UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026
Published: 21 Jul 2026 · Updated: 21 Jul 2026
1,013 Total Vacancies
Important Dates
| Application Begin | 04 Feb 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Fee Payment Last Date | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Admit Card Available | 15 May 2026 |
| Result Date | 15 Jun 2026 |
| Answer Key Date | 27 May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30 August 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Ifs Mains Daf Start | 13 Jul 2026 |
| Ias Cse Mains Daf Start | 19 Jun 2026 |
| Ifs Mains Daf Last Date | 22 Jul 2026 |
| Ias Cse Mains Daf Last Date | 29 Jun 2026 |
Application Fee
| General | ₹100 |
| OBC | ₹100 |
| EWS | ₹100 |
| SC / ST | ₹0 (Exempted) |
| Female (All Category) | ₹0 (Exempted, all categories) |
| Ph Pwbd | ₹0 (Exempted) |
| Payment Mode | Online only — Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, IMPS, or Cash Card/Mobile Wallet. |
Age Limit & Eligibility
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age | 32 years |
| Age As On | 01 Aug 2026 |
| Age Relaxation | Candidates must be born not earlier than 2 August 1994 and not later than 1 August 2005 (General category). Upper age relaxation: OBC up to 35 years (+3 years), SC/ST up to 37 years (+5 years), PwBD-General up to 42 years (+10 years), PwBD-OBC up to 45 years (+13 years), PwBD-SC/ST up to 47 years (+15 years). Additional relaxations apply for specific categories such as Defence Services personnel and Ex-servicemen as per UPSC rules. |
| Educational Qualification | IAS/Civil Services: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Indian Forest Service (IFS): Bachelor's degree with subjects such as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Agriculture, or an equivalent qualification. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the complete list of eligible subjects/degrees. |
Vacancy Details
| Post Name | Total | Gen | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service (IAS) / Civil Services | 933 | |||||
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | 80 |
How to Apply
- Visit the UPSC application portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Log in using your registration/roll number and password or date of birth.
- Open the relevant Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) link — 'Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026' for IAS/CSE candidates or the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 update/confirmation link for IFS candidates.
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, category details, service preferences, cadre preferences, language papers, and examination centre preference.
- Upload supporting documents in the prescribed format wherever applicable.
- Preview the filled application carefully and verify every entered detail before final submission.
- Submit the DAF and complete the fee payment where applicable.
- Download and print the confirmation/acknowledgement page for future reference.
Selection Process
- Preliminary Examination (Objective type, screening)
- Main Examination (Written, descriptive)
- Personality Test / Interview
Age Relaxation & Vacancy Summary
| OBC upper age limit | 35 years (3-year relaxation) |
| SC/ST upper age limit | 37 years (5-year relaxation) |
| PwBD (General) upper age limit | 42 years (10-year relaxation) |
| PwBD (OBC) upper age limit | 45 years (13-year relaxation) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) upper age limit | 47 years (15-year relaxation) |
| Total sanctioned posts | 1013 (933 Civil Services + 80 Indian Forest Service) |
Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 Schedule
| Date | Paper(s) |
|---|---|
| 21 August 2026 | Essay Paper |
| 22 August 2026 | General Studies Paper I & II |
| 23 August 2026 | General Studies Paper III & IV |
| 29 August 2026 | Indian Language (Paper A) & English (Paper B) |
| 30 August 2026 | Optional Subject Papers I & II |
Each exam day has a forenoon session (9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon) and an afternoon session (2:30 PM - 5:30 PM).
Current Application Status (as on 21 July 2026)
The Mains DAF window for IAS/Civil Services candidates has already closed (29 June 2026). The Mains DAF window for Indian Forest Service (IFS) candidates opened on 13 July 2026 and closes on 22 July 2026 at 6:00 PM — this deadline is imminent. IFS Main-qualified candidates who have not yet updated/confirmed and submitted their DAF should do so immediately, as UPSC has stated that candidates who fail to comply will not be allowed to participate in further stages of the examination. This DAF stage is open only to candidates already declared qualified in the Preliminary Examination result (declared 15 June 2026) — it is not a fresh application window for new candidates.
Important Links
| Apply Online / Update DAF (IFS Mains) | Apply Online ↗ |
| Apply Online / Update DAF (IAS/CSE Mains) | Apply Online ↗ |
| IFS Mains DAF Window Notice | Click Here ↗ |
| IAS/CSE Mains DAF Window Notice | Click Here ↗ |
| Prelims Written Result (Name-wise) | Click Here ↗ |
| Prelims Written Result - IAS/CSE (Roll List) | Click Here ↗ |
| Prelims Written Result - IFS (Roll List) | Click Here ↗ |
| Prelims Provisional Answer Key - Paper I | Click Here ↗ |
| Prelims Provisional Answer Key - Paper II | Click Here ↗ |
| Last Date Extension Notice (Prelims Apply) | Apply Online ↗ |
| Official Notification (CSE & IFS 2026) | Click Here ↗ |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here ↗ |
Important Questions
Q. When does the online application for UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026 start?
Ans. Online applications start on 04 Feb 2026.
Q. What is the last date to apply for UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026?
Ans. The last date to apply online is 27 Feb 2026.
Q. What is the age limit for UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026?
Ans. Minimum age 21 years and maximum age 32 years (as on 01 Aug 2026). See the official notification for age relaxation.
Q. What is the educational qualification for UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026?
Ans. IAS/Civil Services: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Indian Forest Service (IFS): Bachelor's degree with subjects such as Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, Agriculture, or an equivalent qualification. Candidates should refer to the official notification for the complete list of eligible subjects/degrees.
Q. How to apply for UPSC Civil Services IAS/IFS Mains Recruitment 2026?
Ans. Use the official link in the Important Links section on this page, or apply through the official website of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) before the last date.
Q. What is the official website of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)?
Ans. The official website link is provided in the Important Links section above.
Disclaimer: SarkariPitara is not an official government website. The information above is aggregated from the official notification for quick reference. Candidates must read the official notification carefully and verify all details from the official website before applying.