Education – UPSC Expands Exam Network With Three New Civil Services Centres

Education – The Union Public Service Commission has expanded its examination infrastructure by adding three new centres for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, a move aimed at reducing overcrowding and improving convenience for thousands of aspirants across the country.

New centers receive a strong response from aspirants.

The newly introduced examination centres in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut have collectively attracted more than 23,000 candidates, according to information released by the Commission on Thursday. Officials said the decision was taken to ease pressure on heavily crowded venues in nearby cities and improve the overall examination experience for candidates.

With the inclusion of these locations, the number of centres conducting the Civil Services Preliminary Examination has increased from 80 to 83. The UPSC conducts the nationwide examination every year for recruitment to prestigious services including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Foreign Service.

Preliminary Examination Scheduled This Weekend

The Civil Services Preliminary Examination for 2026 is scheduled to take place on Sunday. The Commission has received 8,19,372 applications this year, reflecting the continuing popularity and competitive nature of the recruitment process.

UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar stated that the expansion was introduced with the objective of making the examination process more efficient and accessible for candidates from different regions. He said the additional centres were expected to reduce travel difficulties and minimise congestion at existing venues.

Regional Pressure Expected To Reduce

Among the three newly established centres, Bhubaneswar recorded the highest number of applications at 10,656. Officials noted that the new venue would help decrease the load on examination facilities in nearby Cuttack.

Kanpur received 6,938 applications, which is expected to reduce the pressure on Lucknow-based centres that usually witness a high number of candidates during the civil services examination season.

Meanwhile, the newly added Meerut centre registered 5,902 applications. The Commission said the facility would benefit aspirants from western Uttar Pradesh, many of whom previously depended on centres in Ghaziabad.

Focus On Accessibility For Disabled Candidates

The Commission also highlighted steps taken to support candidates belonging to the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. According to UPSC officials, efforts were made to ensure such applicants received their preferred examination centres whenever possible.

As part of these arrangements, around 805 PwBD candidates were accommodated at centres of their choice within the Delhi region. Additional seating arrangements were reportedly created in some cases to ensure accessibility requirements were met without inconvenience to the candidates.

Technology-Based Planning Introduced

In another significant change, the UPSC introduced a dropdown option in the application form for the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. Through this feature, candidates could mention nearby preferred cities while filling out their forms.

Officials said the collected data would help the Commission assess demand patterns and identify suitable locations for future examination centres. The move is being viewed as part of a broader effort to modernise the examination process using data-driven planning.

UPSC Emphasises Transparency And Efficiency

The Commission stated that the latest measures reflect its ongoing commitment to maintaining fairness, transparency and administrative efficiency while conducting one of India’s most competitive examinations.

The UPSC conducts the civil services examination in three stages — preliminary, mains and interview. Every year, lakhs of candidates participate in the process in hopes of securing positions in top government services.

By increasing examination infrastructure and improving accessibility, the Commission aims to create a smoother experience for aspirants while ensuring that logistical challenges do not affect the integrity of the examination system.