Q1. When was the UPSC Civil Services Mains Admit Card 2026 released?

The commission released the Mains e-Admit Card on 14 August 2026. It is now live on upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in. You need your registration ID or roll number to log in. Your date of birth is also required. Keep a printed copy ready before exam day.

Q2. What are the UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2026 dates and shift timings?

The Main Exam runs from 21 to 30 August 2026. Written papers fall on 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30 August. Two shifts are held each day. The forenoon session runs from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The afternoon session runs from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Reporting time is printed on your admit card.

Q3. How many vacancies are covered under the UPSC CSE 2026 cycle?

The cycle offers 1013 posts in total. Civil Services accounts for 933 seats. The Indian Forest Service carries the remaining 80 seats. Civil Services covers IAS, IPS, IFS and several Group A services. Group B posts like Pondicherry Civil Service are also included.

Q4. What is the educational eligibility for UPSC Civil Services and Forest Service?

You need a bachelor degree from a recognised university. Any stream is accepted for Civil Services. For Forest Service, one science subject is mandatory. Valid options include Botany, Chemistry, Physics, Zoology and Agriculture. Final year degree students can also apply.

Q5. What is the age limit for UPSC CSE 2026 and how is relaxation applied?

The minimum age is 21 years. The maximum age is 32 years as on 1 August 2026. OBC candidates get 3 years of extra time. SC and ST candidates get 5 years of relaxation. PwD candidates get up to 10 years as per rules.

Q6. What is the application fee and which candidates are exempt?

General, OBC and EWS candidates paid Rs 100. SC, ST and PH applicants paid nothing at all. All female candidates were exempt across every category. Payment was online through net banking, debit card, credit card or e-challan. Unpaid forms were rejected without notice.

Q7. Is there negative marking in the UPSC Mains examination?

No. Negative marking applies only in the Prelims objective papers. Mains papers are descriptive and scored purely on merit. Each Mains paper carries 250 marks. Seven merit papers plus two qualifying papers are held. The interview adds 275 marks to the final total.

Q8. Which documents should I carry to the UPSC Mains exam centre?

Carry a printed e-Admit Card and one valid photo ID. Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport and Driving Licence are accepted. Bring the same photograph that you uploaded during registration. Reach the venue well before the reporting time. Late entries are never allowed inside the hall.

Q9. Can I change the exam centre after downloading the Mains admit card?

No. The commission does not allow centre changes after the admit card is issued. The allotted city and venue are final for this cycle. The correction window closed on 3 March 2026. Any mismatch in personal details should be reported to the commission immediately.

Admit Cards (एडमिट कार्ड)centralResult Declared

Union Public Service Commission UPSC

सरकारी किंग (Sarkari King) • सरकारी रिजल्ट 2026

UPSC Civil Services Mains Admit Card 2026 - Download Hall Ticket for IAS IFS 1013 Posts

The Union Public Service Commission released the UPSC Civil Services Mains Admit Card 2026. It went live on 14 August 2026. You can download the e-Admit Card from upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in. The Main Exam runs from 21 to 30 August 2026. Papers are held on 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30 August. Each exam day has two shifts. The forenoon session runs from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. The afternoon session runs from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. This cycle covers 1013 posts in total. Civil Services accounts for 933 seats. The Indian Forest Service has 80 seats. You need a bachelor degree from a recognised university. Age must be 21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026. Reserved categories get standard upper age relaxation. General, OBC and EWS candidates paid Rs 100. SC, ST, PH and all female applicants were exempt. Carry your e-Admit Card and a valid photo ID to the centre.

By Sarkari King Team

Updated: 14 August 2026 | 02:05 PM

⏱️ 8 min read

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UPSC Civil Services / Forest Service Recruitment 2026 : Vacancy Details Total : 1013 Post
Post Name	Total Post	Eligibility & Qualification Details
Indian Administrative Service IAS (Civil Services)	933	Bachelor Degree in any stream from a recognised university in India. Final year students can apply if they meet the degree requirement. No minimum percentage is fixed for the graduation degree. Candidates must clear the Prelims stage to sit for the Mains exam.
Indian Forest Service (IFS)	80	Bachelor Degree with at least one relevant science subject. Accepted subjects include Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Botany and Chemistry. Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology and Agriculture are also valid. An equivalent qualification recognised by a competent authority works fine.

UPSC Civil Services Mains Admit Card 2026 - Download Hall Ticket for IAS IFS 1013 Posts

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