The Union Public Service Commission UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Admit Card is an essential document released for candidates appearing in the Civil Services Preliminary Examination and Indian Forest Service Preliminary Examination. The admit card serves as an official entry pass to the examination center and contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, reporting time, venue address, and examination instructions.
Candidates can download the hall ticket from the official UPSC website by entering their registration ID or roll number along with their date of birth. It is mandatory to carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid photo identity proof to the examination center. The UPSC IAS / IFS Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the prestigious recruitment process conducted annually to select officers for various administrative and forest services in India. Candidates are advised to carefully verify all details mentioned on the admit card and follow the guidelines issued by UPSC.
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UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Admit Card: Overview Table
| Feature | Details |
| Organisation Name | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post | Civil Services (IAS, IFS, IPS, and other Group A & B Services) |
| Vacancy | 933 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 15th May 2026 |
| Shift Timing | 2 Hours per session (Must reach venue at least 30 mins prior) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 32 years as on 1st August 2026 (Born between 2nd Aug 1994 and 1st Aug 2005) |
| Selection Process | - Preliminary Exam (Objective)
- Main Exam (Written)
- Personality Test (Interview)
|
| Website Link | www.upsc.gov.in |
UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Admit Card: Vacancy in detail
| Category / Benchmark Disability | Number of Vacancies |
| Total Expected Vacancies | Approx. 933 |
| (a) Blindness and Low Vision | 7 |
| (b) Deaf and Hard of Hearing | 11 |
| (c) Locomotor Disability (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy) | 8 |
| (e) Multiple Disabilities (from amongst persons under clauses a to c, except the combination of blind & deaf) | 7 |
UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Admit Card: Exam Pattern
The Civil Services Examination is conducted in two successive stages.
Stage 1: Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination
The Preliminary examination is a screening test consisting of two compulsory objective-type papers.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Remarks |
| Paper I | General Studies – I | 200 | 2 Hours | Negative marking applies (1/3rd penalty for wrong answers). |
| Paper II | General Studies – II (CSAT) | 200 | 2 Hours | Qualifying paper with a minimum qualifying mark fixed at 33%. Negative marking applies. |
Stage 2: Civil Services (Main) Examination
Candidates who qualify the Prelims will proceed to the Mains, which consists of 9 conventional essay-type papers, followed by an Interview/Personality Test.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Nature |
| Paper-A | One Indian Language (from 8th Schedule) | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper-B | English | 300 |
| Paper-I | Essay | 250 | Merit Ranking |
| Paper-II | General Studies-I | 250 |
| Paper-III | General Studies-II | 250 |
| Paper-IV | General Studies-III | 250 |
| Paper-V | General Studies-IV | 250 |
| Paper-VI | Optional Subject – Paper 1 | 250 |
| Paper-VII | Optional Subject – Paper 2 | 250 |
| Sub Total (Written Test) | 1750 | |
| Personality Test (Interview) | 275 |
| Grand Total | 2025 |
Steps to Download Admit Card
- Visit the official UPSC online portal: https://upsconline.nic.in.
- Navigate to the e-Admit Card link for the Civil Services Examination.
- Log in using your Universal Registration Number (URN) or Application Number.
- Download and take a clear printout of the e-Admit Card.
- Note: Ensure you check for discrepancies immediately. No Admit Card will be sent by post or email.
UPSC IAS / IFS Pre-Admit Card: Exam Timings
| Paper | Subject | Exam Starts | Exam Ends |
|---|
| Paper 1 | General Studies (GS) | 9:30 AM | 11:30 AM |
| Paper 2 | CSAT | 2:30 PM | 4:30 PM |
UPSC IAS / IFS Pre Admit Card: Exam Centres
| Stage | Exam Centres | Timings / Venue Rule |
| Preliminary Exam | - Agartala
- Agra
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Dispur
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Jammu
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- Patna
- Prayagraj
- Pune
- Ranchi
- Shillong
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Varanasi
- and 58 other locations.
| Reach the venue at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each session. No late entry is allowed. |
| Main Exam | - Ahmedabad
- Aizawl
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Cuttack
- Dehradun
- Delhi
- Dispur
- Hyderabad
- Imphal
- Jaipur
- Jammu
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- Patna
- Prayagraj
- Raipur
- Ranchi
- Shillong
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Vijayawada
| Reach the venue at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each session. No late entry is allowed. |
Important Instructions & Documents to Carry
- e-Admit Card: Carrying a printed copy of the e-Admit Card is compulsory.
- Original Photo ID: You must carry the same original Photo ID Card (Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence, etc.) that you provided while creating your URN profile.
- Face Authentication: All candidates must undergo mandatory face authentication and identity verification at the exam venue.
- Strictly Banned Items: The use or possession of mobile phones (even switched off), pagers, smart/digital watches, pen drives, cameras, Bluetooth devices, and any other IT gadgets is strictly prohibited. Do not bring valuable items, books, or bags as there is no safe-keeping arrangement at the venue.
Last Minute Preparation Tips
- Beware of Negative Marking: There is a strict 1/3rd (0.33) penalty for wrong answers in the Preliminary Examination. If you do not know the answer, it is better to leave it blank. No penalty is applied for unattempted questions.
- Value “Economy of Words”: For the Main Examination, the notification explicitly states that credit will be given for “orderly, effective and exact expression combined with due economy of words.” Do not fill pages with superficial knowledge.
- Maintain Clean Scripts: Avoid writing any irrelevant matter, drawing signs, or making marks that could disclose your identity on the answer scripts. This will lead to a deduction of marks or cancellation of your script.
- Time Management on D-Day: Since face authentication and frisking are mandatory, reach your designated center at least 30 minutes early. Remember, late entry inside the exam venue is completely barred under all circumstances.
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