About UPSC · Tools
UPSC Age and Attempts Calculator
Enter your date of birth and category to see every Civil Services exam you can sit by age, and how many attempts you have left, under the rules in UPSC's latest notice.
Your age and attempts, exam by exam
Age counted on 1 August of the exam year, as the notice requires
Uses the CSE 2026 rules for every year shown; UPSC can change them in a future notice. Ex-servicemen and disabled defence personnel get further relaxation that this calculator does not cover; check the notice. An attempt counts once you appear in any one prelims paper.
This UPSC age calculator shows, from your date of birth and category, which Civil Services exams from CSE 2027 you can sit by age and how many attempts you have left. It uses the CSE 2026 notice's limits: at least 21 and under 32 on 1 August for General and EWS, with up to 3 more years for OBC, 5 for SC and ST, and 10 for PwBD.
The rules behind the calculator
Everything here comes from the latest Civil Services Examination notice (CSE 2026). Three rules decide whether you can sit a given exam:
- Age is counted on 1 August of the exam year. You must have turned 21 by then and must not have reached the upper limit for your category.
- Relaxations stack for some candidates. SC, ST and OBC candidates who are also PwBD or ex-servicemen get both relaxations together.
- An attempt is counted when you appear. Sitting any one prelims paper counts as an attempt, even if your candidature is cancelled later.
Age limit and attempts by category
CSE 2026 notice · minimum age 21 for everyone
| Category | Must be underon 1 August | Attempts | PwBD: underon 1 August | PwBD: attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 32 | 6 | 42 | 9 |
| EWS | 32 | 6 | 42 | 9 |
| OBC | 35 | 9 | 45 | 9 |
| SC | 37 | No limit | 47 | No limit |
| ST | 37 | No limit | 47 | No limit |
"Must be under 32" means you must not have reached your 32nd birthday on 1 August of the exam year. For CSE 2026 that meant being born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005 (General). SC, ST and OBC candidates who are also PwBD or ex-servicemen get both relaxations together.
What the calculator doesn't cover
Ex-servicemen, commissioned officers released after five years of military service, and defence personnel disabled in operations have their own relaxations, with conditions. Serving IAS and IFS officers cannot sit the exam, and some candidates already allocated a service face extra restrictions. If any of these apply to you, read the relevant sections of the notice linked below.
Frequently asked questions
How does the UPSC age calculator work?
Enter your date of birth as it appears in your Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate, your category, whether you are PwBD and the attempts you have used. It works out your age on 1 August of each exam year from CSE 2027, compares it with your category's limit, and lists the exams you can sit and the attempts you have left. It applies the CSE 2026 notice's rules to every year; UPSC can change them in a later notice.
What is the UPSC age limit for General candidates?
You must be at least 21 and must not have reached 32 on 1 August of the exam year. For CSE 2026 that meant being born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005.
Is there an age relaxation for EWS?
The CSE 2026 notice gives no age relaxation for EWS, so the limit is the same as for General: you must not have reached 32. EWS candidates also get six attempts, or nine if they are PwBD.
Does applying count as an attempt?
No. An attempt counts only when you actually appear in at least one paper of the preliminary exam. If you apply and don't sit the exam, it is not counted.
What is the UPSC age limit for OBC, SC and ST?
OBC candidates must be under 35 on 1 August of the exam year (32 + 3), and SC and ST candidates under 37 (32 + 5). If you are also PwBD, add ten years: under 45 for OBC, and under 47 for SC and ST.
How many attempts do OBC candidates get?
Nine, within the OBC upper age limit, which is three years above General's. SC and ST candidates have no limit on attempts within their age limit.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from these official documents. If you spot a difference, the official document is right; tell us and we'll fix the page.
From Decode Civils
Courses for this topic
Year Long Current Affairs Base (Pre + Mains)
Master Current Affairs the way UPSC demands—through conceptual understanding, issue-based analysis, and exam-oriented preparation. With a proven track record across UPSC and State PSC examinations, our course helps you…
Batch 2027 Starts 16 Aug 2026
Year Long Current Affairs Plus (Offline Mode)
Master Current Affairs the way UPSC demands—through conceptual understanding, issue-based analysis, and exam-oriented preparation. With a proven track record across UPSC and State PSC examinations, our course helps you…
Batch 2027 Starts 16 Aug 2026
Year Long Current Affairs Plus (Online)
Master Current Affairs the way UPSC demands—through conceptual understanding, issue-based analysis, and exam-oriented preparation. With a proven track record across UPSC and State PSC examinations, our course helps you…
Batch 2027 Starts 16 Aug 2026
₹9,999 + GST
Learn More: Year Long Current Affairs Plus (Online)
