UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Age Limit, Qualification & Number of Attempts

Before starting your UPSC preparation, ensure you meet the UPSC 2026 eligibility criteria. This includes details about nationality, educational qualifications, age limits, and permissible attempts.

1. Nationality

For the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), the candidate must be a citizen of India.

For other services, candidates must be one of the following:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

2. Educational Qualification

The minimum educational qualification required to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in India or an equivalent qualification.
• Final-year students who are awaiting results can also apply, but they must produce proof of passing before the Mains Examination.

There is no specific minimum percentage required for eligibility.

3. Age Limit (as on 1st August 2026)

The candidate must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old on 1st August of the examination year (for UPSC 2026).

🧾 The number of attempts also varies by category — see below for details.

4. Number of Attempts

UPSC restricts the total number of attempts based on category:

• General Category: 6 attempts up to 32 years
• OBC Category: 9 attempts up to 35 years
• SC/ST Category: Unlimited attempts up to 37 years
• PwBD: 9 attempts for General & OBC; unlimited for SC/ST

⚠️ Appearing in any one of the Prelims papers counts as an attempt, even if the candidate does not qualify for Mains.

5. Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical standards prescribed by the UPSC for admission to the Civil Services Examination. Specific medical requirements vary for services like IPS, IRTS, and other technical roles.

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