UPSC Civil Services 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the nationality, educational qualification, age and attempt requirements prescribed for their preferred services.
Educational Qualification
The basic educational requirement is a bachelor's degree from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification.
The following points are important:
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Candidates from any recognised academic discipline may apply, subject to the official rules.
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Candidates who have appeared in or intend to appear in the qualifying degree examination may be permitted to apply provisionally under the applicable conditions.
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Such candidates must provide proof of passing the qualifying examination within the prescribed period when required.
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Professional and technical qualifications recognised as equivalent may be accepted according to the applicable rules.
Candidates should read the educational qualification provisions in the official UPSC notification before applying.
UPSC Civil Services Age Limit
For the 2026 examination, the general age limit is 21 to 32 years, calculated according to the date specified in the official notification.
For the 2026 cycle, the prescribed age was calculated as of 1 August 2026. The general category candidate must have attained the minimum age of 21 years and must not have attained 32 years by the prescribed date, subject to applicable relaxation provisions.
Category-Wise Age Relaxation
The following table summarises commonly applicable age relaxations.
| Category | General Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | No standard category-based relaxation |
| OBC (eligible non-creamy layer category) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Generally 10 years, subject to the rules |
| Eligible Ex-servicemen and other specified categories | As prescribed in the notification |
The exact conditions, cumulative relaxation provisions and service-specific requirements must be checked in the official UPSC notification.
Nationality Requirements
Nationality requirements differ depending on the service.
For the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), candidates must be citizens of India.
For certain other services, the notification may permit specified categories of candidates under prescribed conditions, such as eligible subjects of Nepal or Bhutan and other notified categories. Additional eligibility and certificate requirements may apply.
Candidates should carefully read the nationality section of the official notification, especially if they are applying under a category other than Indian citizenship.
Number of Attempts in UPSC CSE
The number of attempts permitted depends on the candidate's category and applicable eligibility rules.
| Category | General Attempt Limit |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited, subject to the applicable age limit |
| PwBD candidates | Category-specific provisions apply |
The official notification specifies the detailed attempt rules, including applicable relaxations and conditions.
Important: An attempt is generally counted when a candidate actually appears in at least one paper of the Preliminary Examination, subject to the official rules. Merely submitting an application does not ordinarily count as an attempt.