On this page
- UPSC Exam Calendar 2027 at a Glance
- Where to Find the Official UPSC Exam Calendar 2027
- UPSC Exam Calendar 2027: Full Schedule
- UPSC CSE 2027 Timeline in Detail
- How to Turn the UPSC Calendar into a Study Plan
- Which Exams Are Coming Next?
- Common Mistakes Aspirants Make with the UPSC Calendar
- How RAYACADEMY IAS Can Help You Plan Around the UPSC Calendar
- UPSC Exam Calendar 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
- Plan Smarter with RAYACADEMY IAS
UPSC Exam Calendar 2027 at a Glance
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) published its Annual Calendar 2027 on 20 May 2026. It lists the notification date, the last date to apply, the exam date and the duration of every examination and recruitment test UPSC plans to hold next year.
For most aspirants, the headline dates are these:
Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027: Sunday, 23 May 2027
Civil Services (Main) Examination 2027: starts Friday, 20 August 2027 and runs for 5 days
CSE notification: 13 January 2027, with the last date to apply on 2 February 2027
Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2027: starts Sunday, 21 November 2027 and runs for 7 days
The calendar is the single most useful planning document in UPSC preparation, because it lets you fix your timeline backwards from the exam date instead of guessing. This guide explains how to read it, lists every date, and shows how to turn it into a study plan.
Where to Find the Official UPSC Exam Calendar 2027
The calendar is published on the UPSC website under Examination, then Calendar. Download the official PDF from the UPSC Calendar page, where the Annual Calendar 2027 is listed with an upload date of 20 May 2026. Always treat that PDF as the final word, and use summaries like this one to plan, not to confirm.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2027: Full Schedule
The table below follows the official PDF. Examination dates are in the order they occur through the year.
Examination | Notification | Last date to apply | Exam starts | Duration |
Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) 2027 | 2 Sep 2026 | 22 Sep 2026 | 10 Jan 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Engineering Services (Preliminary) 2027 | 16 Sep 2026 | 6 Oct 2026 | 31 Jan 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
CBI (DSP) LDCE | 16 Dec 2026 | 5 Jan 2027 | 27 Feb 2027 (Sat) | 2 days |
CISF AC (EXE) LDCE 2027 | 25 Nov 2026 | 15 Dec 2026 | 14 Mar 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
NDA & NA (I) 2027 and CDS (I) 2027 | 2 Dec 2026 | 22 Dec 2026 | 11 Apr 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Civil Services (Preliminary) 2027 and Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) 2027 (held through CS Prelims) | 13 Jan 2027 | 2 Feb 2027 | 23 May 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Engineering Services (Main) 2027 | - | - | 18 Jun 2027 (Fri) | 1 day |
I.E.S. / I.S.S. Examination 2027 | 10 Feb 2027 | 2 Mar 2027 | 18 Jun 2027 (Fri) | 3 days |
Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) 2027 | - | - | 19 Jun 2027 (Sat) | 2 days |
Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) 2027 | 17 Feb 2027 | 9 Mar 2027 | 4 Jul 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Combined Medical Services 2027 | 3 Mar 2027 | 23 Mar 2027 | 18 Jul 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Civil Services (Main) 2027 | - | - | 20 Aug 2027 (Fri) | 5 days |
NDA & NA (II) 2027 and CDS (II) 2027 | 12 May 2027 | 1 Jun 2027 | 19 Sep 2027 (Sun) | 1 day |
Indian Forest Service (Main) 2027 | - | - | 21 Nov 2027 (Sun) | 7 days |
S.O. / Steno (GD-B / GD-I) LDCE | 15 Sep 2027 | 5 Oct 2027 | 18 Dec 2027 (Sat) | 2 days |
A dash means the calendar lists no separate notification, because Main examinations follow the Preliminary stage. The calendar also holds several dates marked as reserved for UPSC recruitment tests or examinations, which UPSC may use for tests that are not yet announced.
One caution: the calendar itself carries a note that notification dates, exam dates and durations are liable to change if circumstances require. Recent years show this happens in practice, since the UPSC site lists multiple revised versions of the 2025 calendar.
UPSC CSE 2027 Timeline in Detail
Civil Services is the examination most aspirants track, so here is the full timeline built from the calendar.
Stage | Date | What it means for you |
Notification | 13 January 2027 (Wednesday) | Applications open the same day; vacancies and final rules are announced |
Last date to apply | 2 February 2027 (Tuesday) | A 20-day window, so keep documents and photographs ready beforehand |
Prelims | 23 May 2027 (Sunday) | About 18 weeks after notification; one day, two papers |
Mains | 20 August 2027 (Friday) | Starts about 89 days after Prelims; five days of written papers |
Interview | Announced after Mains result | Not on the calendar; UPSC announces it separately |
IFoS Mains | 21 November 2027 (Sunday) | For candidates who qualify the IFoS stage; seven days |
The Indian Forest Service Preliminary is not a separate test: it is held through the Civil Services Preliminary Examination on 23 May 2027.
How to Turn the UPSC Calendar into a Study Plan
A calendar is useful only when it changes what you do each week. Use these steps.
1. Pick your target exam and count backwards. From 30 October 2026, there are roughly 29 weeks to Civil Services Prelims. Divide that time into base building, revision and mock tests rather than treating it as one long stretch.
2. Remember that the notification is not your starting gun. The CSE notification arrives 75 days from today. Candidates who start only after it have about 18 weeks to Prelims, which is not enough for a full syllabus.
3. Plan for the Prelims to Mains gap on day one. The roughly 89 days between 23 May and 20 August leave little room to learn answer writing from scratch. Start short daily writing practice well before May.
4. Check for overlaps if you target several exams. Civil Services Prelims (23 May 2027) and the Engineering Services Main and IES/ISS exams (18 June 2027) fall close together. CAPF (4 July 2027) and Combined Medical Services (18 July 2027) also sit within weeks of each other, so decide your priorities early.
5. Mark application windows, not just exam dates. Missing a last date costs you a full cycle. Set reminders for notification day and for three days before each last date.
6. Keep a buffer for revisions. Because UPSC can revise dates, build a flexible plan and re-check the official calendar every month or two.
Which Exams Are Coming Next?
If you are reading this on 30 October 2026, the nearest application windows are:
CISF AC (EXE) LDCE 2027: notification on 25 November 2026, last date 15 December 2026
NDA & NA (I) and CDS (I) 2027: notification on 2 December 2026, last date 22 December 2026
CBI (DSP) LDCE: notification on 16 December 2026, last date 5 January 2027
Civil Services 2027: notification on 13 January 2027, last date 2 February 2027
The Combined Geo-Scientist and Engineering Services Preliminary examinations have already closed for applications, and their exams fall in January 2027.
Common Mistakes Aspirants Make with the UPSC Calendar
Relying on coaching websites, social media or Telegram forwards instead of the official PDF
Treating the tentative calendar as final, and not re-checking after UPSC revises it
Starting serious preparation only after the notification
Ignoring the short gap between CSE Prelims and Mains
Not tracking application deadlines for secondary exams such as CAPF, CDS or IES/ISS
Planning for too many exams at once and preparing for none properly
How RAYACADEMY IAS Can Help You Plan Around the UPSC Calendar
A calendar tells you when. Preparation decides whether you are ready. RAYACADEMY IAS (Inspiring to Aspire) supports aspirants from the first planning conversation to exam day.
1. Free counselling to build your timeline. Share your attempts left, background and available hours, and we help you build a week-by-week plan from today to the Prelims and Mains dates. Book free counselling
2. A structured foundation programme. Our UPSC GS Foundation Programme follows a syllabus-mapped sequence so your preparation matches the calendar. See our full guide to UPSC CSE 2027 for eligibility, pattern and strategy.
3. One plan for UPSC and OPSC. The General Studies syllabus overlaps heavily between UPSC and State PSC examinations. Our academic team, which has researched previous year question patterns across both, helps Odisha aspirants prepare once and use it for both through our OPSC / OAS programme.
4. Answer writing and feedback. Mains rewards practice. Aspirants can share answers and get feedback through our community on Telegram.
5. Study resources at your fingertips. Use our Resources and Knowledge Hub, buy books from our bookstore or study on the move with the RAYACADEMY app on Google Play.
6. Learn where it suits you. Visit our Odisha Campus (Shreeram Plaza, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751030) or our New Delhi Office (B-7, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070).
Talk to us: Call or WhatsApp +91 76060 24205, email info@rayacademyias.in, or follow our free lessons on YouTube.
UPSC Exam Calendar 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
When was the UPSC Exam Calendar 2027 released? UPSC uploaded the Annual Calendar 2027 on 20 May 2026 on its official website.
What is the UPSC Prelims 2027 date? The Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2027 is on Sunday, 23 May 2027. The Indian Forest Service Preliminary is held through the same examination.
When does UPSC Mains 2027 start? The Civil Services (Main) Examination 2027 starts on Friday, 20 August 2027 and runs for five days.
When is the UPSC CSE 2027 notification? The calendar lists 13 January 2027, with 2 February 2027 as the last date for applications.
What are the NDA and CDS 2027 exam dates? NDA & NA (I) and CDS (I) 2027 are on 11 April 2027, with notification on 2 December 2026 and the last date on 22 December 2026. NDA & NA (II) and CDS (II) 2027 are on 19 September 2027, with notification on 12 May 2027.
When is the CAPF (AC) 2027 exam? The Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) Examination 2027 is on 4 July 2027. The notification is on 17 February 2027 and the last date is 9 March 2027.
When is the IFoS Mains 2027? The Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2027 starts on 21 November 2027 and runs for seven days.
Can UPSC change the exam dates? Yes. The calendar states that dates and durations are liable to alteration if circumstances warrant, so check upsc.gov.in regularly.
When will the Interview (Personality Test) dates be announced? The interview schedule is not part of the calendar. UPSC announces it separately after the Mains result.
Where can I download the UPSC calendar PDF? You can download it from the Calendar page under the Examination menu on the UPSC website.
Plan Smarter with RAYACADEMY IAS
The UPSC Exam Calendar 2027 gives you the dates. Your edge comes from using them early. Book a free counselling session with RAYACADEMY IAS, explore our UPSC GS Foundation Programme and start building your plan today.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the UPSC Programme of Examinations and Recruitment Tests 2027, as on 20 May 2026. Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official website, upsc.gov.in.