The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 on May 24, 2026 (Sunday) across various examination centres in the country. Candidates appearing for the examination are advised to follow all exam day instructions carefully to avoid any inconvenience at the examination centre. The guidelines related to reporting time, dress code, documents, and prohibited items are mentioned on the UPSC Prelims Admit Card 2026 and must be read thoroughly.
UPSC Prelims 2026 Reporting Time
The UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted in two shifts for General Studies (GS Paper 1) and CSAT (Paper 2). Candidates should reach the examination centre well before the gate closing time, as late entry will not be permitted under any circumstances.
Candidates must report to the examination centre at least 45 to 60 minutes before the gate closing time to complete frisking, biometric verification, and seating procedures. Below are the UPSC exam timings:
- GS Paper 1 Timing: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
- CSAT Paper Timing: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- Gate Closing for Paper 1: 9:00 AM
- Gate Closing for Paper 2: 2:00 PM
For Paper 1, candidates are advised to reach the centre by 8:15 AM. For the CSAT paper, candidates should report by 1:15 PM. UPSC has clarified that no candidate will be allowed to enter the examination venue after the gate closing time.
UPSC Prelims 2026 Dress Code
UPSC has not prescribed any official dress code for the Preliminary Examination. However, candidates are advised to wear simple and comfortable clothing to ensure smooth frisking and verification at the examination centre.
Candidates should prefer light-coloured clothes and simple footwear. Heavy jewellery, metallic accessories, thick-soled shoes, and flashy clothing should be avoided. Clothes with large pockets or heavy designs may lead to delays during security checks.
What To Carry at UPSC Exam Centre 2026?
Candidates must carry only the permitted items inside the examination hall. The following items are allowed:
- Printed UPSC Prelims Admit Card
- Original Government-issued Photo ID (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence)
- Two passport-size photographs, if required
- Black ballpoint pens
- Transparent water bottle
- Simple analog watch
Electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, Bluetooth devices, earphones, and digital watches are strictly prohibited. Candidates carrying prohibited items may face disqualification from the examination.
Important Instructions for UPSC Prelims Exam Day
Candidates are advised to carefully fill their roll number and booklet code on the OMR sheet using only a black ballpoint pen. Use of pencil, gel pen, whitener, or correction fluid is not permitted.
Candidates should avoid carrying study material, bags, or unnecessary valuables to the examination centre. Most centres do not provide storage facilities for mobile phones or personal belongings.