UPSC CSE Mains Admit Card 2026 Out: 29-30 August Exam Schedule

Published: August 28, 2026 Last Updated:
🎫 UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026
UPSC CSE Mains Admit Card 2026 Out: 29-30 August Exam Schedule

Union Public Service Commission • Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE • Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026

📌 Admit Card Update: The e-Admit Card for Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 was released on 14th August 2026 on the UPSC official website and the written examination was successfully conducted on the scheduled dates between 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th August 2026, with the language papers on 29th August and the papers for both the optional subjects on 30th August.
Before Leaving For The Centre: Always have two new passport-sized photographs ready for each exam or interview. These photographs can be very useful if there are any additional checks at the venue for your identity or face verification.
⚡ UPSC CSE Mains Admit Card 2026 - Quick Answers
Commission Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Examination Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026
Notice No. 05/2026-CSE dated 04 February 2026
e-Admit Card Upload 14 August 2026
Exam Dates 21, 22, 23, 29 and 30 August 2026
Final Exam Dates 29 and 30 August 2026
Morning Session 09:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Afternoon Session 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM
Written Merit Marks 1,750
Personality Test 275 Marks
Final Total 2,025 Marks
📅 UPSC Civil Services Main 2026 Important Dates
Prelims Result 15 Jun 2026
Mains CAF Window 19-29 Jun 2026
Time Table Upload 10 Jul 2026
e-Admit Card 14 Aug 2026
Exam Part-I 21-23 Aug 2026
Exam Part-II 29-30 Aug 2026
QPReP Opens 31 Aug 2026
QPReP Closes 04 Sep 2026
📊

UPSC Civil Services 2026 Vacancy & Mains Details

CSE 2026 vacancy figure, PwBD breakup and category-rule summary

Vacancy / Reservation Item Official Position
Approximate CSE 2026 Vacancies 933
PwBD - Blindness / Low Vision 7
PwBD - Deaf / Hard of Hearing 11
PwBD - Locomotor Disability Group 8
PwBD - Multiple Disabilities 7
Total PwBD Reserved 33
Category-Based Reservation, Age Relaxation & Attempts
Category Reservation Age Relaxation Attempts Vacancy Count
General / UR Unreserved None 6 Not separately published
EWS Yes None 6 Not separately published
OBC Yes +3 Years 9 Not separately published
SC Yes +5 Years Unlimited Not separately published
ST Yes +5 Years Unlimited Not separately published
PwBD Yes — 33 total +10 Years 9 for General/EWS/OBC; Unlimited for SC/ST 33
Vacancy Breakup Note: This notice lists the total number of vacant positions and the number of PwBD candidates, but does not provide separate figures for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS categories. This is why, in the table below, the words "Not separately published" have been left in front of these categories, rather than adding any estimated or incorrect numbers.
📅 UPSC CSE Mains 2026 Exam Schedule
Date Session Time Paper Subject
21 Aug 2026 Forenoon 09:00 AM-12:00 Noon Paper-I Essay
22 Aug 2026 Forenoon 09:00 AM-12:00 Noon Paper-II General Studies-I
22 Aug 2026 Afternoon 02:30 PM-05:30 PM Paper-III General Studies-II
23 Aug 2026 Forenoon 09:00 AM-12:00 Noon Paper-IV General Studies-III
23 Aug 2026 Afternoon 02:30 PM-05:30 PM Paper-V General Studies-IV
29 Aug 2026 Forenoon 09:00 AM-12:00 Noon Paper-A Indian Language
29 Aug 2026 Afternoon 02:30 PM-05:30 PM Paper-B English
30 Aug 2026 Forenoon 09:00 AM-12:00 Noon Paper-VI Optional Subject Paper-I
30 Aug 2026 Afternoon 02:30 PM-05:30 PM Paper-VII Optional Subject Paper-II
📝 UPSC Civil Services Main 2026 Exam Pattern
Paper Subject Nature Marks
Paper-A Indian Language Qualifying 300
Paper-B English Qualifying 300
Paper-I Essay Merit 250
Paper-II General Studies-I Merit 250
Paper-III General Studies-II Merit 250
Paper-IV General Studies-III Merit 250
Paper-V General Studies-IV Merit 250
Paper-VI Optional Subject Paper-I Merit 250
Paper-VII Optional Subject Paper-II Merit 250
Total Written Marks Counted for Merit Merit 1,750
Interview Personality Test Final Stage 275
Grand Total Written + Interview Final 2,025
Language papers: Both Paper-A and Paper-B are qualifying (passing) papers of 300 marks each, in which you must score at least 25% marks (i.e. 75 marks) in each paper to be included in the merit list (ranking), unless you have been granted any exemption under the rules; only after you pass these two papers, your answer sheets of the remaining main papers are checked and your final rank is decided based on their marks.
🎓 Eligibility Reminder for CSE Main 2026
✓ The Main Examination is meant for candidates who cleared the 2026 Civil Services Preliminary stage and met the Main-stage requirements.
✓ An e-Admit Card allows entry to the examination process; final eligibility still depends on UPSC’s document and rule checks.
⬇️ How to Download UPSC CSE Mains Admit Card 2026
1 Open the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 page or the UPSC Online link given in Important Links.
2 Choose the e-Admit Card option for Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2026.
3 Use the login details requested on the UPSC portal and open your hall ticket.
4 Check the roll number, centre, session, photograph and instructions, then save and print the e-Admit Card.
⚠️ UPSC Mains Exam-Day Instructions
✓ Take a printed e-Admit Card and the original identity document referred to on your hall ticket.
✓ Reach the venue early enough to complete identity checks, face verification and frisking without rushing.
✓ Leave phones, smart watches, cameras, Bluetooth devices and other prohibited electronic items outside the examination venue.
✓ Avoid bringing bags or valuables for which you would need a storage arrangement at the centre.
💬 Question Paper Representation Window
The UPSC opened its Question Paper Representation Portal for five days, from August 31st to September 4th, 2026. The primary purpose of this portal was to allow candidates to lodge objections or complaints regarding the exam questions or their answers. According to the rules, any complaints or suggestions that candidates had to submit could only be submitted within this five-day period and only through this online portal.
Source & Verification: All information provided in this post has been carefully compiled from official documents from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), including the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026 page, the August 14 e-Admit Card, the July 10 Timetable, the August Candidate Notice, the Main Examination CAF Notice, and Examination Notification No. 05/2026-CSE. This entire statement uses only the figures and numbers provided in these official UPSC records, and no additional or fabricated numbers for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS category seats (vacancies) have been added.