• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has launched a new application portal for registration and filling up of application forms online. 

• All applicants are required to fill up the application and upload their documents in the newly introduced portal afresh by using the website https://upsconline.nic.in.

• The old One Time Registration (OTR) module will not be applicable henceforth.

• The portal will help aspirants save time and avoid last minute rush in applying for different examinations conducted by the UPSC.

• Detailed instructions are available on the homepage as well as with all profiles/modules to guide the candidates for filling up the application and uploading the documents.

• Applicants are strongly advised to use their Aadhaar Card as an ID document in the universal application for easy, effortless and seamless verification and authentication of ID and other details after which it serves as a permanent and common record for all examinations.

• The online application portal has four parts, arranged in four separate cards at the homepage, three of which namely, account creation, universal registration and common application form contains information which are common to all examinations and can be filled anytime by the candidates. 

• The fourth part — examination — contains examination notices, examination application and application status.

• Only examination specific information is to be filled up in this part by candidates during the time period allowed in the notification of an examination.

• This arrangement will facilitate candidates to fill up the first three parts anytime and keep ready for applying to any UPSC examination whenever notified with updates as may be required, thereby saving time and avoiding last minute rush.

• The UPSC conducts a number of exams annually, including the Civil Services Examination, and interviews every year for induction to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts of the central government.

• Applications for CDS Exam-II, 2025 and NDA & NA-II, 2025, notified on May 28, will be accepted through the new online application portal.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)