IAS, IFS, IPS recruits can't reappear for civil services
UPSC just dropped the Civil Services Exam 2026 notification, with 933 openings for roles like IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS.
Applications are open until February 24 at 6pm.
But what's really catching everyone's eye this year? Some major updates to the rules on who can take the exam—and how many times.
One shot at CSE 2027 after training break
If you're aiming for civil services, here's what's new: current IAS or IFS officers can't reapply; if you get selected after Prelims or Mains, you're out for the next stage or service allocation.
If you got IPS earlier, you can't pick it again this year. Group A recruits from CSE 2026 get only one shot at CSE 2027 (with a training break), but after that, resigning is mandatory to try again.
Plus, your seniority now depends on when you actually join—not just when you clear the exam—so switching around gets tougher.
All these tweaks aim to make things fairer and keep training on track for everyone starting out.