The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the e-Admit Card for the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 and the Indian Forest Service (IFS) (Main) Examination 2026 under Advertisement No. 05/2026 on 14 August 2026. Candidates who qualified the Prelims held on 24 May 2026 and submitted their Detailed Application Form (DAF) can now download their e-Admit Card from the official UPSC portal. The Main Examination begins on 21 August 2026 and concludes on 30 August 2026 – only 7 days away. The exam is conducted in offline (pen and paper) mode. Download immediately, verify every detail and carry a printed copy to the centre along with a valid original photo ID. No duplicate admit card is sent by post.
Important Note: Three things every Mains candidate must do today itself. First, download and verify your admit card right now – check your roll number, exam centre name and address, exam date and timing, and that your photograph is clearly visible. The exam begins in 7 days and any discrepancy must be reported to UPSC immediately through the contact details on upsc.gov.in, not through any other channel. Second, carry a printed copy to the exam centre – digital copies on phone or tablet are generally not accepted at UPSC exam centres, and a printout is the standard requirement. Take two printouts and keep one as a spare. Third, the exam centre allotted cannot be changed under normal circumstances – plan your travel and accommodation in advance if your centre is in a city other than where you are currently located. With exams running from 21 to 30 August across multiple sessions, plan the full period at your exam city.
UPSC IAS and IFS Mains Admit Card 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination | Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 and Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 05/2026 |
| Services Covered | IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IFS (Indian Forest Service) and all other civil services under the CSE |
| Admit Card Released | 14 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Dates | 21 August 2026 to 30 August 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline – Pen and Paper |
| Download Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 04 February 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 27 February 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Preliminary Admit Card Released | 15 May 2026 |
| Preliminary Answer Key Released | 27 May 2026 |
| Preliminary Result Declared | 15 June 2026 |
| IAS Mains DAF Start Date | 19 June 2026 |
| IAS Mains DAF Last Date | 29 June 2026 |
| IFS Mains DAF Start Date | 13 July 2026 |
| IFS Mains DAF Last Date | 22 July 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card Released | 14 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Start Date | 21 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam End Date | 30 August 2026 |
The Mains examination timetable PDF is available at upsc.gov.in. Candidates should note the exact paper-wise schedule to know which papers fall on which dates.
Who Can Download the Admit Card
| Eligibility | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualified Preliminary Exam | Must have appeared in and qualified the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 held on 24 May 2026 |
| DAF Submitted | Must have completed and submitted the Detailed Application Form (DAF-1 for IAS, updated notice for IFS) within the respective window |
Only candidates who meet both conditions above can access their e-Admit Card. Candidates who did not submit the DAF in time are not eligible to sit the Mains.
What is on the UPSC IAS Mains Admit Card 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Candidate’s Name | As registered |
| Roll Number | As allotted |
| Photograph | As uploaded at the application stage |
| Exam Centre | Name, address and centre code |
| Exam Date(s) | Paper-wise dates for each day of the exam |
| Reporting Time | As printed per centre |
| General Exam Instructions | Printed on the card |
Verify every detail immediately after downloading. Any discrepancy must be reported to UPSC at the earliest using the contact details on upsc.gov.in.
How to Download UPSC IAS and IFS Mains Admit Card 2026
- Visit the official UPSC e-Admit Card portal – Click Here
- On the homepage, click on the link for “e-Admit Card: Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026”.
- Enter your Registration ID or Roll Number and Date of Birth in the fields provided.
- Complete the security check or CAPTCHA and click Submit.
- Your e-Admit Card will appear on screen. Verify all printed details carefully.
- Click Download and save the PDF on your device.
- Take a clear printout – ensure the photograph, text and centre details are legible on the printout.
- Take a second printout as a spare copy.
The admit card is available only through the official UPSC portal. No admit card is sent by post.
Documents to Carry to the Exam Centre
- Printed e-Admit Card (mandatory)
- Original valid photo ID – Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, Driving Licence or Passport. The name and photograph on the ID must match those on the admit card
- Check your admit card for any additional exam-day documents specified by UPSC for this particular examination
Important Instructions for Mains Exam Day
- Report to the exam centre at the time specified on your admit card. Late entry is not permitted.
- Carry the printed admit card – digital copies on mobile or tablet are not a substitute.
- Carry the original photo ID – photocopies are not accepted.
- Prohibited items: mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, smart watches, calculators, electronic gadgets, wallet, loose sheets, and any paper or document not permitted by the invigilator. These are not allowed inside the exam hall even in switched-off mode. UPSC exam centres do not provide safekeeping.
- Only stationery permitted by UPSC rules may be carried inside.
- The exam centre allotted is final and cannot be changed under normal circumstances.
- Candidates appearing across multiple days (the exam runs 21 to 30 August) must be present for each paper on its scheduled date.
- Any issue with the admit card – wrong name, wrong photograph, wrong centre – must be reported to UPSC immediately at the contact details on upsc.gov.in. Do not wait.
- All last-minute notices are published only on upsc.gov.in. Check it until the exam concludes.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Download e-Admit Card | Click Here |
| IAS Mains Exam Timetable PDF | Click Here |
| IFS Mains DAF Notice PDF | Click Here |
| IAS Mains DAF Notice PDF | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
UPSC IAS Mains Admit Card 2026 – FAQs
Q1. When was the UPSC IAS Mains Admit Card 2026 released?
✅ The e-Admit Card for the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 and IFS (Main) Examination 2026 under Advertisement No. 05/2026 was released on 14 August 2026 and is available for download at upsconline.nic.in.
Q2. When is the UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2026?
✅ The Mains examination is from 21 August 2026 to 30 August 2026, in offline pen-and-paper mode. The detailed paper-wise timetable is available at upsc.gov.in.
Q3. How do I download the UPSC IAS Mains Admit Card 2026?
✅ Visit upsconline.nic.in, click the “e-Admit Card: Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026” link, enter your Registration ID or Roll Number and Date of Birth, complete the CAPTCHA and download the PDF. Print it clearly and retain it.
Q4. Who is eligible to download the Mains Admit Card?
✅ Only candidates who qualified the Prelims held on 24 May 2026 and submitted the Detailed Application Form (DAF) within the respective window for IAS Mains (19 to 29 June 2026) or IFS Mains (13 to 22 July 2026) can access their Mains Admit Card.
Q5. What should I carry to the exam centre?
✅ The printed e-Admit Card and an original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, Driving Licence or Passport). Digital copies on phone or tablet are not a substitute for the printed card. Refer to your admit card for any additional instructions specific to this exam.
Q6. Can the exam centre be changed?
✅ No. The exam centre allotted on the admit card is final and cannot be changed under normal circumstances. Plan travel and accommodation accordingly.
Q7. What is the exam mode for UPSC Mains 2026?
✅ Offline – Pen and Paper mode. There is no online or computer-based option for the UPSC Civil Services Mains.
Q8. What happens if there is a discrepancy on my admit card?
✅ Report it immediately to UPSC through the contact details provided on upsc.gov.in. Do not wait until the exam day. UPSC cannot be held responsible for discrepancies that are not reported promptly.
Q9. Is the admit card sent by post?
✅ No. The e-Admit Card is available for download only through upsconline.nic.in. No physical admit card is dispatched by post or email.
Q10. How many days does the UPSC Mains exam run and what does it cover?
✅ The exam runs from 21 to 30 August 2026 (10 days). It covers the Civil Services (Main) Examination for IAS and other All India and Central Services, and the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination for IFS. The paper-wise timetable is available in the timetable PDF at upsc.gov.in.
Disclaimer
The information above relates to the e-Admit Card for the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 and Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 under Advertisement No. 05/2026, released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on 14 August 2026, as published on the official UPSC website upsc.gov.in and the e-Admit Card portal upsconline.nic.in. The admit card is available only at upsconline.nic.in. The Mains Examination is from 21 to 30 August 2026 in offline mode. Candidates must carry a printed copy along with a valid original photo ID. The exam centre is final and cannot be changed. Any discrepancy must be reported to UPSC immediately. All updates are published only on upsc.gov.in. All links above lead only to the official UPSC website and the official UPSC e-Admit Card portal.
