IES / ISS
Union Public Service Commission
🏛️ UPSC
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
UPSC IES / ISS (Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for: Junior Time Scale posts in the Indian Economic Service and the Indian Statistical Service, placed across NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and other economic and statistical wings of the Government of India. Selection is through Written Examination (six papers, descriptive and objective), followed by Viva Voce / Interview.
IES / ISS 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | UPSC IES / ISS — Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service Examination |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Government of India |
| Latest cycle | IES / ISS 2026 |
| Vacancies | 44 — 28 in the Indian Statistical Service and 16 in the Indian Economic Service |
| Posts | Junior Time Scale posts in the Indian Economic Service and the Indian Statistical Service, placed across NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and other economic and statistical wings of the Government of India |
| Qualification | For the Indian Economic Service, a Post-Graduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics or Econometrics. For the Indian Statistical Service, a Bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject, or a Post-Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics. |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2026 — born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2005 |
| Number of attempts | No limit on attempts within the age window. |
| Application fee | ₹200. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted. |
| Selection stages | Written Examination (six papers, descriptive and objective) → Viva Voce / Interview |
| Total marks | Written 1000 marks + Viva Voce 200 marks = 1200 marks |
| Negative marking | Yes — one third of the marks is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers. The subject papers are descriptive and carry no negative marking. |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC IES / ISS (Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service Examination) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit for Junior Time Scale posts in the Indian Economic Service and the Indian Statistical Service, placed across NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and other economic and statistical wings of the Government of India. The IES / ISS 2026 notification declares 44 — 28 in the Indian Statistical Service and 16 in the Indian Economic Service.
UPSC IES / ISS selection process
- Written Examination (six papers, descriptive and objective)
- Viva Voce / Interview
UPSC IES / ISS exam pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General English | Descriptive | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper-II | General Studies | Descriptive | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper-III to VI | General Economics I–III and Indian Economics (IES), or Statistics I–IV (ISS) | Mixed | 200 each | 3 hours each |
| Viva Voce | Interview board | — | 200 | — |
Total marks
Written 1000 marks + Viva Voce 200 marks = 1200 marks.
Negative marking
Yes — one third of the marks is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers. The subject papers are descriptive and carry no negative marking.
UPSC does not normalise marks
This is the single most common misconception carried over from SSC. UPSC conducts each paper in one sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation formula. A published UPSC cut off is a raw mark you could actually have scored on the paper — which is why the figures are clean numbers rather than five-decimal scores.
What is next for UPSC IES / ISS
The IES / ISS 2026 examination was held from 19 June 2026 and results are awaited. The 2027 notification is due on 10 February 2027.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC IES / ISS vacancy for IES / ISS 2026?
44 — 28 in the Indian Statistical Service and 16 in the Indian Economic Service. UPSC states in the notice that the number is liable to alteration.
What is the age limit for UPSC IES / ISS?
21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2026 — born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2005. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, and up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
What qualification is required for UPSC IES / ISS?
For the Indian Economic Service, a Post-Graduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics or Econometrics. For the Indian Statistical Service, a Bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject, or a Post-Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics.
How many attempts are allowed for UPSC IES / ISS?
No limit on attempts within the age window.
What is the UPSC IES / ISS application fee?
₹200. Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempted.
Is there negative marking in UPSC IES / ISS?
Yes — one third of the marks is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers. The subject papers are descriptive and carry no negative marking.
What is the UPSC IES / ISS selection process?
Selection is through Written Examination (six papers, descriptive and objective), followed by Viva Voce / Interview.
What are the total marks in UPSC IES / ISS?
Written 1000 marks + Viva Voce 200 marks = 1200 marks.
What is the UPSC IES / ISS salary?
Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC Pay Matrix (₹56,100 basic) at Junior Time Scale, plus Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and Transport Allowance.
Does UPSC normalise marks in UPSC IES / ISS?
No. UPSC conducts each paper in a single sitting with one question paper, so there are no shifts to equate and no normalisation. Published cut offs are raw marks.
When does UPSC release the UPSC IES / ISS answer key?
Only after the final result for that cycle is declared, under the Commission's disclosure policy. There is no post-exam challenge window of the kind SSC runs.
Where do I download the UPSC IES / ISS admit card?
From upsc.gov.in. The e-Admit Card appears about two to three weeks before the examination and is not posted to candidates.
Do I need to register separately for UPSC IES / ISS?
No. UPSC issues a Universal Registration Number (URN) that is registered once in a lifetime and used for every UPSC examination. Only the examination-specific module is filled per exam.
What is next for UPSC IES / ISS?
The IES / ISS 2026 examination was held from 19 June 2026 and results are awaited. The 2027 notification is due on 10 February 2027.