The last big document before the Forest Service mains is finally in hand. The Union Public Service Commission has put out the UPSC IFS Mains Admit Card 2026 on 13-11-2026, and the 1,046 candidates who cleared the preliminary stage can now download their e-admit cards from the UPSC portal. The mains itself runs from 22-11-2026 to 29-11-2026, so there is barely a week left to check your centre, read the instructions on the card, and plan your travel.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination | Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | 05/2026 & 06/2026-IFoS |
| Total Vacancies | 1,013 (Civil Services 933 + Indian Forest Service 80) |
| Admit Card Released | 13-11-2026 |
| Mains Exam Dates | 22-11-2026 to 29-11-2026 |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Admit Card Portal | https://upsconline.nic.in/ |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Begin | 04-02-2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27-02-2026 (up to 06:00 PM) |
| Preliminary Exam | 24-05-2026 |
| Preliminary Result | 15-06-2026 |
| IFS Mains Form (DAF) | 13-07-2026 to 22-07-2026 |
| IFS Mains Admit Card | 13-11-2026 |
| IFS Mains Exam | 22-11-2026 to 29-11-2026 |
| Service | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Indian Administrative Service and other Civil Services | 933 |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) | 80 |
| Total | 1,013 |
For the Forest Service, you need a Bachelor's degree with at least one of these subjects — Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology or Agriculture — or an equivalent qualification. The Civil Services side accepts a Bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised university.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age | 32 years |
| Age Counted As On | 01-08-2026 |
| Age Relaxation | As per UPSC rules for reserved categories |
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 100 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Exempted |
| Female (all categories) | Exempted |
The mains runs in two sessions a day — 09:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM. General English and General Knowledge open the papers on 22-11-2026, the optional papers follow, and there is no paper on 24-11-2026, which is a gazetted holiday. Keep the e-admit card safe until the final result is declared, and check the exact paper timings printed on it.
The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Services and Indian Forest Service examinations every year, selecting officers for the country's premier administrative and forest services through a three-stage process.
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| UPSC Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in/ |
| Download IFS Mains Admit Card | https://upsconline.nic.in/ |
| IFS (Main) Examination 2026 Page | https://cms.upsc.gov.in/active-examinations/indian-forest-service-main-examination-2026/ |
The Union Public Service Commission released the e-Admit Card for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 on 13-11-2026.
The Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 will be held from 22-11-2026 to 29-11-2026, with two sessions each day and no paper on 24-11-2026.
The 2026 cycle carries 1,013 vacancies in total — 933 for the Civil Services and 80 for the Indian Forest Service.
From the UPSC online portal https://upsconline.nic.in/ using your registration number or roll number and password. The Commission's main site is https://upsc.gov.in/.
Only the 1,046 candidates who qualified the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 for the Forest Service can appear for the IFS Mains.
Candidates must be 21 to 32 years old as on 01-08-2026, with age relaxation for reserved categories as per UPSC rules.
The fee was Rs. 100 for General, OBC and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwBD candidates and all female candidates were exempted.
The selection runs through the Preliminary Examination, the Main written examination, and finally the Interview or Personality Test, followed by a medical examination.