The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has started the process of submitting the Detailed Application Form (DAF) for eligible candidates for the 2026 Civil Services Preliminary Examination.
Eligible candidates can now complete the application process for the Civil Services Main Examination through the official UPSC portal.The DAF window opened on June 19 and will remain available until June 28, 2026. Submission of the form is mandatory for all candidates who wish to appear for the main examination.According to the committee, shortlisted candidates can use the DAF portal to submit or reconfirm their details, pay examination fees, update clerk information, request assistive devices or large font question papers, and indicate their cadre preferences.
E-admit cards for the main examination will be issued only after successful submission of DAF. Female candidates, male and female candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Persons with Standard Disabilities (PwBD) are exempted from paying the examination fee of Rs 200. Other candidates have to pay the fees while submitting the form.
How to Apply for UPSC CSE Mains 2026
- Visit the official UPSC portal.
- Log in using your registration credentials.
- Verify your personal and educational data.
- Update class and reservation information, if applicable.
- Fill out your cadre preferences.
- Enter the details of the writer or auxiliary device, if necessary.
- Pay the examination fee of Rs 200, if any.
- Review all details carefully and submit the form.
- Download the confirmation page and save it for future reference.
Students are advised to download and retain a copy of the confirmation page for future reference.
The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination consists of nine papers. Candidates who qualify for the written examination will be called for a personality test (interview) which carries 275 marks. The UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2026 is scheduled to begin on August 21, 2026.