The UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2026 entered its penultimate day on August 29, with candidates competing for 933 vacancies across the IAS, IPS, IFS and other allied services.
The exam, which began on August 21, runs across five exam days spread over nine days, concluding on August 30 with the final General Studies and optional subject papers.
Each exam day is held in two sessions, a forenoon slot from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and an afternoon slot from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, covering the Essay, four General Studies papers and two optional subject papers.
Of the 933 total vacancies this year, 33 posts are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, as part of UPSC’s standard reservation framework.
Roughly 10 lakh candidates apply for the Civil Services Examination annually, though only around 900 to 1,000 are ultimately selected, making it one of India’s most competitive recruitment processes.
The Mains exam covers the Essay paper, four General Studies papers, two qualifying language papers and two optional subject papers spread across the nine-day window.
Each exam day runs in two sessions, a forenoon slot from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and an afternoon slot from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, except the opening day, which was reserved solely for the Essay paper.
The UPSC released the Mains admit card on August 14, 2026, allowing candidates to download their e-admit cards using their registration ID or roll number.
Roughly 10 lakh candidates apply for the Civil Services Examination each year, with only around 900 to 1,000 ultimately selected across the IAS, IPS, IFS and other allied services.
The 933 vacancies for this year’s cycle include 33 posts reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, part of UPSC’s broader reservation framework for the exam.
Candidates who clear the Mains stage will proceed to the Personality Test, commonly known as the interview round, the final stage of the three-tier Civil Services Examination process.
Photo via Unsplash, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (representative exam-writing image)
