The age limit and number of attempts for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) are strictly defined by the Government of India and vary based on the candidate's category, calculated as of the cut-off date (typically August 1st of the examination year).
Key Age and Attempt Limits (as per standard UPSC CSE notifications):
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age Limit | Maximum Attempts |
|---|
| General / EWS | 21 years | 32 years | 6 attempts |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 years | 35 years | 9 attempts |
| SC / ST | 21 years | 37 years | Unlimited attempts |
Important Exceptions and Relaxations:
- Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): A 10-year age relaxation is provided, which is cumulative with the respective category relaxation (e.g., General PwBD up to 42 years, OBC PwBD up to 45 years, SC/ST PwBD up to 47 years). The number of attempts for PwBD candidates is 9 for General/EWS/OBC, and unlimited for SC/ST, all within the respective maximum age limit.
- Ex-Servicemen: Age relaxation of up to 5 years is granted, subject to the period of military service rendered and release conditions, as per DoPT rules.
- Attempt Counting: An attempt is counted only if a candidate appears in at least one paper of the Preliminary Examination. Mere submission of the application form does not constitute an attempt.
The final applicable age and attempt limits are explicitly detailed in the official UPSC notification for the specific examination cycle.