UPSC Civil Services Exam Guide 2026
UPSC Civil Services 2026 notification updates and complete exam guide. Check exam dates, vacancies, eligibility criteria, selection process, syllabus, and application details.
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📊 UPSC CSE Eligibility 2026 Highlights
| Recruiting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 |
| Category | Eligibility Criteria |
| IAS Exam Age Limit for General | 21 to 32 years |
| Age Relaxations | OBC - 3 yearsSC/ST - 5 yearsPwBD - 10 years |
| Minimum Educational Qualification | Graduation |
| Number of Attempts | General/EWS - 6OBC/PwBD - 9SC/ST - Unlimited |
| Physical Test | Applicable for IPS |
| Nationality | Citizen of India (Mandatory for IAS, IFS, and IPS) |
| Official Website | www.upsc.gov.in |
📊 Eligibility Criteria Details
| Category | Minimum Age Limit for IAS | Maximum Age Limit for IAS |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC CSE Age Limit for General | 21 | 32 |
| UPSC IAS Age Limit for OBC | 21 | 35 |
| UPSC Civil Service Age Limit for SC/ST | 21 | 37 |
| UPSC Age Limit for EWS | 21 | 32 |
📊 Application Fee
- OBC
- 3 Years
- SC/ ST
- 5 Years
- Category
- Age Relaxation
- Ex-servicemen including commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years of military service and have been released
- 5 Years
- Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof
- 3 Years
- PwD(a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and hard of hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness
- 10 Years
📊 Eligibility Criteria Details
| Category of Candidates | Attempts Allowed in UPSC | Maximum UPSC age limit |
|---|---|---|
| General Category | 6 attempts | 32 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 9 attempts | 35 years |
| SC/ST | Unlimited attempts | 37 years |
| PwBD (General/OBC/EWS) | 9 attempts | 42 years |
📊 Eligibility Criteria Details
| Qualification Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Educational Qualification | Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a Government-recognized university or possess an equivalent qualification. |
| Final Year/Result Awaited Candidates | Candidates who are in the final year of graduation or awaiting results are eligible to appear for the UPSC Prelims. They must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination within the time limit prescribed for the Main Examination. |
| Proof Required for Mains | Such candidates must produce proof of passing the qualifying examination while submitting the application for the UPSC Main Examination. |
| Technical/Professional Qualifications | Candidates holding technical or professional qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to a degree are eligible. |
| Medical Candidates | Candidates who have passed the final year of MBBS but have not completed the internship are eligible to apply. |
| Certificate Requirement for Medical Candidates | A certificate of completion of the required educational qualification and degree from the concerned university or institution must be submitted along with the Mains application. |
📊 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Eligibility Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who settled in India before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanent settlement in India. |
| Educational Qualification | The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification. |
| UPSC Exam Age Limit | The candidate should be at least 21 years old and should not be more than 32 years of age. |
| General & EWS Category | The maximum age limit for UPSC is 32 years with a total of 6 attempts allowed. |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | The maximum age limit is 35, with up to 9 attempts allowed. |
| SC / ST Categories | The maximum IAS exam age limit is 37 years, and there is no restriction on the number of attempts. |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | The maximum UPSC age limit is 42 years; General/OBC/EWS candidates are allowed up to 9 attempts, while SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts. |
| Jammu & Kashmir Domicile | The maximum age limit is 37 years for General, 40 years for OBC, and 42 years for SC/ST candidates; attempts are allowed as per category rules. |
| Disabled and Discharged Defence Service Personnel | The maximum age limit is 35 years for General/OBC candidates and 37 years for SC/ST candidates. |
| Ex-Servicemen Commissioned Officers | The maximum age limit is 37 years for General, UPSC age limit 40 years for OBC, and 42 years for SC/ST candidates. |
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Can a degree pass apply for the UPSC IAS Exam?
Yes, as per the UPSC ligibility Criteria, a person having any graduation degree of relevant field can apply.
Q2.What is the UPSC Age limit mentioned in UPSC Eligibility Criteria for the IAS Exam?
The minimum UPSC age limit for general age is 21 years and maximum is 32 years to sit for IAS Exam for general category.
Q3.As per UPSC Eligibility 2026, can final year students of graduation apply for UPSC IAS Exam?
Yes, final year students of graduation can apply for UPSC IAS Exam.
Q4.If I apply for the Civil Services Prelims Exam but do not appear in any paper will it be counted as an attempt?
No, if you apply for the Civil Services Prelims Exam but do not appear in any paper then it will not be counted as an attempt.
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