Official age rules
The UPSC age limit is 21 to 32 years for General and EWS candidates, reckoned on 1 August of the exam year, with upper-age relaxations of +3 for OBC, +5 for SC/ST, and +10 for PwBD. Every rule below is from Para 3(II) of UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE dated 4 February 2026.
For CSE 2026, age is reckoned on 1 August 2026: a candidate “must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years” on that date, with the Para 3(II)(2) relaxations applied on top. The birth windows below follow from that reference date.
| Category | Upper age | Relaxation | Born between (CSE 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 32 | — | 2 Aug 1994 – 1 Aug 2005 |
| OBC | 35 | +3 years | 2 Aug 1991 – 1 Aug 2005 |
| SC / ST | 37 | +5 years | 2 Aug 1989 – 1 Aug 2005 |
| PwBD (benchmark disability) | 42 | +10 years | 2 Aug 1984 – 1 Aug 2005 |
| Ex-servicemen (≥5 years military service) | 37 | +5 years | 2 Aug 1989 – 1 Aug 2005 |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | 35 | +3 years | 2 Aug 1991 – 1 Aug 2005 |
Minimum age is 21 for every category — there is no lower-age relaxation. The upper-limit date shifts with each notification; the 13 January 2027 notification will set the next reference date.
Per Note-I to Para 3(II)(2), SC/ST and OBC candidates who are also ex-servicemen or persons with benchmark disabilities get the relaxations of both categories added together:
| Combination | How it adds up | Upper age |
|---|---|---|
| OBC + PwBD | 32 + 3 + 10 | 45 |
| SC/ST + PwBD | 32 + 5 + 10 | 47 |
| OBC + ex-serviceman | 32 + 3 + 5 | 40 |
| SC/ST + ex-serviceman | 32 + 5 + 5 | 42 |
Documentation — Para 3(II)(3)
UPSC accepts the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate (or listed equivalents) — not horoscopes, affidavits, or service records. Once recorded with the Commission, the date cannot later be changed.
Age is one clock, attempts the other
A General-category aspirant has roughly 11 exam cycles between 21 and 32 but only 6 attempts. See the attempt-limit rules for what actually consumes one — and make each attempt a prepared one.
Every rule on this page is cited to its paragraph in these UPSC documents:
Para 3(II): the 21–32 base rule, category relaxations, the cumulative-relaxation note, and the date-of-birth documentation rule.
Next cycle: the CSE 2027 notification on 13.01.2027 will set the next age reference date.
The full picture: nationality, degree requirement, and physical standards alongside age.
Open resource →Age is one ceiling, attempts are the other — see the category-wise caps and counting rules.
Open resource →The 13 January 2027 notification will confirm the age reference date for the next cycle.
Open resource →Within the age limit? Benchmark yourself with timed mocks before the next cycle.
Open resource →Every cycle inside your age window matters. Practise chapter-wise MCQs, PYQs, and timed mocks with real negative marking.