UPSC CSE Mains 2026 DAF: Last Date to Apply June 28 at upsconline.nic.in, Direct Link Here

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has activated the Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) for candidates who have cleared the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026. The UPSC CSE Mains 2026 DAF submission window is now live on the official portal, upsconline.nic.in, and will remain open from June 19 to June 28, 2026.

Submitting the DAF is a mandatory step. Only candidates who complete the UPSC DAF 2026 process within this window will be permitted to appear in the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination 2026, scheduled to begin on August 21, 2026.

This year, a total of 13,343 candidates have been shortlisted through the Preliminary Examination to compete for 1,016 vacancies, making timely DAF submission critical for every qualified aspirant.

UPSC CSE Mains 2026 DAF: Important Dates

DAF-I window opens: June 19, 2026 DAF-I last date to apply: June 28, 2026 UPSC CSE Mains 2026 exam date: August 21, 2026 (onwards) Official portal: upsconline.nic.in

Why the UPSC DAF 2026 Is Mandatory

UPSC has opened a dedicated window for shortlisted candidates to submit the Detailed Application Form, pay the examination fee, update scribe details, request assistive devices or large-font question papers, and fill in cadre and service preferences.

Every qualified candidate must log in to the UPSC portal and submit or reconfirm their details during this period. The Commission has clearly stated that e-Admit Cards for the Main Examination will be released only after the successful submission of the DAF. Candidates who fail to complete the process by June 28, 2026, will not be allowed to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Main Exam 2026.

UPSC DAF 2026 Application Fee

The examination fee for UPSC CSE Mains 2026 is ₹200. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are fully exempted from paying this fee. All other candidates must complete the payment during DAF submission.

How to Fill the UPSC CSE Mains 2026 DAF Online

Visit the official UPSC portal, upsconline.nic.in. Log in using your registration ID and credentials. Verify personal and educational information. Update category and reservation details, if applicable. Fill in cadre and service preferences carefully. Enter scribe or assistive device details, if required. Pay the ₹200 examination fee, if applicable. Review all entries and submit the form. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference. Keep checking the portal for the e-Admit Card release.

UPSC CSE Mains 2026 Exam Pattern

The UPSC Civil Services Main Examination is a written test of nine papers. Two papers, one Indian Language and one English, carry 300 marks each and are qualifying in nature, meaning their marks are not counted in the final merit.

Merit is prepared on the basis of seven papers totalling 1,750 marks. These include one Essay paper, four General Studies papers, and two Optional Subject papers carrying 250 marks each.

Candidates who clear the written examination are invited for the Personality Test (Interview), which carries 275 marks. The final selection is based on the combined performance in the Mains and the Interview.

Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the last date. Completing the UPSC DAF 2026 well in advance helps avoid server load and last-minute errors on the portal.