UPSC IES/ISS Recruitment Notification 2026 Out - Apply Online for 44 Posts

About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India's premier central recruiting agency, established on October 1, 1926, during British rule as Public Service Commission. Post-independence, it was reconstituted as UPSC on 26th January 1950 under Article 315 of the Indian Constitution. The Commission functions as an independent constitutional body responsible for conducting examinations and interviews for appointments to All India Services and various Central Civil Services of the Government of India.

UPSC's primary mandate includes recruitment to prestigious services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Economic Service (IES), Indian Statistical Service (ISS), and numerous other Group A and Group B central services. The Commission upholds the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and merit-based selection, ensuring that only the most competent candidates join the civil services to serve the nation.

Indian Economic Service & Indian Statistical Service - An Overview

The Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) are two premier Group A civil services under the Government of India, offering exceptional career opportunities for economics and statistics graduates. IES officers serve as economic advisors and policymakers across various ministries, departments, and regulatory bodies, contributing to economic planning, policy formulation, fiscal management, and developmental initiatives. ISS officers work as statistical experts handling data analysis, survey methodology, statistical modeling, and research across governmental statistical organizations.

Both services provide intellectually stimulating work environments where professionals engage with critical national issues including economic reforms, budgetary policies, social sector planning, agricultural economics, industrial development, international trade, statistical surveys, demographic studies, and evidence-based policymaking. Officers enjoy significant autonomy, excellent career progression prospects, and opportunities to influence India's developmental trajectory through their expertise.

UPSC IES/ISS Examination 2026 - Recruitment Details

The Union Public Service Commission has released the official notification (Advertisement No. 07/2026-IES/ISS) inviting applications from eligible candidates for the Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination 2026. Through this examination, UPSC aims to fill 44 prestigious positions across various government ministries, departments, and organizations requiring specialized economic and statistical expertise.

This recruitment offers a golden opportunity for postgraduate degree holders in economics, applied economics, business economics, econometrics, and statistics to build distinguished careers in public service. Selected candidates will be appointed to Group A positions with attractive remuneration packages, comprehensive benefits, and excellent career advancement opportunities within the framework of India's administrative machinery.

Post-wise Vacancy Breakup

The 44 vacancies are distributed between Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service categories. For Indian Economic Service, positions are available across ministries including Finance, Commerce & Industry, Agriculture, Planning, Statistics, Labor & Employment, and other economic departments. For Indian Statistical Service, vacancies exist in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), Central Statistical Office (CSO), and various statistical wings of central ministries.

Category-wise reservation is applicable as per Government of India norms including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) ensuring equitable representation across communities. Vertical and horizontal reservations are implemented in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.

Educational Qualification Requirements

For Indian Economic Service, candidates must possess a Master's Degree in Economics or Applied Economics or Business Economics or Econometrics from a recognized university. For Indian Statistical Service, candidates should have either a Bachelor's Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects, or a Master's Degree in Statistics or Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics from a recognized university.

The degrees must be from institutions recognized by UGC or equivalent regulatory bodies. Candidates appearing in the final year examination can also apply provisionally, but they must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination before the interview stage. Distance learning and correspondence degrees are acceptable only if recognized by the Distance Education Council and approved by UGC/AICTE.

Age Limit and Relaxation Policy

Candidates must be between 21 to 30 years of age as on 1st August 2026. This means candidates should not be born earlier than 2nd August 1996 and not later than 1st August 2005. Upper age relaxation is provided as follows: SC/ST candidates receive 5 years relaxation, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates receive 3 years relaxation, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities receive 10 years relaxation (13 years for OBC-PwBD and 15 years for SC/ST-PwBD), and Ex-Servicemen receive 5 years relaxation.

Age relaxation for government servants, defense personnel, and other specified categories is applicable as per Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) guidelines. Candidates claiming age relaxation must submit relevant certificates in prescribed formats during document verification.

Examination Pattern and Syllabus

The IES/ISS Examination comprises two successive stages: Written Examination followed by Personality Test (Interview). The Written Examination consists of multiple papers covering General English, General Studies, Economics/Statistics (depending on service), and specialized papers in economic analysis, quantitative methods, statistical techniques, Indian economy, and developmental economics.

For IES, papers include economic theory, econometrics, quantitative economics, and Indian economic policy. For ISS, papers cover statistical inference, sampling theory, probability, applied statistics, and official statistics. Each paper is of descriptive nature requiring analytical thinking and comprehensive understanding. Candidates securing minimum qualifying marks in written examination become eligible for the Personality Test where their overall suitability for civil services is assessed through an interview with a board of expert members.

Salary Structure and Service Benefits

Selected candidates will be appointed in the pay level of Group A Gazetted Officers as per 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations. The initial basic pay typically starts in Pay Level-10 or Level-11 depending on the specific cadre and posting. In addition to basic pay, officers receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance (or government accommodation), Transport Allowance, and other admissible allowances based on posting location.

Service benefits include comprehensive medical facilities for self, spouse, and dependent children/parents, Leave Travel Concession, contributory pension scheme (National Pension System), leave encashment, subsidized accommodation at government residential complexes, vehicle advance, house building advance, educational assistance for children, membership of exclusive officers' clubs, and various other perquisites. Officers also receive study leave opportunities for pursuing higher studies including Ph.D. programs, foreign training, and specialized courses.

Career Progression and Growth Opportunities

IES and ISS offer structured career progression with promotions based on time-bound upgradations and merit-based selections. Officers can rise to senior positions including Deputy Economic Adviser, Economic Adviser, Chief Economic Adviser, Deputy Director General, Director General, and even Principal Economic Adviser to Government of India. The services provide lateral movement opportunities across different ministries and departments, exposing officers to diverse policy domains.

Officers regularly participate in high-level policy formulation committees, represent India in international forums and conferences, contribute to flagship governmental programs, undertake research projects, publish papers in reputed journals, and play pivotal roles in shaping India's economic and statistical frameworks. Opportunities also exist for deputation to international organizations like IMF, World Bank, UN agencies, and bilateral assignments.

Application Process and Important Instructions

Candidates must apply exclusively online through UPSC's Online Recruitment Application (ORA) portal at upsconline.nic.in. The application process involves two parts: Part-I registration requiring basic details to generate a unique Registration ID, and Part-II detailed application with personal information, educational qualifications, preferences, photograph, signature, and fee payment.

Before applying, candidates should carefully read the detailed notification, ensure they meet eligibility criteria, keep scanned copies of photograph and signature ready (as per specifications), arrange payment facility for application fee, and have valid mobile number and email address. After successful submission, candidates should download and preserve the e-admit card when released, and regularly check the official website for updates regarding examination dates, venues, and results.

Application Fee Details

The application fee is Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only) for General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female candidates, SC/ST candidates, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are exempted from paying the application fee. Fee can be paid through SBI net banking, or by cash payment at any branch of State Bank of India using system-generated Pay-in-Slip, or through Visa/Master Credit/Debit Card, or UPI payment.

Candidates opting for cash payment at SBI branch must complete the transaction before the last date as no cash payment will be accepted after the deadline. Fee once paid is non-refundable and non-adjustable under any circumstances. Candidates should preserve the transaction receipt for future reference.

Important Dates and Timeline

Online application commencement date: 11th February 2026. Last date for submission of online application: 3rd March 2026 (till 6:00 PM). Last date for printing pre-filled offline application for cash payment at SBI: 3rd March 2026 (till 6:00 PM). Last date for cash payment at SBI: 4th March 2026 (during banking hours). The written examination is tentatively scheduled to be conducted in June/July 2026 across multiple cities in India. Detailed exam schedule, city, center allocation, and admit card will be made available on the official website approximately three weeks before the examination.

Selection and Appointment Process

Final selection is based on aggregate marks secured in the Written Examination and Personality Test combined. UPSC prepares separate merit lists for IES and ISS based on candidates' performance and preferences. Selected candidates undergo document verification followed by medical examination to ensure fitness for civil services. After successful completion of all formalities, appointment orders are issued by the respective cadre controlling authorities. Selected candidates typically undergo foundation training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) or other designated training institutions before joining their allocated postings.