UPSC adds Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut as Civil Services Prelims centres; over 23,000 opt for them
UPSC said on 21 May 2026 that its three new Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 centres at Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut, which raise the total from 80 to 83, drew nearly 23,000 applicants.
Summary
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) added three new examination centres — Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut — for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, taking the total from 80 to 83, it said on 21 May 2026. Nearly 23,000 candidates chose the new centres: Bhubaneswar received 10,656 applications (easing Cuttack), Kanpur 6,938 (easing Lucknow) and Meerut 5,902 (easing Ghaziabad). Under a revised mechanism, candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) get the centre of their choice, and nearly 805 such candidates got their chosen centre in the Delhi area alone.
Key facts
- New centres
- Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, Meerut
- Total centres
- 80 → 83
- Applicants at new centres
- Nearly 23,000
- Break-up
- Bhubaneswar 10,656; Kanpur 6,938; Meerut 5,902
- Eased
- Cuttack, Lucknow, Ghaziabad
- PwBD
- Centre of choice; ~805 in Delhi area
- UPSC Chairman
- Dr Ajay Kumar
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which three new centres did UPSC add for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut
UPSC introduced new centres at Bhubaneswar, Kanpur and Meerut, raising the total from 80 to 83.
Which of the new UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 centres received the most applications?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar received 10,656 applications, Kanpur 6,938 and Meerut 5,902; Ghaziabad is an existing centre.