027 | 1 Day |
CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2027 | March 2027 (Tentative) | April 2027 | August 2027 | 1 Day |
Civil Services (Main) Examination 2027 | - | - | 20 August 2027 (Friday) | 5 Days |
NDA & NA Examination (II) 2027 | May 2027 (Tentative) | June 2027 | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
CDS Examination (II) 2027 | May 2027 (Tentative) | June 2027 | 19 September 2027 (Sunday) | 1 Day |
Reserved for UPSC RT / Examination | - | - | October 2027 | 2 Days |
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2027 | - | - | November 2027 | 10 Days |
SO / Steno (GD-B/GD-I) LDCE | - | - | December 2027 | 2 Days |
Source: Official UPSC Examination Calendar 2027 released on 20 May 2026.
Aspirant Note: Some application notification dates for CSE 2027, IFS 2027 and IES/ISS 2027 are still tentative in the calendar PDF. UPSC will publish exact dates closer to the application window.
The Civil Services Examination is the most-tracked exam in the calendar. The CSE 2027 cycle stretches across roughly twelve months from notification to final result.
CSE 2027 Event | Tentative Date |
UPSC CSE 2027 Notification | January 2027 (Last week, tentative) |
Application Window Opens | January 2027 |
Last Date to Apply | February 2027 |
Application Correction Window | February 2027 |
Prelims Admit Card Release | Second week of May 2027 |
UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) |
Prelims Result | June 2027 |
Mains Admit Card | First week of August 2027 |
UPSC CSE Mains 2027 | 20 August 2027 (Friday) onwards, 5 days |
Mains Result | December 2027 |
Personality Test / Interview | January to April 2028 |
Final Result | April to May 2028 |
If you are starting fresh for CSE 2027, you have about twelve months from May 2026 to May 2027. That is enough time for a clean Prelims-Mains integrated cycle if you start now.
Defence and police service aspirants should pin these three brackets to their wall.
The NDA exam runs in two shifts. Paper 1 (Mathematics) is held from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and Paper 2 (General Ability Test) from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The CDS exam is held in three sittings of two hours each.
NDA & NA Examination (II) 2027 and CDS Examination (II) 2027 share the date of 19 September 2027 (Sunday). Notifications usually come out in May, with applications closing by June 2027.
CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2027 is tentatively scheduled for August 2027. The CAPF exam has two papers, with a written total of 450 marks, followed by a Physical Standards Test, Physical Efficiency Test, Medical Standards Test, and an Interview.
For engineering and earth science aspirants, January 2027 is the focus month.
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 is scheduled for 31 January 2027 (Sunday). Notification released on 16 September 2026, with applications closing on 6 October 2026. The Main Examination is scheduled for 18 June 2027 (Friday).
Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2027 is also scheduled for 31 January 2027 (Sunday), alongside ESE Prelims. Notification on 2 September 2026, applications closing 22 September 2026. The Main Examination is on 19 June 2027 (Saturday) and runs for two days.
Engineering Services and Geo-Scientist are highly specialised exams. Recommend aspirants check the official syllabus and stream eligibility carefully before applying.
Three specialist exams round out the upsc calendar 2027.
Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination 2027 is conducted on 23 May 2027 (Sunday), alongside the CSE Prelims. The Main Examination is held in November 2027 and runs for ten days. IFS attracts a smaller candidate pool, but the cutoff and competition remain sharp due to the limited vacancies.
Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service Examination 2027 is scheduled for 25 June 2027 (Friday) and runs for three days. Notification expected in March 2027, application window in April 2027.
Combined Medical Services Examination 2027 is scheduled for July 2027 (date to be notified). The CMS exam covers two papers of 250 marks each, followed by a Personality Test of 100 marks.
Why the UPSC Academic Calendar Matters
A clear understanding of the upsc academic calendar changes how you study. Three reasons it should sit on your study desk.
First, study plan calibration. Reverse-engineer your prep from each exam date. A CSE 2027 aspirant has 52 weeks from 20 May 2026 to 23 May 2027. Divide that into a 30-week static phase, a 12-week current affairs sprint, an 8-week revision phase, and a 2-week buffer. Without the calendar, you cannot make this allocation.
Second, paper overlap awareness. Many aspirants apply for two or more UPSC exams. The 2027 calendar shows that ESE Prelims and Geo-Scientist Prelims fall on the same day (31 January 2027). NDA 1 and CDS 1 also share a date (11 April 2027). If your prep covers both, you can pick only one of each pair.
Third, life-stage planning. The CSE Mains five-day window from 20 August 2027 falls in the middle of the Indian monsoon.
Travel disruption is common. Aspirants from coastal and hill regions should plan exam-centre choice and accommodation accordingly.
How to Plan Your Year Using UPSC Calendar 2027
If you are preparing for CSE 2027 from scratch, use this 12-month outline.
June 2026 to October 2026 (Phase 1: Foundation): NCERT base, Lakshmikanth for Polity, Spectrum for Modern History, GC Leong for Geography, NCERT XI for Economy, Shankar for Environment. Cover one subject fully before moving to the next. Avoid jumping between sources.
November 2026 to January 2027 (Phase 2: Advanced Static): Move beyond NCERT. Standard reference books, mains-level reading, optional subject deep-dive if you have picked one. Start daily current affairs reading.
February 2027 to April 2027 (Phase 3: Mains Focus): Answer-writing practice four days a week. One mock test per week. Optional subject final revision. Essay-writing on Sundays.
April 2027 to 22 May 2027 (Phase 4: Prelims Sprint): Shift entirely to Prelims. Solve PYQs 2015-2026. Take one full-length mock every alternate day. Revise short notes only.
23 May 2027 to 5 June 2027 (Phase 5: Post-Prelims): Wait for the provisional answer key. Score yourself. If you clear the cutoff, jump straight back to Mains revision.
June to 19 August 2027 (Phase 6: Mains Sprint): Optional revision, GS revision, answer-writing daily. Essay practice twice a week.
20 to 25 August 2027 (Phase 7: Mains Exam): Five days of the actual exam. Sleep right, eat right, write clean.
UPSC Calendar 2027 vs UPSC Calendar 2026
A side-by-side comparison helps you spot the structural patterns UPSC follows year on year.
Exam | 2026 Date | 2027 Date | Pattern |
Calendar Release | 15 May 2025 | 20 May 2026 | Mid-May, year before |
CSE Prelims | 24 May 2026 | 23 May 2027 | Fourth Sunday of May |
CSE Mains | 21 August 2026 | 20 August 2027 | Third or fourth Friday of August |
NDA / CDS 1 | 12 April 2026 | 11 April 2027 | Second Sunday of April |
NDA / CDS 2 | 14 September 2026 | 19 September 2027 | Mid-September |
ESE Prelims | 8 February 2026 | 31 January 2027 | Late January or early February |
Geo-Scientist Prelims | 8 February 2026 | 31 January 2027 | Same day as ESE Prelims |
The calendar release timing has shifted slightly forward, from 15 May to 20 May. The exam dates themselves stay anchored to specific Sundays and Fridays each year. UPSC's planning rhythm is stable, which is good news for any aspirant building a multi-year strategy.
Tips to Use the UPSC Calendar 2027 Effectively
A calendar on the wall does nothing. A calendar in your study planner does plenty. Use these five tips to turn the upsc calendar 2027 into a working tool.
Mark every exam date you might write. Even if you are unsure, mark NDA, CDS, ESE and CSE. Decision-making is easier when the dates are visible.
Set OTR completion as your first action. Complete your UPSC One Time Registration at upsconline.nic.in before any notification drops. It saves 20 minutes on application day.
Subscribe to UPSC notification alerts. UPSC posts every press release and revised notice on
upsc.gov.in. Bookmark the "What's New" section.Build a weekly review ritual. Every Sunday, check upsc.gov.in for revised dates and your study tracker for completed topics.
Reverse-plan with buffers. Build two to three weeks of buffer into every phase. Sickness, family events, and unexpected breaks are normal. A plan with no buffer cracks at the first disruption.
Frequently asked question (FAQs)
When was the UPSC Calendar 2027 released?
What is the UPSC CSE Prelims 2027 exam date?
Where can I download the UPSC Calendar PDF for 2027?
Which UPSC exams are listed in the upsc academic calendar 2027?
When are the NDA 2027 and CDS 2027 exams scheduled?
The upsc calendar 2027 is the cleanest planning document any aspirant gets. UPSC has put twelve months of visibility on the table. Your job is to convert that visibility into a 52-week study plan.
The aspirants who clear UPSC are not the ones who study the most hours. They are the ones who treat preparation as a project with deadlines, deliverables and review cycles. The calendar gives you the deadline. The deliverable is your knowledge. The review cycle is the weekly check.
For day-wise UPSC revision plans aligned to the 2027 calendar, PYQ trend analysis on a subject-by-subject basis, and live mock tests for both Prelims and Mains, follow PadhAI on the app and on X. We post one focused micro-lesson every day for civil services aspirants.
All the best for your UPSC 2027 cycle. Start today.
Gajendra Singh Godara is an IIT Bombay graduate and a UPSC aspirant with 4 attempts, including multiple Prelims and Mains appearances. He specializes in Polity, Modern History, International Relations, and Economy. At PadhAI, Gajendra leverages his firsthand exam experience to simplify complex concepts, creating high-efficiency study materials that help aspirants save time and stay focused.
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