
The UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 is scheduled for August 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30, 2026, making it a crucial stage for aspirants who have qualified for the Prelims. With the Mains covering Essay, General Studies, Indian Language, English and Optional papers, focused preparation is essential at this stage. Physics Wallah supports your preparation journey with study material, notes, PYQs, question banks, test series, online and offline coaching, and more, to strengthen concepts, improve answer writing, and prepare you for the Mains and later stages of the examination.
The UPSC CSE Mains 2026 timetable has been released, with the examination scheduled across five days in two sessions. The official notification provides the examination details, while the table below covers the complete paper-wise schedule, including the date, session and timing.
| Date | Day | Forenoon Session (9:00 AM–12:00 Noon) | Afternoon Session (2:30 PM–5:30 PM) |
| August 21, 2026 | Friday | Paper I – Essay | No Paper |
| August 22, 2026 | Saturday | Paper II – General Studies I | Paper III – General Studies II |
| August 23, 2026 | Sunday | Paper IV – General Studies III | Paper V – General Studies IV |
| August 29, 2026 | Saturday | Paper A – Indian Language | Paper B – English |
| August 30, 2026 | Sunday | Paper VI – Optional Subject Paper 1 | Paper VII – Optional Subject Paper 2 |
Note: UPSC issued a press note on August 19, 2026, regarding the Question Paper Representation Portal (QPReP). The portal will be available from August 31 to September 4, 2026, for submitting representations regarding question paper(s). Representations must be submitted only through the QPReP portal and will not be accepted through any other mode or after the deadline.
Qualified IFoS candidates will also be required to complete an online application process (dates to be announced by UPSC), including fee payment where applicable, updating scribe and assistive device details, submitting cadre preferences, and confirming their application to receive the e-Admit Card.
| Examination | Candidates Qualified for Mains | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 | 13,343 | 1,016 |
| Indian Forest Service (IFoS) 2026 | 1,046 | 80 |
Compared with 2025:
PW provides result-oriented preparation backed by experienced faculty and comprehensive course coverage.
PW’s faculty team brings years of subject knowledge and exam-oriented teaching experience to ensure conceptual clarity and exam readiness.
| Subject | Faculty Name | Experience |
| Anthropology & Society | Harpreet Sir | 9+ Years |
| CSAT | Rishav Sir | 7+ Years |
| Economy | Lokesh Sir | 10+ Years |
| Pratik Gupta Sir | 14+ Years | |
| Ranchan Sir | 8+ Years | |
| Rishi Sir | 7+ Years | |
| Vivek Singh Sir | 12+ Years | |
| Ethics | Amit Singh Sir | 15+ Years |
| Geography | Dipender Sir | 8+ Years |
| Naveen Sir | 11+ Years | |
| History | Abhishek Sir | 10+ Years |
| Devendra Sir | 8+ Years | |
| Neeraj Rao Sir | 15+ Years | |
| Rajneesh Sir | 23+ Years | |
| Vikas Ahlawat Sir | 8+ Years | |
| Polity | Adarsh Sir | 23+ Years |
| Ashish Sir | 15+ Years | |
| Saurabh Kumar Rahul Sir | 9 Years | |
| Polity & IR | Manju Ma’am | 6+ Years |
| Public Administration | Nikhil Sir | 15+ Years |
| Science & Technology | Ritesh Sir | 15+ Years |
| Science & Technology | Shivam Yash Sir | 10+ Years |
PW offers both UPSC offline and UPSC online coaching to cater to diverse preparation needs across languages and learning preferences.
These batches are designed to cover GS, CSAT, and Optional Subjects comprehensively.
PW currently provides preparation for the following Optional Subjects across multiple languages.
| Subject | Medium |
| Anthropology | Hinglish |
| Geography | Hindi, Hinglish |
| Hindi Literature | Hindi |
| History | Hindi, Hinglish |
| Mathematics | Hinglish |
| PSIR | Hindi, Hinglish |
| Public Administration | Hinglish |
| Sociology | Hindi, Hinglish |
Staying updated with official timelines is essential for smooth and timely preparation. Missing a deadline can directly impact your attempt. Keeping track of UPSC online registration and form submission ensures proper planning, timely registration, and a well-structured preparation strategy.
| Event | Date |
| Prelims Exam Date | 24 May 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 21 August 2026 |
| Interview/Personality Test | Expected February–March 2027 |
The UPSC Civil Services Examination syllabus forms the foundation of your preparation strategy for both Prelims and Mains. Since the syllabus is vast and interconnected, understanding each stage separately helps aspirants plan subjects, revision cycles, and answer-writing practice more effectively.
| Examination | Syllabus Page |
| UPSC Prelims 2026 | View Prelims Syllabus |
| UPSC Mains 2026 | View Mains Syllabus |
