Embark on your journey to become an Indian Economic Service (IES) or Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officer. This guide details every step of the selection process, from your initial application to receiving your final joining letter.
Selection Stages
Apply Online
Candidates must apply online through the UPSC website (upsconline.nic.in) by filling out the application form with personal, educational, and contact details, uploading required documents (photograph, signature, certificates), and paying the application fee (Rs. 200 for General/OBC, exempted for PwBD/SC/Female/ST candidates). The application window for UPSC IES/ISS 2026 was from February 11 to March 3, 2026.
Written Examination
The written examination is conducted offline in pen-and-paper mode and consists of six papers carrying a total of 1000 marks. For IES, all papers are subjective. For ISS, Statistics Paper I and II are objective, while General English, General Studies, Statistics III and IV are subjective/descriptive. Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for the Viva-voce.
Detailed Application Form (DAF)
Candidates who qualify the written examination are required to submit a Detailed Application Form (DAF) online. This form captures a wide range of personal, educational, and professional details and forms the basis for many questions asked during the Personality Test.
Personality Test/Interview
Candidates shortlisted from the written examination are called for a Viva-voce/Interview, which carries a maximum of 200 marks. The interview assesses the candidate's overall personality, subject knowledge, communication skills, and general awareness.
Document Verification and Medical Examination
Candidates who qualify the written exam and the personality test must undergo Document Verification and Medical Examination rounds.
Final Merit List
The final merit list is prepared based on the combined performance of candidates in both the written examination and the Viva-voce/Interview.
How The Final Merit Is Made
The final merit list for the UPSC IES/ISS DAF 2026 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. Performance in the General English and General Studies papers is qualifying, while the Economics papers (for IES) or Statistics papers (for ISS) determine merit in the written exam. There is no mention of normalization in the provided information.
Documents You'll Need
- Scanned photograph and signature for online application.
- Educational qualification certificates (Postgraduate degree for IES, Bachelor's/Master's in Statistics for ISS).
- Date of Birth certificate (usually 10th class mark sheet).
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) if applicable.
- Experience certificates (if any, as per DAF requirements).
- Identity proof (Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, etc.).
- Any other documents as specified in the official notification or DAF.
Selection FAQs
Q1: Is there negative marking in the IES/ISS written exam?
For IES, there is no negative marking as all papers are subjective. For ISS, there is a negative marking of 0.33 marks for every wrong answer in the objective Statistics Paper I and II.
Q2: What is the purpose of the Detailed Application Form (DAF)?
The DAF is a crucial form submitted by written exam qualifiers. It provides comprehensive personal, educational, and professional details that form the basis for questions asked during the Personality Test/Interview.
Q3: How many attempts are allowed for the UPSC IES/ISS exam?
General category candidates have 6 attempts. OBC candidates have 9 attempts. SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts within the age limit. PwBD candidates also have unlimited attempts within the age limit.
Q4: What is the weightage of the interview in the final merit list?
The Personality Test/Interview carries a maximum of 200 marks, contributing to the total of 1200 marks for the final merit list (1000 for written exam + 200 for interview).