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In an official notification issued on February 4, 2026, the UPSC has taken several major and strict decisions regarding service allocation, rules for reappearing for the exam, and digital security.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has made changes to the Civil Services Examination 2026 that will make the entire process of administrative services more transparent, secure, and disciplined in the future. Every year, millions of young people prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination and dream of joining prestigious services like IAS, IPS, and IFS. However, this path is now a little different and governed by clearer rules.

In the official notification issued on February 4, 2026, the UPSC has taken several major and strict decisions regarding service allocation, rules for reappearing for the exam, and digital security. Specifically regarding the IPS service, the commission has clarified that there will no longer be any scope for repeatedly changing options. The aim of these new rules is to ensure that candidates who have already been selected for a service do not misuse the system and that deserving candidates get the right opportunities.

No Permission to Re-select IPS

According to the new UPSC rules, if a candidate has already been selected for the IPS (Indian Police Service), they will not be able to choose the IPS option again through CSE 2026. This means that after being selected for the IPS, it will no longer be possible to attempt the exam again for the same service. This rule is especially important for candidates who used to take the exam repeatedly to improve their rank.

Strict Rules for IAS and IFS Officers as Well

The commission has also clarified that candidates who are already working in the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) or IFS (Indian Foreign Service) can no longer appear for the Civil Services Examination again. Furthermore, if a candidate is appointed to the IAS or IFS before the Mains examination, they will not be allowed to appear for the Mains exam.

Last Chance for Previously Selected Candidates

The UPSC has provided relief to candidates who have already been selected for a service in the CSE 2025 or earlier. Such candidates will be given one final opportunity in 2026 or 2027 to utilize their remaining attempts. They will not be required to resign from their current service during this period. This opportunity will be granted only once.

New Rules for Group A Service Candidates

The rules have also been changed for candidates who are selected for a Group A service in 2026 but wish to reappear for the UPSC examination. Such candidates will now have to obtain permission from their department to defer their training. If a candidate neither joins the training nor obtains a deferral, their 2026 application will be cancelled. If the same candidate is successful again in 2027, they will have to choose only one service; the other service will automatically be considered cancelled.

High-Tech System to Prevent Fraud

To secure the examination process, the UPSC has now made AI-based facial recognition and Aadhaar verification mandatory. Candidates will now have to register on a new four-stage online portal. This entire system will be fully integrated with Aadhaar. This will prevent fake identities, duplicate applications, and cheating in the examination.