UPSC IFS Mains Exam Schedule for 2026 Released

The UPSC has officially released the schedule for the IFS Mains Examination 2026, set to occur from November 22 to November 29. Candidates will participate in two shifts daily, with a break on November 24 for a gazetted holiday. The exam covers various subjects, starting with General English and concluding with Geology and Statistics. Each session lasts three hours, and candidates are encouraged to check their specific timings in advance. Stay informed about this crucial examination to ensure proper preparation.

By Ambika Singh Sep 19, 2026, 10:40 IST

UPSC IFS Mains Exam Date 2026

Exam Schedule Announcement: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the dates for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Mains Examination 2026. The examination is set to take place from November 22 to November 29, 2026, with two shifts each day: the first from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and the second from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Candidates must prepare for various subjects as per the exam timetable. Notably, there will be no exams on November 24 due to a gazetted holiday.

Duration of the IFS Mains Examination:
The IFS Mains Examination will last for eight days, but since there is no exam on November 24, the papers will not be conducted on eight consecutive days.
Exam Schedule:

Date	Day	First Shift: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM	Second Shift: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
22 November 2026	Sunday	General English	General Knowledge
23 November 2026	Monday	Mathematics Paper-1 / Zoology Paper-1	Mathematics Paper-2 / Zoology Paper-2
24 November 2026	Tuesday	No Exam	Gazetted Holiday
25 November 2026	Wednesday	Civil Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering	Civil Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering
26 November 2026	Thursday	Agricultural Engineering / Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science / Botany / Chemistry	Agricultural Engineering / Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science / Botany / Chemistry
27 November 2026	Friday	Agriculture Paper-1 / Forestry Paper-1	Agriculture Paper-2 / Forestry Paper-2
28 November 2026	Saturday	Physics Paper-1	Physics Paper-2
29 November 2026	Sunday	Geology Paper-1 / Statistics Paper-1	Geology Paper-2 / Statistics Paper-2

Exam Commencement:
The examination will kick off on November 22 with the General English paper in the morning shift, followed by the General Knowledge paper in the afternoon.

Holiday Notice:
As previously mentioned, there will be no examination on November 24, which is recognized as a gazetted holiday in the UPSC calendar. The examination will resume on November 25.

Final Examination Days:
The last papers, covering Physics, will be conducted on November 28, with Geology and Statistics concluding the examination on November 29. Each session will last for three hours.

First shift: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Second shift: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Candidates are advised to verify the exam dates and timings for their respective subjects ahead of time.