UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2026: How To Complete DAF Online at upsc.gov.in Before June 28

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially opened the application window for candidates who qualified for the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026. Shortlisted candidates must complete and submit their Detailed Application Form (DAF) through the official UPSC portal between June 19 and June 28. The commission confirmed that e-Admit Cards will only be generated for candidates who successfully complete this mandatory submission within the stipulated timeline, and those who fail to do so will be barred from appearing in the examination.

Key Deadlines and Fee Exemptions

The designated registration window, closing at the end of June, serves multiple administrative purposes. In addition to submitting the core application form, candidates must use this period to complete the examination fee payment, finalize their cadre preferences, and update scribe details or requirements for assistive devices and large-font question papers where applicable. CUET Result 2026 Soon: Know How To Check Scorecard on cuet.nta.nic.in.

While the standard examination fee is set at INR 200, the commission has announced targeted exemptions in line with standard civil service guidelines. Candidates belonging to the Female, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories are completely exempted from this payment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling the DAF

To ensure successful registration, candidates are advised to follow the official procedural workflow outlined on the commission's electronic portal:

• Visit the official UPSC portal upsc.gov.in using secure login credentials.
• Log in using your registered examination credentials.
• Verify your pre-loaded personal and educational details for accuracy.
• Update category and reservation information if applicable to your status.
• Fill out your structural cadre preferences carefully, as these cannot be altered later.
• Enter specific scribe or assistive device details if special accommodations are required.
• Pay the examination fee of INR 200, ensuring to skip if you fall under the exempted categories.
• Review all inputted information thoroughly and submit the finalized form.
• Download and save the official confirmation page for your records.
• Monitor the portal for the official e-Admit Card release prior to the examination date.

Examination Structure and Schedule

As per the established Civil Services Examination Rules 2026, the Main Examination is scheduled to commence on August 21, 2026. The evaluation will be conducted entirely in a conventional written format, spanning a total of nine descriptive papers.

Evaluation Scheme: Out of the nine total papers, two language papers - an Indian Language paper and an English paper carrying 300 marks each - serve strictly as qualifying benchmarks. Candidates must secure the minimum prescribed qualifying marks in these language tests to have their remaining sheets evaluated. The final merit ranking relies on the performance across the remaining seven papers, which accumulate a maximum of 1,750 marks. This core segment includes one Essay paper (250 marks), four distinct General Studies papers (GS I, GS II, GS III, and GS IV) valued at 250 marks each, and two dedicated papers for the candidate’s chosen Optional Subject (250 marks each). CGBSE NMMSE Result 2026 Declared at scert.cg.gov.in; Check Steps To Download.

Candidates who successfully clear the cumulative cutoff in the written examination will advance to the final stage of the recruitment process: the Personality Test (Interview), which carries an independent weightage of 275 marks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 22, 2026 05:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).