The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has officially announced the UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 exam schedule on 25 February 2026, providing much-awaited clarity to thousands of aspirants. The Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services Main Examination — part of the PCS recruitment cycle — is set to be conducted from 29 March to 01 April 2026.
UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 Official Dates and Timing
As per the official notification released on uppsc.up.nic.in, candidates who qualified the Preliminary stage and completed their mains application can now prepare for the descriptive phase of the examination. The key dates and timings are as follows:
- UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 Exam: 29 March to 01 April 2026
- Exam Mode: Offline, Descriptive Written Test
- Shift Timings: Typically two shifts — 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 02:30 PM to 05:30 PM
- Admit Card: Expected to be released in March 2026 before exam dates
The PCS Mains exam schedule is critical as it determines when candidates will appear for compulsory papers such as General Studies, General Hindi, Essay writing and other topics specified by the commission.
How UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 Exam Schedule Affects Candidates?
With the dates now out, aspirants can finalise their preparation strategy and plan logistics for exam day:
- Download the exam date notification PDF from the official UPPSC website.
- Review subject-wise papers and reporting times once available.
- Prepare mandatory documents (admit card, valid ID) for entry into the examination hall.
The announcement also helps candidates schedule revision and mock tests ahead of their mains attempt.
Steps to Check and Download UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 & Admit Card
Candidates should follow the official UPPSC portal for all authentic updates:
- Visit uppsc.up.nic.in
- Navigate to the “Notifications/Latest Updates” section
- Find and open the UPPSC PCS Mains 2026 Exam Date notification
- Download the PDF schedule for details on application status, paper timings, and reporting instructions
Admit cards are generally issued a few weeks prior to the exam window and will be available on the same portal.
What’s Next After the Mains Exam?
Once the Mains exam is completed, the UPPSC will proceed with further selection stages, which typically include:
- Interview / Personality Test
- Final Merit List Preparation
Candidates should periodically check the official website and trusted educational news sources for detailed syllabus updates, answer key releases, and results as the cycle progresses.