Ahmedabad, Jan 15 : The Sardar Patel Institute of Public Administration (SPIPA) has announced the launch of weekly mock tests for candidates preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, as part of its 2025â??26 training programme.

Registration for the mock tests will begin on Friday.

Candidates, who were previously admitted to SPIPA's training centres in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana, and who have not withdrawn their deposit, can register online by presenting their original deposit receipt at the respective centres during office hours.

External candidates, including those who withdrew their deposit earlier or are not currently enrolled in SPIPA's training programme, may also participate by paying a registration fee of Rs 1,000.

The fee must be paid through UPI by scanning the QR code available on the SPIPA website.

After payment, candidates are required to fill out the Google form provided online to complete their registration.

Mock tests may be taken at any of the designated SPIPA regional centres.

The SPIPA has clarified that the registration fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, and candidates must carry the original fee receipt on the day of the examination.

The registration applies exclusively to the UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2026 mock tests, and the entire process will be conducted online.

The initiative aims to strengthen UPSC preparation by offering structured practice to aspirants across Gujarat.

The SPIPA was established in 1962 by the Gujarat government as a premier training institution dedicated to enhancing the administrative capabilities of civil servants in the state.

Named after India's first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the institute was created to strengthen good governance, public policy understanding and administrative efficiency.

Over the decades, SPIPA expanded its mandate beyond in-service training to include intensive coaching programmes for competitive examinations such as the UPSC Civil Services, while also developing regional centres across Gujarat.

Today, SPIPA functions as a key institution for capacity building, leadership development and governance-oriented research, playing a crucial role in nurturing both public administrators and aspiring civil servants.

/IANS