UPSC Enhances Accessibility with ‘Centre of Choice’ Safeguards for PwBD Candidates

1. At a Glance

UPSC has rolled out a 'Centre of Choice' safeguard for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in CSE 2026 and IFoS 2026, removing capacity caps for PwBD candidates at their preferred examination centres [S1][S2].
Part of a wider package: 3 new Prelims centres (Meerut, Kanpur, Bhubaneswar) and 3 new Mains centres (Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, Imphal), plus technological interventions for accessibility and exam security [S1][S3].
Relevant for UPSC aspirants under Disability Rights (RPwD Act 2016), Article 16 equality of opportunity, and governance/accessibility reforms.

05 February 2026: UPSC announced the 'Centre of Choice' safeguards and technological interventions for CSE 2026 (933 vacancies) and IFoS 2026 (80 vacancies) [S1].
Earlier announcement on 27 May 2025 had first introduced the 'Centre of Choice' facility for all PwBD candidates [S2].
During Prelims 2026 conduct, UPSC operated 2,072 venues across 83 cities, with ~23,000 candidates opting for the three new centres [S3][S4].

UPSC is a constitutional body under Article 315 of the Constitution; conducts CSE under the All India Services Act, 1951 framework.
Capping issue: After analysing 5-year centre data, UPSC found Delhi, Cuttack, Patna, Lucknow hit capacity early, forcing PwBD candidates into inconvenient centres [S2].
May 2025: 'Centre of Choice' facility extended to all PwBD candidates (earlier limited categories) [S2].
Feb 2026: Safeguards strengthened — no capacity cap for PwBD; new centres added [S1].

Parent body: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) — constitutional body under Article 315–323 [S1].
Chairman: Dr. Ajay Kumar [S1].
CSE 2026 vacancies: 933 [S1].
IFoS 2026 vacancies: 80 [S1].
Prelims centres: increased from 80 → 83 (added Meerut, Kanpur, Bhubaneswar) [S2][S4].
Mains centres: increased from 24 → 27 (added Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, Imphal) [S3].
Prelims 2026 venues: 2,072 venues across 83 cities [S4].
New-centre uptake: Bhubaneswar 10,656; Kanpur 6,938; Meerut 5,902 applications [S3].
Enabling rights framework: Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 — defines "benchmark disability" as ≥40% of a specified disability.

Social / Equity: Operationalises substantive equality — beyond formal access, ensures convenience for PwBD candidates; aligns with Article 14, 16(1), 41 [S2].
Legal / Constitutional: Reinforces RPwD Act 2016 mandate on reasonable accommodation; Section 20 (non-discrimination in employment) and Section 34 (4% reservation in govt jobs).
Administrative: Decongestion strategy — capacity load-balancing via geographic expansion; survey of candidate preferences institutionalised for future expansion [S1].
Technological: UPSC introducing tech interventions for exam security (biometric, Aadhaar-linked authentication trajectory) alongside accessibility [S1].
Ethical / Governance: Demonstrates citizen-centric governance — chairman's stated objective: "candidate-friendly, accessible, and efficient" [S3].

27 May 2025: 'Centre of Choice' facility introduced for all PwBD candidates [S2].
05 Feb 2026: Safeguards with no capacity cap + 3 new Prelims & 3 new Mains centres + tech interventions announced [S1].
Mar 2026 (approx.): UPSC opened 3-day correction window for CSE/IFoS 2026 applicants as one-time measure [S5].
2026 Prelims conducted at 2,072 venues across 83 cities [S4].

UPSC Chairman in 2026: Dr. Ajay Kumar [S1].
CSE 2026 vacancies: 933 [S1].
IFoS 2026 vacancies: 80 [S1].
New Prelims centres added for 2026: Meerut, Kanpur, Bhubaneswar [S2].
New Mains centres added for 2026: Bhubaneswar, Srinagar, Imphal [S3].
Total Prelims centres after expansion: 83 (from 80) [S2].
Total Mains centres after expansion: 27 (from 24) [S3].
'Centre of Choice' applies to PwBD candidates as defined under RPwD Act, 2016 (≥40% disability).
UPSC is established under Article 315 of the Constitution.
Prelims 2026 conducted at 2,072 venues [S4].
Meerut added to decongest Delhi-NCR; Kanpur to ease Lucknow; Bhubaneswar to supplement Cuttack [S2].
No capacity cap for PwBD candidates at preferred centres [S1][S2].

GS-II: Governance — Government policies and interventions for vulnerable sections; statutory bodies; welfare of disabled.
GS-I: Society — Issues related to disability and inclusion.
Question stems: 1. "Inclusive examination administration is a precondition for equal opportunity in public employment." Discuss in light of UPSC's recent PwBD accessibility reforms. 2. Examine how the RPwD Act, 2016 has reshaped institutional practice in constitutional bodies like UPSC. 3. Critically evaluate the administrative and ethical significance of the 'Centre of Choice' safeguard for PwBD candidates.

RPwD Act, 2016 — statutory foundation for benchmark disability.
Article 315–323 — UPSC's constitutional status, powers, functions.
Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) — broader accessibility policy.
UNCRPD (2006) — India ratified 2007; international rights framework.
Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) — grievance redress.
Indra Sawhney & later SC rulings on reservation/accommodation.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), MoSJE — nodal ministry.
Mission Karmayogi — civil services capacity building (governance reform context).

Confusing PwBD (≥40% disability per RPwD Act) with PwD (any disability) — only PwBD get statutory reservation & this safeguard.
Wrong number of new centres: 3 Prelims + 3 Mains (not 3 total). Meerut/Kanpur/Bhubaneswar = Prelims; Bhubaneswar/Srinagar/Imphal = Mains [S2][S3].
UPSC is a constitutional body (Art. 315), not statutory.
Nodal ministry for disability is MoSJE (DEPwD) — UPSC is not under MoSJE; it implemented this on its own.
Total Prelims centres post-2026 = 83, not 80; Mains = 27, not 24.

[S1] UPSC Enhances Accessibility with 'Centre of Choice' Safeguards for PwBD Candidates — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223904 — (tier: 1)
[S2] UPSC Introduces 'Centre of Choice' Facility for all PwBD Candidates — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2202733 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Over 23,000 Candidates Opt for Three Newly Added Centres in UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2263588 — (tier: 1)
[S4] UPSC Conducts CSE Prelims 2026 at 2,072 Venues Across 83 Cities — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264794 — (tier: 1)
[S5] UPSC Three-Day Correction Window for CSE & IFoS 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226481 — (tier: 1)