UPSC Exam Age Limit 2026 | Category-wise Age Relaxation & Eligibility Criteria

Age Details

• General and EWS: 21 to 32 years as on 1 August 2026
• Birth date range for eligibility: 02-08-1994 to 01-08-2005

Eligibility Details

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from a government-recognised university or an equivalent qualification. Final-year students and those awaiting results can apply for prelims but must submit proof of passing before the mains examination. Professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government are also accepted. Medical students who have passed final-year MBBS but not completed internship can apply with a completion certificate.

Nationality

• For IAS, IPS and IFS: Candidate must be a citizen of India.
• For all other services: Citizen of India, or Nepal, or Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
• Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan or Tibetan refugees must furnish an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.

Number of Attempts

• General/EWS: 6 attempts
• OBC: 9 attempts
• SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (till the upper age limit)
• PwBD: Same as their base category (9 for General/OBC PwBD, unlimited for SC/ST PwBD)

Nationality Criteria

• See above under Nationality

Restrictions on Applying

• Candidates already appointed to IAS or IFS on the basis of a previous examination and currently serving are not eligible. Candidates serving as IPS officers cannot opt for IPS service again in this examination.

Physical & Medical Standards

• Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards prescribed in Appendix-III of the official notification. Certain services like IPS have additional requirements for height, chest girth, and eyesight. All selected candidates undergo a detailed medical test before final appointment.

How to Check Eligibility

1. Verify date of birth against the UPSC Age Limit 2026 table.
2. Confirm category and applicable relaxation.
3. Check educational qualification and number of attempts used.
4. Download the official notification for complete rules.

Important Dates

• Age calculations are based on the year 2026 as specified in the notification. Specific application dates are not provided in this post.

Notes

• This post reflects the UPSC CSE 2026 notification released on 04 February 2026.
• Always confirm eligibility with the official UPSC notification before applying.
• Dates and relaxations pertain to the year 2026 examination cycle.