UPSC Age Calculator 2026 — Check Your Eligibility
The UPSC age calculator checks whether you are eligible for the Civil Services Examination based on your date of birth and category. For UPSC 2026, General category candidates must be between 21 and 32 years as on 1st August 2026, with relaxations of 3 years for OBC and 5 years for SC/ST. Enter your details below to instantly check your eligibility, remaining attempts, and last eligible year.
UPSC Age and Eligibility Calculator
Check Your UPSC Eligibility
Enter your date of birth and category to check eligibility for UPSC 2026.
UPSC Age Limit by Category (2026)
The Union Public Service Commission sets different age limits for different categories to ensure equitable representation. Age is calculated as on 1st August of the year of examination. Below is the complete age limit chart for UPSC CSE 2026.
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 21 years | 32 years | None |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 years | 35 years | +3 years |
| SC / ST | 21 years | 37 years | +5 years |
| PwBD (General) | 21 years | 42 years | +10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 21 years | 45 years | +13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 21 years | 47 years | +15 years |
UPSC Attempt Limits 2026
Besides age limits, UPSC also restricts the number of attempts a candidate can make. An attempt is counted when a candidate appears for at least one paper of the Prelims examination. Simply filling the form without appearing does not count as an attempt.
| Category | Maximum Attempts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General | 6 | Within age limit of 32 years |
| OBC | 9 | Within age limit of 35 years |
| SC / ST | Unlimited | Until age limit of 37 years |
| PwBD (Gen/OBC) | 9 | Within respective age limits |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | Unlimited | Until age limit of 47 years |
Recent Changes in UPSC Age Limit
The UPSC age limit has remained largely stable in recent years. The current structure — 32 years for General, 35 for OBC, 37 for SC/ST — has been in place since 2014 following the recommendations of the Baswan Committee. Periodically, there are demands to increase the upper age limit or the number of attempts, but no official changes have been announced for UPSC 2026 or 2027.
Candidates should always verify the latest eligibility criteria from the official UPSC notification published on upsc.gov.in before applying. The age calculator above uses the most recent officially published rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the age limit for UPSC 2026?
- For UPSC CSE 2026, General category candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as on 1st August 2026. OBC candidates get relaxation up to 35 years, SC/ST up to 37 years, and PwBD candidates get additional relaxation depending on their category.
- How many attempts are allowed in UPSC?
- General category candidates can attempt UPSC CSE 6 times, OBC candidates get 9 attempts, and SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts until they reach the upper age limit. PwBD candidates in General/OBC categories get 9 attempts, while PwBD SC/ST get unlimited attempts.
- What is the age relaxation for OBC in UPSC?
- OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates get 3 years of age relaxation over the General category limit. This means OBC candidates can appear for UPSC up to 35 years of age (as on 1st August of the exam year), compared to 32 years for General category.
- What is the upper age limit for SC/ST in UPSC?
- SC/ST candidates get 5 years of age relaxation, making the upper age limit 37 years as on 1st August of the exam year. Additionally, SC/ST candidates have no limit on the number of attempts — they can keep appearing until they reach the age limit.
- Can I appear for UPSC after 32 years of age?
- If you belong to General category, 32 is the upper age limit (as on 1st August). However, OBC candidates can appear up to 35, SC/ST up to 37, and PwBD candidates get further relaxations up to 42-47 years depending on their category. Use the calculator above to check your exact eligibility.
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