{"id":1646,"date":"2026-08-12T11:40:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T06:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=1646"},"modified":"2026-08-17T16:39:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T11:09:44","slug":"upsc-age-limit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/upsc-age-limit\/","title":{"rendered":"UPSC Age Limit 2026, Eligibility, Qualification, Attempts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The <\/span>UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026<\/b> is one of India's most competitive government examinations. Before applying, candidates must meet the prescribed <\/span>UPSC eligibility criteria 2026<\/b>, including age limit, educational qualification, nationality, number of attempts and for certain services, physical and medical standards.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For <\/span>UPSC Age Limit 2026<\/b>, General and EWS candidates must be between <\/span>21 and 32 years of age as on August 1, 2026<\/b>. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories are eligible for age relaxation. OBC candidates can generally apply up to <\/span>35 years<\/b>, SC\/ST candidates up to <\/span>37 years<\/b> and eligible PwBD candidates up to <\/span>42 years<\/b>, subject to the conditions prescribed by UPSC.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 determine whether a candidate can appear for the Civil Services Examination. Candidates should check all the conditions carefully before submitting the application form.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Eligibility Criteria<\/b><\/td>\r\nUPSC CSE 2026 Requirement<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\r\n

UPSC Age Limit 2026<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 to 32 years for General\/EWS candidates<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

OBC Age Limit<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 35 years with applicable relaxation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

SC\/ST Age Limit<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 37 years with applicable relaxation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

PwBD Age Limit<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 42 years, subject to applicable rules<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Age Cut-off Date<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

August 1, 2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Educational Qualification<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Bachelor's degree from a recognised university or equivalent<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Final-Year Students<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Eligible subject to fulfilment of prescribed conditions<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Nationality<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Indian citizenship is required for IAS and IPS; specific provisions apply to certain other services<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

General\/EWS Attempts<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

6 attempts<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

OBC Attempts<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

9 attempts<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

SC\/ST Attempts<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Unlimited, subject to the age limit<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

PwBD Attempts<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Category-based relaxation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

Physical Eligibility<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Service-specific physical and medical standards apply, particularly for services such as IPS<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

UPSC Age Limit 2026<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The <\/span>UPSC Age Limit 2026<\/b> is <\/span>21 to 32 years for General and EWS candidates<\/b>, with the age calculated as on <\/span>August 1, 2026<\/b>. Eligible OBC, SC\/ST and PwBD candidates receive prescribed age relaxation which has been shared below in this table.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
UPSC Age Limit 2026<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Category<\/b><\/td>\r\nMinimum Age<\/b><\/td>\r\nMaximum Age<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\r\n

General<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

EWS<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

35 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

SC<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

37 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

ST<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

37 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

PwBD<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 42 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

OBC + PwBD<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 42 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

SC\/ST + PwBD<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

21 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 42 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

UPSC Age Relaxation 2026<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The <\/span>UPSC Age Relaxation 2026<\/b> allows eligible candidates from reserved and specified special categories to apply beyond the standard upper age limit of <\/span>32 years<\/b>. For CSE 2026, eligible <\/span>OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)<\/b> candidates generally receive 3 years of relaxation, <\/span>SC\/ST candidates<\/b> receive 5 years and eligible <\/span>PwBD candidates<\/b> can receive up to 10 years, subject to the conditions prescribed in the official notification.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Category<\/b><\/td>\r\nStandard Upper Age Limit<\/b><\/td>\r\nAge Relaxation<\/b><\/td>\r\nMaximum Age<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\r\n

General<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

No relaxation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

EWS<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

No relaxation<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

3 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

35 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

SC\/ST<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

5 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

37 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

\r\n

PwBD<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

32 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 10 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

\r\n

Up to 42 years<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

UPSC Educational Qualification 2026<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

The <\/span>UPSC Educational Qualification 2026<\/b> requires candidates to have a <\/span>Bachelor\u2019s degree from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification<\/b>. Candidates from any recognised stream can apply, while <\/span>final-year students<\/b> may also be eligible subject to fulfilling the prescribed conditions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n