Every UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) notification states how many posts the Government intends to fill that year. Those numbers shape Prelims cut-offs, Mains expansion, interview calls, and final selection—yet most aspirants only notice the headline total. This guide maps total vacancies over the last ten years (CSE 2016–2025) plus the 2026 cycle, and compares IAS, IPS, IFS, and other service buckets so you can read notification tables with context.
Key highlights
- Official source: Vacancy tables appear in the CSE notification PDF on upsc.gov.in—always verify figures there before planning.
- Ten-year range: Total notified vacancies swung from a high of 1,209 (2016) to a low of 712 (2021), with a partial recovery to 933 (2026 notification).
- IAS is stable: 180 IAS posts have been notified in every recent cycle; competition shifts through rank cut-offs, not post count.
- IPS & IFS vary: IPS has ranged 147–219; IFS from 24 to 55—both move with cadre requirements.
- Most posts are not IAS/IPS/IFS: Central Services Group A and Group B typically account for 60–70% of total vacancies.
Why vacancy data matters
Vacancies set the upper bound on final appointments for a given cycle. They do not equal Prelims qualifiers or interview calls—UPSC filters candidates through multiple stages:
| Stage | Typical scale (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|
| Prelims applicants | 10–13 lakh |
| Mains qualified | ~12,000–15,000 |
| Interview called | ~2,500–3,000 |
| Final recommended | Matches notified vacancies (+ reserve list) |
When total vacancies fall while applicant numbers stay high, final selection tightens even if Mains call lists look similar. Service-wise splits matter at the DAF preference stage: IAS may stay at 180 posts, but a drop in IPS posts raises the rank needed for police service.
Total vacancies: last 10 years (2016–2025) + 2026
The table below lists total vacancies notified in each CSE notification. UPSC notes that figures may be revised after cadre-controlling authorities confirm final intake—check corrigenda on upsc.gov.in.
| CSE year | Total vacancies notified | Direction vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,209 | — |
| 2017 | 1,058 | ↓ 151 |
| 2018 | 812 | ↓ 246 |
| 2019 | 829 | ↑ 17 |
| 2020 | 796 | ↓ 33 |
| 2021 | 712 | ↓ 84 (cycle low) |
| 2022 | 1,011 | ↑ 299 |
| 2023 | 1,105 | ↑ 94 (recent peak) |
| 2024 | 1,056 | ↓ 49 |
| 2025 | 979 | ↓ 77 |
| 2026 | 933 | ↓ 46 |
Reading the trend
Three patterns stand out across the decade:
- 2016–2018 contraction: Vacancies fell sharply from 1,209 to 812 as cadre intake slowed after the 2014 peak (1,364 posts in CSE 2014, outside this ten-year window).
- 2021 trough: Only 712 posts were notified—the lowest in this period—before a rebound in 2022–2023.
- 2024–2026 moderation: Totals have eased from 1,105 (2023) to 933 (2026), a decline of roughly 170 posts in three cycles.
Year-on-year changes of 50–150 posts reflect retirements, cadre reviews, and government intake policy—not exam difficulty. A single year's number should inform expectations, not drive panic or deferral decisions.
IAS, IPS & IFS: service-wise comparison
The three All India Services / premier central services draw the most attention. Their notified vacancies over the same period:
| CSE year | IAS | IPS | IFS | Combined (IAS+IPS+IFS) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 180 | 150 | 42 | 372 | 31% |
| 2017 | 180 | 150 | 42 | 372 | 35% |
| 2018 | 180 | 150 | 30 | 360 | 44% |
| 2019 | 180 | 150 | 24 | 354 | 43% |
| 2020 | 180 | 159 | 24 | 363 | 46% |
| 2021 | 180 | 219 | 35 | 434 | 61% |
| 2022 | 180 | 200 | 37 | 417 | 41% |
| 2023 | 180 | 200 | 37 | 417 | 38% |
| 2024 | 180 | 147 | 55 | 382 | 36% |
| 2025 | 180 | 150 | 55 | 385 | 39% |
| 2026 | 180 | 150 | 40 | 370 | 40% |
What each premier service shows
Indian Administrative Service (IAS) — 180 vacancies every year in this window. The IAS cadre strength is treated as a fixed annual intake band; your challenge is rank and category, not whether IAS posts exist.
Indian Police Service (IPS) — the most volatile of the three. IPS rose to 219 (2021) and 200 (2022–2023), then fell to 147 (2024) before settling at 150 (2025–2026). Physical standards and medical fitness further filter IPS allocation after merit is fixed.
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) — the smallest premier service, ranging from 24 (2019–2020) to 55 (2024–2025). IFS requires Indian citizenship without exception and has its own medical and age nuances in the notification.
Other services: Group A and Group B
Beyond IAS, IPS, and IFS, CSE fills 20+ Group A and Group B services—IRS (Income Tax), IRS (Customs), IAAS, IPoS, IRMS, DANICS, DANIPS, AFHQCS, and others. Recent cycles illustrate how the majority of posts sit outside the "big three":
| CSE year | IAS | IPS | IFS | Central Services Group A | Group B services | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 180 | 200 | 38 | 473 | 131 | 1,022* |
| 2023 | 180 | 200 | 37 | 473 | 131 | 1,105 |
| 2024 | 180 | 147 | 55 | 605 | 142 | 1,129* |
| 2025 | 180 | 150 | 55 | — | — | 979 |
| 2026 | 180 | 150 | 40 | — | — | 933 |
*2022 and 2024 final result vacancy tables reported slightly higher totals (1,022 and 1,129) than the initial notification headline (1,011 and 1,056) after cadre authorities confirmed posts. Always treat notification figures as approximate until final result annexures are published.
Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IAAS) routinely contribute the largest Group A blocks after IPS. IRMS (Indian Railway Management Service) added 150 posts in the 2022–2023 notifications before cadre restructuring changed how railway officers are recruited.
How reservation splits vacancies
Vacancies are divided among categories per constitutional and statutory rules. The standard framework in CSE notifications:
| Category | Share of vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| OBC | 27% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwBD | 4% (horizontal reservation) |
| General / unreserved balance | Remaining posts after vertical quotas |
Horizontal reservation (PwBD) applies across categories—a PwBD candidate may compete within SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or General lists depending on certificate status.
Vacancy shortfall (when enough category candidates are unavailable) may be carried forward or de-reserved per rules stated in the notification. Unfilled reserved posts do not automatically become General category seats in the same year.
Vacancies and cut-offs: what correlates, what does not
Factors that tend to push cut-offs up:
- Lower total vacancies with stable applicant numbers
- Easier or high-scoring Prelims papers (more candidates cluster at the top)
- Reduced ambiguity after answer key finalisation
Factors that do not automatically predict cut-offs:
- Coaching industry predictions
- Unofficial answer keys
- Previous year's cut-off copied forward without context
Vacancies explain long-run selection scarcity (~700–1,100 final posts vs lakhs of applicants). They do not precisely predict whether General cut-off will be 90 or 98 in GS Paper-I—that depends on the full candidate score distribution.
Using this data in your preparation
- Anchor expectations. Roughly 0.07–0.1% of applicants receive final appointment in typical years.
- Inform DAF preferences. Stable IAS posts mean rank requirements move with competition; IPS volatility means check the current year's IPS count before listing it first.
- Avoid notification myths. "Only 933 posts so I should skip this year" ignores that serious candidates compete every cycle regardless.
- Track official updates. Vacancy numbers are sometimes revised in corrigenda—monitor upsc.gov.in through Prelims and after final results.
Frequently asked questions
Why does IAS stay at 180 every year while total vacancies change?
IAS cadre intake is managed against authorised strength and annual retirements. The Government has kept 180 IAS vacancies as a stable band in recent notifications even when overall CSE intake rose or fell. Your hurdle is All-India rank within category, not post availability.
Are notification vacancies the same as final appointments?
Not always. Notifications state expected vacancies; cadre-controlling authorities may confirm or revise numbers before the final result. Final result PDFs on upsc.gov.in publish the authoritative service-wise table used for appointment.
Which service saw the largest swing in the last decade?
IPS showed the widest range (147–219), followed by IFS (24–55). IAS remained flat at 180 throughout.
Does fewer vacancies always mean higher Prelims cut-offs?
No. Cut-offs depend on applicant volume, paper difficulty, and marking spread. Vacancies influence the final selection funnel more directly than Prelims screening thresholds.
Where do I find the official service-wise table each year?
Download the CSE notification PDF (February release) and the final result PDF (following year). Both contain vacancy annexures—use the final result table for confirmed service-wise counts.
Key takeaways
- Vacancy tables in the official CSE notification and final result are the only authoritative sources.
- Total notified vacancies ranged from 712 (2021) to 1,209 (2016) over the last decade, with 933 posts in CSE 2026.
- IAS (180/year) is stable; IPS and IFS fluctuate with cadre needs.
- Group A and Group B services hold the majority of posts—IAS, IPS, and IFS combined are typically 35–45% of the total.
- Vacancies influence cut-offs alongside applicant volume and paper difficulty—interpret trends, not single numbers, in isolation.