Students are required to select their preferred exam center during the application process. UPSC Prelims Exam Centers are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, which means students have a chance of securing their preferred location. The UPSC Prelims Exam 2026 is being conducted on 24th May 2026 and Mains exam will take place from August 21, 2026 and will go on for five days. Each year, the number and locations of UPSC Prelims Exam Centres 2026 are confirmed through UPSC Notification, so that it can be accessible all over India overcoming geographical barriers.
| UPSC Prelims Exam Centers 2026 Overview | |
Feature | Details |
Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 |
Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Total Exam Centers | 83 Cities Across India |
Choice of Centers | First-Apply-First Allot Basis (Based on availability at the time of registration) |
Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
The UPSC ensures the availability of exam centres across various regions of India to provide equal opportunities to all applicants. For the 2026 cycle, UPSC will continue to conduct both the Prelims and Mains examinations in a wide network of cities, including major urban centres and key regional hubs. The list below outlines the cities where the UPSC Prelims 2026 will be held. It largely aligns with previous years, covering major cities to ensure accessibility for candidates nationwide.
| UPSC Prelims Exam Centers in India 2026 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sl. No. | CENTRE | Sl. No. | CENTRE | Sl. No. | CENTRE |
| 1 | AGARTALA | 30 | GURUGRAM | 59 | PATNA |
| 2 | AGRA | 31 | GWALIOR | 60 | SRI VIJAYA PURAM (PORTBLAIR) |
| 3 | AHMEDABAD | 32 | HYDERABAD | 61 | PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) |
| 4 | AIZAWL | 33 | IMPHAL | 62 | PUDUCHERRY |
| 5 | AJMER | 34 | INDORE | 63 | PUNE |
| 6 | ALIGARH | 35 | ITANAGAR | 64 | RAIPUR |
| 7 | ALMORA (UTTARAKHAND) | 36 | JABALPUR | 65 | RAJKOT |
| 8 | ANANTHAPURU | 37 | JAIPUR | 66 | RANCHI |
| 9 | CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR (AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA) | 38 | JAMMU | 67 | SAMBALPUR |
| 10 | BAREILLY | 39 | JODHPUR | 68 | SHILLONG |
| 11 | BENGALURU | 40 | JORHAT | 69 | SHIMLA |
| 12 | BHOPAL | 41 | KANPUR | 70 | SILIGURI |
| 13 | BHUBANESWAR | 42 | KARGIL | 71 | SRINAGAR |
| 14 | BILASPUR (CHHATISGARH) | 43 | KOCHI | 72 | SRINAGAR (UTTARAKHAND) |
| 15 | CHANDIGARH | 44 | KOHIMA | 73 | SURAT |
| 16 | CHENNAI | 45 | KOLKATTA | 74 | THANE |
| 17 | COIMBATORE | 46 | KOZHIKODE (CALICUT) | 75 | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM |
| 18 | CUTTACK | 47 | LEH | 76 | TIRUCHIRAPALLI |
| 19 | DEHRADUN | 48 | LUCKNOW | 77 | TIRUPATI |
| 20 | DELHI | 49 | LUDHIANA | 78 | UDAIPUR |
| 21 | DHARAMSHALA (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | 50 | MADURAI | 79 | VARANASI |
| 22 | DHARWAR | 51 | MANDI (HIMACHAL PRADESH) | 80 | VELLORE |
| 23 | DISPUR | 52 | MEERUT | 81 | VIJAYAWADA |
| 24 | FARIDABAD | 53 | MUMBAI | 82 | VISHAKHAPATNAM |
| 25 | GANGTOK | 54 | MYSURU | 83 | HANUMAKONDA (WARANGAL URBAN) |
| 26 | GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR | 55 | NAGPUR | ||
| 27 | GAYA | 56 | NASIK | ||
| 28 | GHAZIABAD | 57 | NAVI MUMBAI | ||
| 29 | GORAKHPUR | 58 | PANAJI (GOA) | ||
To ensure a stress-free exam experience, students must know how to check their exact UPSC exam centre location. This can be easily done through the official UPSC portal.
Steps to check your exam centre:
Additionally, refer to the centre lists provided for both Prelims and Mains. These are listed separately to help you identify your test locations for each stage of the examination. Reviewing both lists thoroughly will help you stay prepared and avoid last-minute confusion.
Key Factors to Consider While Choosing UPSC Exam Centres 2026 are
| 1. What are the key factors to consider when selecting a UPSC Prelims exam centre? | ![]() |
| 2. How can candidates check their UPSC Prelims exam centre details? | ![]() |
| 3. What should candidates do if they want to change their UPSC Prelims exam centre? | ![]() |
| 4. Are there any specific exam centres designated for differently-abled candidates in the UPSC Prelims? | ![]() |
| 5. What measures are taken to ensure the security and integrity of the UPSC Prelims exam centres? | ![]() |