DAF UPSC - All About UPSC DAF 1 and 2 for Mains and Interview

DAF stands for Detailed Application Form. The UPSC DAF is an extensive document that candidates need to fill out with their personal, educational, and other relevant details. It requires candidates to provide comprehensive information about their educational qualifications, work experience, preferences for services and cadre, and other related information. The form is filled before the UPSC Mains Examination and is known as UPSC DAF 1, whereas the next form, which is filled before the Personality Test Round, is known as DAF 2.

What is DAF in UPSC?

The result of UPSC Prelims 2023 was announced on the 12th of June, 2023. As per the Examination's regulations, all candidates who have qualified Prelims must reapply using the Detailed Application Form-I for UPSC Mains Examination 2023. This form is available on the Union Public Service Commission's website from the 10th of July, 2023, until the 19th of July, 2023, until 6:00 P.M. It is mandatory for all candidates to complete the DAF-I ONLINE and subsequently submit it ONLINE to be eligible to appear for UPSC Mains Examination, 2023.

The DAF is a crucial component of the UPSC selection process as it helps the commission evaluate and assess the suitability of candidates for various administrative positions in the government.

Points to Remember while Filling out the UPSC DAF

The UPSC DAF encompasses six distinct modules, each pertaining to a specific category:

• Personal Information
• Educational Information
• Parental Information
• Employment Information
• Document Upload
• Final Submission

Some important points to take care of while filling out and submitting DAF are as follows:

• Avoid accidentally sending either the DAF print preview PDF or the original one to UPSC. The submission process for the DAF has transitioned to an online format exclusively through the official UPSC website: https://upsc.gov.in/
• Applicants are required to complete the DAF submission digitally by accessing the commission's designated webpage. To initiate the process, candidates must register on the platform by furnishing their names, roll numbers, birth dates, and email addresses within the DAF registration module.
• Subsequently, a password will be dispatched to candidates via their registered phone numbers and email addresses. This password will facilitate their subsequent login. During the login process, the roll number serves as the username, while the password, supplied by the commission, serves as the authentication.
• It is noteworthy that prior to finalising their submission, candidates are granted the liberty to effect changes as necessary. Nonetheless, post the candidate's confirmation of 'final submission,' no alterations will be entertained in any of the aforementioned modules. 
• Candidates must be aware that they will not be permitted to alter the optional subject, Indian language paper (Paper-A), or the examination medium that they have already specified in their submitted online Civil Services (Preliminary) Application Form under any circumstances.

Documents Required to Fill the UPSC DAF

The documents required for UPSC DAF are as follows:

•  Matriculation Certificate
•  Degree Certificate/Final year appearing certificate
•  Domicile Certificate/Caste Certificate along with Income/Property Proof
•  Disability Certificate (If any)
•  Undertaking (in the case of Government Servants)

Candidates must remember that the documents should be scanned with good clarity, documents should be consolidated into a single PDF, and the PDF must be unlocked.

Important Categories under UPSC DAF:

• Prizes, Medals, Scholarships
• Your Optional Subject (it cannot be changed later)
• The right choice of Language Medium for the Interview
• Extracurricular activities, interests and hobbies
• Educational details
• Employment details

All of these holistically come together to define you for the board. It is, therefore, important to put the best version of yourself on paper.

Download: UPSC DAF PDF

UPSC DAF 2

UPSC DAF II is released after the Mains Examination result has been declared. According to the Rules of the UPSC Civil Services Exam, submission of DAF II is compulsory. Failing to submit UPSC DAF II online within the given time limit can cancel the candidature of the applicant.

Strategy to Fill UPSC Detailed Application Form

Here is a list of points that you should consider while filling out your UPSC DAF:

• Do not lie on your UPSC Detailed Application Form. Be completely honest with all your answers. Provide accurate information about your educational history, including degrees, institutions, and years of study. Ensure the details match your supporting documents.
• Prizes, sports and leadership positions are to be filled in for college/university level only. Do not put the class 10th chess championship here.
• Important: Write things in a way that the board wants to question you on them. Give them something to go on. If applicable, list your employment history, including details about your current and previous jobs. Mention the dates, designations, and responsibilities. Be concise but thorough.
• Interests and hobbies. Do not mention open-ended interests and hobbies. Be specific and prepare them thoroughly. For example, if you have put swimming as an interest, be prepared to answer how many individual gold medals Michael Phelps has won in the Olympics or the 100m freestyle record held by an Indian.
• Prioritise your choices for services and cadres. Research the different services and cadres available and align them with your career aspirations and strengths.
• Everyone has something that they like doing, if not studying. Drill down to it and write it in a way that attracts some questioning. If one were out of ideas, they might have just put - watching animated movies/TV - and then justified it as a form of art with an ode to John Lasseter (American film director) if questioned.
• Do not put too much information. Put 3 interests max. Try to have a common thread running throughout your UPSC DAF that can define you as a person.
• Prepare well for every word you have written on the DAF. Home state, meaning of your name, graduation subjects, work experience, etc.
• Double-check and then triple-check what you have written. No changes can be made once the form has been filled and submitted.
• Remember that the DAF is a critical component of the UPSC selection process. Taking the time to complete it accurately and thoughtfully can greatly enhance your chances of success in the examination.

FAQs on DAF UPSC

What is the Detailed Application Form (DAF)?

The UPSC DAF is a comprehensive form that candidates who clear the preliminary stage of the UPSC Civil Services Examination need to fill out. It includes detailed information about a candidate's education, work experience, optional subject selection, and preferences for services and cadres. The DAF is a crucial part of the selection process for the main stage of the Civil Services Examination.

Is UPSC DAF 2023 out?

Yes, UPSC DAF 2023 was released on 11 July 2023, and the last date for submitting the Application was 19 July 2023.

Who is eligible for UPSC Mains DAF?

Candidates who have qualified the Prelims Exam and are eligible to sit for the UPSC Mains Examination can fill out the UPSC DAF.