Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026: Exam Date, Notification & Pattern

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially outlined the schedule for the prestigious Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026. For every aspirant dreaming of entering the LBSNAA, knowing the timeline is the first step toward victory.

According to the official exam calendar, the Main examination—which is the decisive phase of the selection process—is scheduled to commence in September 2026. This year, the competition is expected to be fierce, and candidates must align their preparation with the official syllabus and pattern immediately.

What is the exact date? When will the DAF (Detailed Application Form) be released? We have decoded the complete notification, exam pattern, and eligibility criteria below.

Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026 Overview

Notification Analysis: What’s New?

The Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026 is the second stage of the Civil Services Examination. Only candidates who qualify for the Preliminary exam (Objective Type) are eligible for the Mains.

The official notification for the 2026 cycle is expected to follow the standard UPSC calendar. The Mains exam is a descriptive test consisting of 9 papers conducted over 5-7 days. The commission emphasizes that the questions are likely to test the candidate’s “intellectual traits and depth of understanding” rather than merely the range of their information.

Key Update: The Main Examination is typically scheduled to begin on a Friday in September 2026.

Important Dates: UPSC CSE 2026 Schedule

Mark these critical dates in your planner. These are based on the standard UPSC Annual Calendar.

Vacancy Details

The total number of vacancies for the Civil Services Exam 2026 will be announced with the initial notification in February. Generally, UPSC notifies approximately 1000 to 1100 vacancies across various services including:

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)
• Central Services (Group A and Group B)

Note: Vacancies are subject to change based on the requirements of the cadre controlling authorities.

Eligibility Criteria

To sit for the Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026, candidates must satisfy the following:

1. Educational Qualification:

• Candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognized University.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation can apply for Prelims but must produce proof of passing before the DAF submission for Mains.

2. Age Limit (As of 1st August 2026):

• Minimum Age: 21 Years
• Maximum Age: 32 Years (General)
• Relaxation:
  • OBC: +3 Years (Up to 35 Years)
  • SC/ST: +5 Years (Up to 37 Years)
  • PwBD: +10 Years

3. Number of Attempts:

• General/EWS: 6 Attempts
• OBC: 9 Attempts
• SC/ST: Unlimited

Read: Combined Medical Services Exam 2026

Exam Pattern: UPSC Mains Structure

The Mains exam consists of 9 Papers. Two are qualifying, and seven are counted for merit.

Qualifying Papers:

• Paper A: Indian Language (300 Marks)
• Paper B: English (300 Marks)

Papers for Merit (1750 Marks):

1. Paper I: Essay (250 Marks)
2. Paper II: General Studies I (History, Geography, Society) – 250 Marks
3. Paper III: General Studies II (Polity, Constitution, Governance, IR) – 250 Marks
4. Paper IV: General Studies III (Technology, Economy, Environment, Security) – 250 Marks
5. Paper V: General Studies IV (Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude) – 250 Marks
6. Paper VI: Optional Subject Paper 1 – 250 Marks
7. Paper VII: Optional Subject Paper 2 – 250 Marks

Read: NMMSS Scholarship Scheme 2026

How to Apply: The DAF Process

Qualifying Prelims is not enough; you must apply again for Mains.

1. Wait for Prelims Result: Once results are out, UPSC opens the DAF (Detailed Application Form) window on upsconline.nic.in.
2. Login: Use your Roll Number and Password.
3. Fill DAF-1: Enter detailed info about education, caste, and parental income.
4. Upload Documents: Scanned copies of degree, age proof, and category certificates.
5. Pay Fee: Rs. 200 (Exempt for Female/SC/ST/PwBD).
6. Submit: Save the confirmation page.

Pro Tip: Be very careful while filling in the Cadre Preferences and Service Preferences, as these cannot be changed later.

Direct Important Links

FAQs: Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026

Q1: When is the Civil Services (Main) Exam 2026?

Ans: The exam is scheduled to commence in September 2026 according to the UPSC Annual Calendar trends.

Q2: How many papers are there in UPSC Mains? Ans: There are a total of 9 papers. However, only 7 papers are counted for the final merit ranking.

Q3: Can I change my Optional Subject after Prelims? Ans: No, the Optional Subject chosen during the Preliminary application cannot be changed for the Main examination.

Q4: Is there a negative marking in UPSC Mains? Ans: No, UPSC Mains is a descriptive (subjective) exam. However, marks may be deducted for illegible handwriting or irrelevant content.

Q5: What is the age limit for General category?

Ans: The candidate must be between 21 and 32 years of age as of August 1st of the exam year.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on the UPSC Annual Calendar and previous notifications. Dates are tentative and subject to change by the Commission. Please verify all details from the official website upsc.gov.in. We are an information portal.