Scribe and compensatory time

VI candidates (Blindness and Low Vision) are eligible for 7 posts. Scribe is permitted for Blindness, Low Vision, Cerebral Palsy, and severe disabilities. Compensatory time: 20 minutes per hour at every stage — Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Key dates and deadlines

Prelims held: 24 May 2026. Answer keys released: 27 May 2026. Prelims result: expected 9 to 14 June 2026. Mains exam: 21 August 2026.

Step by step: what to do now

Post-exam updates for VI/PwBD candidates: 1) Keep your e-admit card and roll number safe for checking results. 2) Monitor upsc.gov.in for official notifications regarding Prelims results or mains registration. 3) Mains registration requires submitting DAF-I (Detailed Application Form) with valid disability certificates. Keep all certificates ready.

Official source and verification

Source: UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 and CSE 2026 Official Notice. Status of these dates: official. Verified by the SuoMoto team on 2026-07-08.

Last year cut-off analysis

Prelims GS Paper 1 cut-off is out of 200 (CSAT is only qualifying at 33%). These figures are from the previous cycle, compiled by the SuoMoto team from the official UPSC cut-off sheet. In Prelims (GS Paper 1) 2024, general closed at 87, O B C at 86, S C at 79, and the Visually Impaired cut-off at 40. The VI cut-off was about 47 marks below general, because VI candidates compete on a separate horizontal list. The Blindness and Low Vision (VI) horizontal cut-off is set well below general.

resultVI: SuitablePreparation guide

UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 — Result Out, Mains on 21 August

Q: At a glance

UPSC Civil Services (CSE), conducted by UPSC. Current stage: result. UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 (933 vacancies) result is out — check the qualified roll-number PDF at upsc.gov.in. Qualified VI and PwBD candidates should submit DAF-I and begin Mains answer-writing now; Mains is on 21 August 2026, with 20 minutes per hour compensatory time at every stage.

Q: VI and PwBD vacancies

Suitable for Visually Impaired candidates. 7 posts reserved for VI (Blindness + Low Vision combined) under PwBD horizontal reservation. Total PwBD: 33 posts — VI: 7, Deafness/Hard of Hearing: 11, Locomotor Disability (CP/Dwarfism etc.): 8, Multiple Disabilities: 7. Total posts: 933 posts total. Breakdown by service to be published with final merit list.

Source: UPSC Annual Calendar 2026 and CSE 2026 Official Notice. Last verified: 2026-07-08.

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1. Exam Overview

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 (933 vacancies) result is out — check the qualified roll-number PDF at upsc.gov.in. Qualified VI and PwBD candidates should submit DAF-I and begin Mains answer-writing now; Mains is on 21 August 2026, with 20 minutes per hour compensatory time at every stage.

2. Posts and What They Involve

IAS, IPS, IFS and other All-India / Central Services

VI: Suitable

Government of India · Level 10 and above — career to the topmost administrative posts

The Civil Services Examination recruits to the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other Group A and B services. A VI candidate can become an IAS or IRS officer — several have.

VI note: Blindness and Low Vision are eligible services-wise (7 VI posts this cycle). Scribe and 20-minutes-per-hour compensatory time apply at every stage — Prelims, Mains and Interview.

3. Vacancies — General, PwBD and VI

Total: 933 posts total. Breakdown by service to be published with final merit list.

VI / PwBD: 7 posts reserved for VI (Blindness + Low Vision combined) under PwBD horizontal reservation. Total PwBD: 33 posts — VI: 7, Deafness/Hard of Hearing: 11, Locomotor Disability (CP/Dwarfism etc.): 8, Multiple Disabilities: 7.

4. Exam Structure and Pattern

Prelims

Two objective papers, on one day

Duration: 2 hours per paper; 2 hours 40 minutes with compensatory time

General Studies Paper 1100 Q · 200 marks
CSAT Paper 2 (qualifying at 33%)80 Q · 200 marks

Total: 200 marks · Minus one-third per wrong answer

Only GS Paper 1 counts for the cut-off; CSAT is qualifying. Prelims is a screening test — marks do not carry forward.

Mains

Nine descriptive papers

Duration: 3 hours per paper; 4 hours with compensatory time

Essay0 Q · 250 marks
General Studies I–IV0 Q · 1000 marks
Optional Subject (two papers)0 Q · 500 marks
Two language papers (qualifying)0 Q · 600 marks

Total: 1750 marks · Not applicable (descriptive)

The two language papers are only qualifying; 1750 marks count for the merit.

Personality Test (Interview)

Board interview

Duration: As scheduled

Total: 275 marks · Not applicable

Final merit: Mains (1750) plus Interview (275) = 2025 marks.

5. Important Dates

24 May 2026Prelims held
27 May 2026Answer keys released
expected 9 to 14 June 2026Prelims result
21 August 2026Mains exam

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