The UPSC IES/ISS DAF 2026 examination consists of two main stages: a Written Examination (which differs for IES and ISS candidates) and a Personality Test/Interview. The total marks for the entire selection process are 1200, with negative marking applicable only to the objective papers in the ISS written exam.
Written Examination (IES)
This stage is conducted offline and comprises six subjective papers, testing your in-depth knowledge of General English, General Studies, and various aspects of Economics. General English and General Studies are qualifying, while the Economics papers determine your merit.
| Subject | Marks | Duration (Minutes) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| General English | 100 | 180 | Subjective |
| General Studies | 100 | 180 | Subjective |
| General Economics-I | 200 | 180 | Subjective |
| General Economics-II | 200 | 180 | Subjective |
| General Economics-III | 200 | 180 | Subjective |
| Indian Economics | 200 | 180 | Subjective |
Negative Marking: No negative marking for subjective papers in IES.
Written Examination (ISS)
Similar to IES, the ISS written exam is offline, but it includes both objective and descriptive papers focused on Statistics. General English and General Studies are qualifying, with the Statistics papers contributing to your merit score.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration (Minutes) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General English | - | 100 | 180 | Subjective |
| General Studies | - | 100 | 180 | Subjective |
| Statistics-I | 80 | 200 | 120 | Objective |
| Statistics-II | 80 | 200 | 120 | Objective |
| Statistics-III | - | 200 | 180 | Descriptive |
| Statistics-IV | - | 200 | 180 | Descriptive |
Negative Marking: 0.33 marks deducted for every wrong answer in objective papers (Statistics-I & Statistics-II).
Personality Test/Interview
This final stage assesses your overall personality, communication skills, general awareness, and suitability for the service. It is a crucial component for the final merit list.
| Stage | Total Marks |
|---|---|
| Personality Test/Interview | 200 |
Negative Marking: No negative marking for the Personality Test/Interview.
Marking & Normalization
The final merit list is computed based on the combined scores obtained by candidates in the written examination (1000 marks) and the Personality Test/Interview (200 marks), making a total of 1200 marks. There is no mention of normalization in the provided information.
Pattern FAQs
Q1: What are the total marks for the UPSC IES/ISS DAF 2026 exam?
A1: The total marks for the UPSC IES/ISS DAF 2026 examination, including the written exam and the Personality Test/Interview, are 1200.
Q2: Is there negative marking in the IES written examination?
A2: No, there is no negative marking for the subjective papers in the IES written examination.
Q3: Which papers have negative marking in the ISS written examination?
A3: Negative marking (0.33 marks deducted per wrong answer) is applicable only to the objective papers: Statistics-I and Statistics-II, in the ISS written examination.
Q4: How are the General English and General Studies papers evaluated?
A4: For both IES and ISS, the General English and General Studies papers are qualifying in nature. Your performance in these papers determines if you proceed, but their marks do not contribute to the final merit list.