More than 23,000 candidates appearing for the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 have opted for the three newly added examination centres introduced by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to ease congestion and improve accessibility for aspirants across the country.
The UPSC recently added new examination centres in Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut ahead of the prestigious Civil Services Preliminary Examination scheduled for May 24. With the inclusion of these three cities, the total number of examination centres across India has increased from 80 to 83.
According to the Commission, nearly 23,000 aspirants selected these newly introduced venues, helping reduce pressure on nearby examination centres that usually witness heavy candidate turnout every year. Officials said the decision was taken to make the examination process more convenient and candidate-friendly by reducing travel-related difficulties.
UPSC Chairman Dr Ajay Kumar stated that the Commission’s objective is to make the examination process more accessible, efficient and inclusive for all aspirants. He also highlighted that efforts are being made to ensure Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) receive their preferred centres whenever possible.
Reports suggest that the Bhubaneswar centre received the highest number of applications among the newly introduced venues, helping reduce pressure on nearby centres such as Cuttack. Kanpur and Meerut also witnessed strong demand, especially from candidates in Uttar Pradesh who earlier had to depend on centres like Lucknow and Ghaziabad.
The Civil Services Examination is one of India’s most competitive recruitment examinations and is conducted annually in three stages — Preliminary, Main Examination and Personality Test — for selection into services including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
This year, the UPSC has reportedly received over 8.19 lakh applications for the Preliminary Examination. The Commission has also introduced stricter exam-day guidelines, including mandatory ID verification, restrictions on electronic gadgets and fixed entry timings at centres across the country.
In addition to expanding examination centres, UPSC has recently announced several reforms aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in the examination process. These include quicker release of provisional answer keys and the use of AI-based checks to strengthen examination integrity.
