UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 — Notification, Vacancy, Eligibility & Selection Process

Last Updated: Sep 16, 2026 | Source: Official UKPSC Notification | psc.uk.gov.in

UKPSC Upper PCS — the Uttarakhand Combined State Civil/Upper Subordinate Services Examination — is conducted by the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission for recruitment to Group A and Group B gazetted posts across state government departments, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Finance Officer. It is Uttarakhand’s primary route into state civil services for candidates who don’t want to sit the national-level UPSC exam.

UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 Notification

The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission released the official notification for the Combined State Civil/Upper Subordinate Services Examination-2026 on 09 September 2026, under Advertisement No. A-1/E-1/2026-27, for 67 vacancies across various Group A and Group B departments. Online applications are open from 09 September to 29 September 2026 (till 11:59:59 PM), with a correction window open from 07 October to 16 October 2026 (till 11:59:59 PM).

Download Official UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 Notification PDF

Quick Overview

Latest Updates

• 2025 Mains Exam Concluded — 27 to 30 April 2026 at Haridwar and Haldwani
• 2024 cycle Mains Result declared — 01 December 2025, 608 candidates qualified
• 2024 cycle Interview Completed— scheduled up to 21 April 2026. Final merit list expected.
• Vacancies revised to 116 — 7 Urban Development posts returned to state govt (Official Notice: 22 April 2026)
• 41 candidates’ Mains candidature cancelled — exam fee not paid by 05 February 2026 deadline (Official Notice: 07 April 2026)

2025 and 2026 Exam Cycle — Current Status

Two exam cycles are currently active. Candidates should identify which cycle applies to them.

UKPSC Upper PCS 2025 Cycle: The 2025 cycle was notified in May 2025 for 123 vacancies. Seven posts under the Urban Development Department were later returned to the state government (Official Notice: 22 April 2026), revising the total to 116. The Mains examination concluded 27–30 April 2026 at Haridwar and Haldwani; the result is awaited and expected in November–December 2026, with the Interview stage to follow once the result is declared.

UKPSC Upper PCS 2026 Cycle: Notified 09 September 2026 for 67 vacancies — see full notification details above.

Important Dates

This table reflects both currently active exam cycles. All dates are updated as soon as UKPSC releases a new notice. For the complete mains schedule including paper-wise timing and exam centre details, For the prelims schedule and related information, visit the UKPSC Prelims Exam Date page.

Total Vacancies — 2025 and 2026 Cycle

UKPSC Upper PCS covers approximately 20 to 25 different posts under Group A and Group B categories across various Uttarakhand government departments. The total number of vacancies per cycle varies considerably based on departmental requirements at the time of notification. The 2026 cycle has been announced for 67 vacancies while the 2025 cycle was announced for 123 vacancies, later after reduction its 116 posts which gives a realistic picture of the variation candidates can expect between cycles.

The official vacancy notification including post-wise distribution is published on the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission’s official website at psc.uk.gov.in.

Who Can Apply — Age, Qualification and Domicile

Candidates must be 21–42 years old as on 1 July 2026, hold a Bachelor’s degree (some posts require specific qualifications), and meet nationality and domicile conditions. Full Ukpsc upper pcs eligibility criteria.

How Candidates are Selected — Three Stage Process

The UKPSC Upper PCS selection is completed through three stages

Stage 1 — Preliminary Examination (Objective)

For the Prelims exam structure and latest updates, see the UKPSC Prelims.

Stage 2 — Main Examination (Written)

For complete paper-wise syllabus, exam pattern, strategy and all mains-related updates, visit the UKPSC Mains.

Stage 3 — Interview

Candidates who clear the Main Examination are called for the Interview which carries 150 marks. The panel assesses general awareness, communication, decision-making approach, and suitability for civil service roles. The final merit list is prepared on the combined marks of Mains and Interview. For the 2024 cycle, 604 candidates have been called for interview scheduled from 16 March to 21 April 2026 at UKPSC Haridwar.

Pay Scale and What You Earn After Selection

Selected candidates are placed at Level 6, 7, or 10 of the Uttarakhand Pay Matrix depending on the post, ranging from ₹35,400 to ₹1,77,500. Full Ukpsc upper pcs salary and job-profile breakdown

How to Prepare for UKPSC PCS — Time, Strategy and Approach

UKPSC Upper PCS is a multi-stage examination where each stage demands a genuinely different preparation approach. The single most common mistake aspirants make is treating it as one continuous preparation block rather than as two distinct phases with different goals.

The first phase should be entirely focused on building the breadth required for Prelims. The General Studies Paper I syllabus is wide, covering history, geography, polity, economy, science, environment, and current affairs, with a strong emphasis on Uttarakhand-specific content running through all topics. Because Prelims marks do not count toward the final merit, the only objective here is to cross the cutoff score efficiently — not to maximise marks. Candidates who over-prepare for Prelims at the cost of Mains preparation time consistently underperform in the final merit list.

Once Prelims is cleared, the entire preparation approach must shift. Mains is a written descriptive examination testing depth of understanding, analytical thinking, and clarity of expression across 8 papers. Answer writing practice becomes non-negotiable at this stage, not optional. Candidates who rely only on reading without regular answer writing practice consistently underperform in Mains regardless of how much they have studied.

One aspect of preparation that separates serious UKPSC Upper PCS aspirants from those who treat it as a secondary exam is the Uttarakhand-specific content. Two out of eight Mains papers — General Studies V and General Studies VI — are dedicated entirely to Uttarakhand’s history, society, culture, geography, and economy. These papers are frequently underestimated by candidates who focus only on the national-level GS content. Strong performance in these two papers can significantly improve the final rank.

Frequently Asked Questions — UKPSC Mains 2025

Q1: Which posts are filled through UKPSC Upper PCS?

Ans. The examination fills posts including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Finance Officer, Assistant Director/Accounts Officer, Sub Registrar, State Tax Officer, and other Group A and B posts across state departments.

Q2: How many stages are there in UKPSC Upper PCS?

Ans. Three — Preliminary Examination (objective, qualifying), Main Examination (written descriptive, 1500 marks), and Interview (150 marks). Final merit is based on Mains and Interview combined.

Q3: What is the educational qualification required?

Ans. Bachelor’s Degree from a university recognised by law in India, with some posts requiring additional specific qualifications.

Q4: What is the selection process for UKPSC Upper PCS?

Ans. 21 to 42 years as on 01 July 2026. Age relaxation applies to SC, ST, OBC, PWD, and other categories per Uttarakhand Government norms.

Q5: What is the age limit for UKPSC Upper PCS?

Ans. No. UKPSC announces a new cycle based on vacancies arising in departments, and the gap between cycles has historically ranged from one to three years.

Q6: Does UKPSC Upper PCS happen every year?

Ans. 67 total vacancies — General 37, SC 13, ST 0, OBC 11, EWS 6.

Q7: How is Uttarakhand-specific content important in UKPSC Upper PCS?

Ans. Two Mains papers — GS Paper V and GS Paper VI — are dedicated to Uttarakhand’s history, geography, society, and economy, together carrying 400 of the 1500 Mains marks.