New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened the Detailed Application Form (DAF) window for candidates who successfully cleared the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 and are now eligible to appear for the Civil Services Main Examination.
Eligible candidates can submit their Detailed Application Form through the official UPSC online portal from June 19 to June 28, 2026. The Commission has advised candidates to complete the process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Over 13,000 Candidates Advance to Mains Stage
UPSC had declared the roll number-wise results of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination on June 15, followed by the publication of the name-wise result list on June 17.
A total of 13,343 candidates have qualified for the next stage of the examination process and are now eligible to submit the DAF for the Civil Services Main Examination 2026.
The recruitment cycle aims to fill 1,016 vacancies across various services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other Group A and Group B services.
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DAF Submission Mandatory for Main Examination
The Detailed Application Form is a crucial component of the UPSC selection process. Candidates who fail to submit the DAF within the prescribed timeline will not be permitted to appear for the Civil Services Main Examination.
The Commission has emphasised that submission of the DAF is mandatory and serves as the official confirmation of a candidate’s intention to participate in the Mains examination.
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Information Required in the DAF
During the application process, candidates must provide and verify several important details, including:
- Personal and educational information
- Examination fee payment details
- Service and cadre preferences
- Information regarding benchmark disabilities
- Scribe-related details, where applicable
- Requests for assistive facilities and accommodations
Candidates with benchmark disabilities may also request facilities such as large-font question papers and other examination-related support measures through the DAF portal.
Cadre Preferences to Be Submitted
One of the most important aspects of the DAF is the submission of service and cadre preferences.
Candidates aspiring for services such as the IAS, IPS, and Indian Forest Service will be required to carefully indicate their preferences during this stage. UPSC has advised aspirants to exercise caution while filling out these details, as they play an important role during the final allocation process.
Examination Fee Details
The UPSC has prescribed an examination fee of ₹200 for candidates applying for the Main Examination.
However, the following categories are exempted from payment of the fee:
- Female candidates
- Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates
- Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
Candidates belonging to these categories can complete the DAF process without payment of the examination fee.
Admit Cards Linked to DAF Submission
UPSC has clarified that e-Admit Cards for the Civil Services Main Examination 2026 will be generated only after successful submission of the Detailed Application Form.
Candidates who do not complete the DAF process within the stipulated period will not receive admit cards and will consequently be ineligible to appear in the examination.
Deadline: June 28, 2026
The Commission has provided a nine-day application window for eligible candidates to complete the process.
UPSC has cautioned candidates against waiting until the final day, noting that delays or technical difficulties could result in failure to submit the form before the deadline.
Candidates must ensure that all information entered in the DAF is accurate and complete, as the details submitted will be used during subsequent stages of the Civil Services Examination process.
With the opening of the DAF window, the focus now shifts to the Civil Services Main Examination, the second and most extensive stage of India’s premier recruitment examination for the country’s civil services.
Read also: UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 Result Expected This Week; Five-Year Trend Suggests June 9–13 Release
