UPSC IFS Mains Exam Date 2026, Schedule and Timings

UPSC IFS Mains Exam Date 2026 has been announced by the Union Public Service Commission. The Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 is scheduled to begin on November 22, 2026, and will be conducted for seven days, according to the UPSC examination calendar.

The examination is conducted after the Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination, which was held through the Civil Services Preliminary Examination on May 24, 2026. Aspirants who have qualified for the IFS Main stage should check the detailed timetable, paper sequence and examination instructions before appearing.

UPSC IFS Mains Exam Date 2026

UPSC has scheduled the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026 from November 22, 2026. The commission's annual calendar lists a seven-day duration for the examination. The dates mentioned in the calendar remain subject to change if circumstances require.

The following table covers the schedule currently available for the UPSC IFS Mains 2026 examination.

The detailed IFS Mains timetable, including the subject-wise paper dates and session timings, should be checked through the examination-specific notice issued by UPSC. The annual calendar provides the commencement date and duration, while the detailed timetable gives the paper-wise schedule.

UPSC IFS Mains 2026 Schedule

The IFS Main Examination is different from the UPSC Civil Services Main Examination. It consists of General English, General Knowledge and two optional subjects, with two papers for each optional subject.

The examination structure can be checked below:

The written examination is followed by a Personality Test carrying 300 marks. The final marks are calculated using the written examination and Personality Test as prescribed under the IFS recruitment rules.

UPSC IFS Mains Exam Timings 2026

The exact UPSC IFS Mains shift timings for 2026 should be taken from the official detailed timetable rather than the annual calendar. The calendar currently confirms the November 22 commencement date and seven-day duration but does not provide the individual paper timings.

For comparison, previous IFS Main examinations have used separate morning and afternoon sessions. However, applicants should follow the timings printed on the 2026 timetable and admit card instead of relying on the previous year's schedule.

UPSC IFS Mains 2026 Optional Subjects

The IFS Main examination requires applicants to select two optional subjects. Each selected subject has two papers carrying 200 marks each.

Some of the subjects available under the IFS Main examination include:

• Agriculture
• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Civil Engineering
• Forestry
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics
• Statistics
• Zoology

The permitted combinations and detailed syllabus should be checked against the latest UPSC IFS examination rules before making preparation plans.

UPSC IFS Mains Admit Card 2026

UPSC will issue the IFS Mains admit card 2026 through its official website before the examination. The admit card will provide the candidate's examination centre, roll number, reporting instructions and other information required on exam day.

Before leaving for the examination, applicants should check:

• Name and roll number
• Examination centre
• Date and paper
• Reporting time
• Photograph and other details
• Instructions printed on the admit card

UPSC has already provided an examination-specific page for its 2026 Civil Services Main examination, where timetable and admit-card notices are published. The IFS Main timetable should likewise be followed once uploaded by the commission.

What Should IFS Mains 2026 Aspirants Check Now?

With the examination scheduled for November 22, aspirants should use the remaining preparation period to organise their subject-wise revision.

• Download the latest UPSC IFS syllabus.
• Check the two selected optional subjects.
• Follow the official paper sequence after the detailed timetable is released.
• Practise previous IFS Main question papers.
• Revise General English and General Knowledge separately.
• Keep the admit card and required identity documents ready once released.
• Check UPSC notifications regularly for any timetable changes.

The UPSC calendar itself states that examination dates can be altered if circumstances warrant. Therefore, the detailed timetable and subsequent UPSC notices should be treated as the final reference.

UPSC IFS Mains Exam Date 2026 FAQs