UPSC CSE Eligibility

Age Calculator for UPSC CSE (IAS/IPS/IFS)

Give us your birth date and find out on the spot if you sit inside the UPSC Civil Services Examination age window — with your precise age spelt out to the very day.

UPSC CSE — age eligibility at a glance

Drawn from the latest official notifications. Do cross-check the current year's notification before you send in your form.

CategoryMin ageMax ageAttempts
General21326
OBC (non-creamy layer)21359
SC / ST2137Unlimited
PwBD (General/OBC)21429
PwBD (SC/ST)2142Unlimited
Ex-Servicemen (Gen/OBC)21376/9
J&K Domicile (General)21376

Your age is fixed as on 1 August of the exam year. On qualification, you need a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognised university, and students in their final year are welcome to apply as well.

How UPSC CSE age eligibility works

UPSC applies the age bar to the letter. Beyond the category relaxations listed above, there is no room for exceptions — fall outside the window by a single day and you are out for that cycle.

The date that matters is 1 August of the exam year. Not the day you fill the form, not the day you write the paper — your age on that fixed cut-off is the only thing that settles eligibility.

Note: the age bars and attempt caps may be revised with each notification. Use this calculator for a quick check, then confirm your eligibility against the official UPSC CSE notification.

Also useful for UPSC CSE aspirants

Frequently asked questions

What is the UPSC CSE age limit for the general category?
General-category candidates must be between 21 and 32 years as on 1 August of the exam year — old enough to have hit 21 and not yet past 32 on that date.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC CSE?
The caps run: 6 for general, 9 for OBC (non-creamy layer), and no ceiling for SC/ST up to the age limit. PwBD candidates from General/OBC get 9, while PwBD from SC/ST have unlimited tries.
What is the cut-off date for age calculation?
Your age is taken as on 1 August of the exam year — so for UPSC CSE 2026 it is worked out as on 1 August 2026.
What qualification do I need?
Any bachelor's degree from a recognised university will do. Those still in their final year can apply, provided they furnish proof of passing at the interview / DAF stage.
Can I apply at 21?
Yes. Twenty-one is the floor, measured on 1 August of the exam year, so reaching 21 on or before that date makes you eligible.
Is category-based relaxation automatic?
It is not. You have to state your category on the form and produce a valid certificate at verification — skip that and no relaxation is applied.
Is the UPSC NDA age limit the same?
No, NDA runs on a different clock — roughly 16.5 to 19.5 years on the first day of the course month — which has nothing to do with the CSE limits.