The Union Public Service Commission’s online application portal, upsconline.nic.in, became unresponsive as candidates attempted to submit forms for the Civil Services Examination 2026 on the closing day. The disruption was reported during peak hours, when a large number of aspirants logged in to complete their registrations.The application window is scheduled to close today, and the Commission has not issued any official notification regarding an extension so far. Candidates have been advised to continue attempting submission through the official platform until the deadline.Heavy traffic affects application processApplicants across the country reported slow loading, login failures and delayed responses while accessing the portal. The surge in last-minute submissions is being cited as the primary reason for the technical slowdown.The online system is required for completing One-Time Registration (OTR), filling personal and academic details, uploading photograph and signature, paying the applicable fee and downloading the confirmation page. Candidates who are yet to complete OTR must register first before accessing the CSE 2026 application form.The Commission has consistently advised aspirants to avoid last-day submissions to prevent technical issues caused by heavy traffic.933 vacancies to be filled through three-stage processThe Civil Services Examination 2026 will be conducted to fill 933 vacancies in various Central Government departments. The selection process includes the Preliminary Examination, followed by the Main Examination for qualified candidates and the Personality Test or interview.After the interview stage, shortlisted candidates will undergo document verification and a medical examination before final appointment. Candidates must qualify at each stage to move forward in the recruitment process.Eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. The age limit is 21 to 32 years, with upper age relaxation applicable for reserved category candidates as per rules.New restriction for serving officersA significant change has been introduced this year regarding eligibility. Candidates already appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) through an earlier examination and currently serving in those cadres will not be allowed to reappear.Such officers can apply for any UPSC examination only after resigning from their allocated service. No separate notification has been issued regarding any change in the current application deadline despite the technical issues reported on the portal.