UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualifications, Attempts

• Candidates must be Indian citizens aged 21–32 years with a graduation degree.
• Age relaxation applies — 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and 10 years for PwD candidates.
• There is no minimum percentage requirement in graduation; you just need to have a passing certificate.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sets the Eligibility Criteria that candidates must fulfill before applying for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). To begin with, for the top services like IAS and IPS, candidates must be citizens of India. For other services, candidates can be subjects of Nepal/Bhutan or Tibetan refugees who settled in India before 1st January 1962. Candidates must hold a Graduation Degree in any discipline from a recognized university. The minimum age limit is 21 years, and the maximum is 32 years, calculated as on 1st August 2026. Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories. Additionally, candidates must ensure they have not exhausted their “Number of Attempts” (6 for General, 9 for OBC). Failing to meet any of these criteria will lead to disqualification.

UPSC IAS Eligibility 2026

The eligibility for the IAS exam is quite broad. You mostly need to focus on your age, your graduation status, and your remaining attempts.

Eligibility Component	Details
Exam Conducting Body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Name	Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026
Nationality	Indian citizen (Must for IAS/IPS)
Educational Qualification	Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university
Age Limit	Minimum 21 years and Maximum 32 years (as on 1st August 2026)
Number of Attempts	General: 06 | OBC: 09 | SC/ST: Unlimited
Medical Standard	Must be physically fit (Vision, Hearing, BMI standards)

UPSC Age Limit 2026

Your age is the most critical factor. For the General category, the standard limit is 21 to 32 years. The cut-off date for age calculation is usually 1st August of the exam year (i.e., 1st August 2026).

Category	Minimum Age	Relaxation	Maximum Age
General	21 Years	No Relaxation	32 Years
OBC	21 Years	32+3 Years	35 Years
SC/ST	21 Years	32+5 Years	37 Years
Physically disabled (Blind, Deaf-mute, Orthopedically handicapped)	21 Years	32+10 Years	42 Years
Ex-serviceman discharged from duty due to disability	General: 21 Years	32+3 Years	35 Years
	OBC: 21 Years	32+3+3 Years	38 Years
	SC/ST: 21 Years	32+3+5 Years	40 Years
Ex-serviceman discharged after 5 years duty	General: 21 Years	32+5 Years	37 Years
	OBC: 21 Years	32+5+3 Years	40 Years
	SC/ST: 21 Years	32+5+5 Years	42 Years

Note: If a candidate belongs to the SC/ST/OBC category and is also physically disabled, they get cumulative age relaxation (e.g., OBC + PwD = 3 + 10 = 13 years relaxation).

UPSC Educational Qualification

To apply for the UPSC exam, the educational requirement is very simple.

• Degree: You must hold a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) from a university incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature.
• Stream: It does not matter if you did B.A., B.Tech, B.Com, or MBBS. All recognized degrees are valid.
• Final Year Students: If you are in the final year of your college and waiting for results, you are eligible to apply for the Prelims. However, you must produce proof of passing the exam when applying for the Mains.

UPSC Percentage Required

Many students worry about their college marks, but for the IAS exam, there is no minimum percentage required.

Whether you were a topper or you just passed your graduation with 40%, you are eligible to sit for the exam. You simply need to possess the passing certificate.

UPSC Number of Attempts

Unlike other exams, UPSC has a limit on how many times you can take the exam.

• General: 6 Attempts.
• OBC: 9 Attempts.
• PwBD (General/OBC): 9 Attempts.
• SC / ST: Unlimited Attempts (until upper age limit is reached).

UPSC Number of Attempts
General	6
OBC	9
SC/ST	As many as he/she can until upper age limit reached
Physically disabled	General: 9 attempts
(Blind, Deaf-mute, Orthopedically handicapped)	OBC: 9
	SC/ST: As many as he/she can until upper age limit reached
Ex-serviceman discharged from duty due to disability	As per categories mentioned above, i.e., Gen, OBC, SC/ST, Disabled
Ex-serviceman discharged after 5 years duty	As per categories mentioned above, i.e., Gen, OBC, SC/ST, Disabled

UPSC Nationality

For the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), a candidate must be a citizen of India. For other services (like IRS, IAAS), candidates can be:

• A citizen of India,
• Or a subject of Nepal,
• Or a subject of Bhutan,
• Or a refugee from Tibet that came to India before the 1st of January 1962 with the intention of settling in India permanently.
• Or an individual with Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, East African countries of Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, Kenya, the united republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, & Vietnam, with the purpose of settling permanently in India.

Restrictions on Applying for UPSC 2026

Even if you meet the age and education criteria, there are certain restrictions for candidates who are already serving in the government.

• For IAS/IFS Officers: If you have already been appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) based on a previous exam and you are still a member of that service, you cannot apply for the exam again.
• For IPS Officers: If you are already an IPS officer, you can apply to improve your rank (e.g., to become IAS). However, you cannot opt for IPS again in your service preference list.

UPSC Medical and Physical Standards

After you clear the Mains and appear for the Interview, you have to undergo a mandatory medical examination at designated hospitals in Delhi (like AIIMS or Safdarjung). You must be physically and mentally fit to handle the responsibilities of an officer.

1. General Physical Standards

For IAS, there is no strict requirement for height, weight, or chest measurement (unlike Police services).

• Body Health: You should be free from any disease or deformity that interferes with your duty.
• Hernia/Hydrocele: Conditions like hernia, hydrocele, or varicose veins may lead to temporary disqualification. You will need to get them treated (surgery) to be declared fit.
• Blood Pressure: Your BP and heart function should be normal.

2. Vision Standards (Eye Sight)

Many students worry about glasses. Don’t worry, glasses and LASIK are allowed.

• Distant Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 in the better eye.
• Near Vision: J1 or J2.
• Corrections: You can wear glasses or contact lenses. LASIK/ICL surgery is also permitted.
• Color Blindness: A good level of color perception is required for services like IPS and Railways, but rules are relaxed for some other posts.

3. Hearing & Other Tests

• Hearing: You must have normal hearing ability in both ears. Hearing aids are allowed if they correct the loss.
• Tests Conducted: Blood test, Urine test, Chest X-Ray (for lungs/TB check), and Psychological screening.

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FAQs: UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026