UPSC IFS Mains Online Form 2026 – 80 Posts, Apply by 22 July
If you cleared the UPSC Civil Services / Indian Forest Service (Preliminary) Examination 2026, this is the step that matters next. UPSC has opened the online Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) for the Indian Forest Service (Main) Examination 2026, filling 80 IFS posts. Only candidates declared qualified in the IFS Prelims (held 24 May 2026) are eligible to fill this form. The window is short — it runs from 13 July 2026 to 22 July 2026 (6:00 PM), so do not leave it to the last day. Full details on vacancies, eligibility, important dates, application fee, pay, selection process and how to apply are given below.
Vacancy Details
| Total Posts | 80 |
Eligibility
| Educational Qualification | You must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least one of the following subjects: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Zoology; or a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering, from a recognised university (or an equivalent qualification). Since this is the Mains stage, you must also have been declared qualified in the IFS (Preliminary) Examination 2026. |
| Age Limit | You must be between 21 and 32 years of age as on 01 August 2026. Upper-age relaxation is available for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and other reserved categories as per UPSC's standard rules. Since eligibility was already assessed at the Prelims stage, the same age criteria carry over to the Mains form. |
| Age Relaxation | Age relaxation for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and other categories as per UPSC rules. |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| IFS Prelims Exam (already held) | 24 May 2026 |
| IFS Mains Form (DAF-I) Start | 13 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 July 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| IFS Mains Written Exam | Refer official notification |
Application Fee
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹100 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / All Female | Exempted (₹0) |
Salary / Pay
Selection Process
Selection to the Indian Forest Service is a three-stage process: (1) Preliminary Examination (already cleared — the common CSE/IFS screening test held on 24 May 2026), (2) Main (Written) Examination — descriptive papers for which this DAF-I form is being filled, and (3) Personality Test / Interview. Final selection is based on the combined marks of the Mains and the Interview, followed by document verification and medical examination.
How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
How many IFS posts are there in UPSC IFS 2026?
UPSC has notified 80 posts for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) 2026 (the combined IAS/IFS notification carried 933 IAS + 80 IFS = 1,013 posts).
Who can fill the IFS Mains (DAF-I) form?
Only candidates declared qualified in the IFS Preliminary Examination 2026 (held 24 May 2026) can fill the DAF-I Mains form.
What is the last date to submit the IFS Mains form?
The form is open from 13 July 2026 and the last date to apply is 22 July 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
What is the educational qualification for IFS?
A Bachelor's degree with at least one science subject (such as Botany, Chemistry, Zoology, Physics, Mathematics, Geology, Statistics or Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science), or a degree in Agriculture, Forestry or Engineering.
What is the application fee?
₹100 for General/OBC/EWS; SC/ST/PwBD and all female candidates are exempted. Verify the exact Mains-stage fee from the official notice.