Check UPSC Age Limit 2025 for IAS, IPS, IFS. Full eligibility, category-wise relaxation, attempts, qualification and age calculation explained in detail.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts one of India’s most competitive examinations— the Civil Services Examination (CSE). This single exam recruits candidates for prestigious positions such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and many other Group A and Group B government posts.
For lakhs of aspirants searching for Sarkari Naukri, government job age limits, and UPSC eligibility updates, one of the most important questions is:
👉 What is the UPSC age limit?
This guide explains everything about UPSC age requirements in a clear, updated, and highly detailed format, helping candidates preparing through portals like sarkariresult, rojgar result, free job alert, and similar exam-related platforms.
Overview of UPSC Age Limit & Eligibility Criteria
UPSC sets age criteria to ensure candidates have enough maturity, education, and reasoning ability by the time they appear for the Civil Services Exam. The required age is counted as of 1st August of the examination year.
Here is a quick overview:
| Category | UPSC Minimum Age | UPSC Maximum Age |
| General (UR) | 21 years | 32 years |
| OBC | 21 years | 35 years |
| SC/ST | 21 years | 37 years |
| PwD (General) | 21 years | 42 years |
| PwD (OBC) | 21 years | 45 years |
| PwD (SC/ST) | 21 years | 47 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 21 years | +5 years relaxation |
This is the primary information candidates look for when searching terms like:
- UPSC Age Limit 2025
- IAS Age Limit for General/OBC/SC/ST
- Government Job Age Limit in India
- UPSC Eligibility Criteria
UPSC Age Limit for General (Unreserved) Category
Candidates from the General category have:
- Minimum age: 21
- Maximum age: 32
- Number of attempts: 6
This means candidates planning to appear for UPSC through college, job, or self-study must plan their preparation carefully between 21 and 32 years.
Many General category aspirants check this range under searches like:
- IAS age limit general
- UPSC limit without reservation
- Sarkari naukri UPSC eligibility
UPSC Age Limit for OBC Category (With 3-Year Relaxation)
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates enjoy a 3-year age relaxation.
- Minimum age: 21
- Maximum age: 35
- Attempts allowed: 9
Many candidates review this category-specific eligibility under terms like:
- UPSC OBC age relaxation
- Civil Services OBC attempts
Since OBC candidates also have reservation benefits in the final list, this combination of increased age and attempts provides a wider opportunity to qualify.
UPSC Age Limit for SC/ST Candidates (With 5-Year Relaxation)
SC/ST candidates receive the maximum age relaxation among major categories.
- Minimum age: 21
- Maximum age: 37
- Attempts: Unlimited (until the age limit ends)
This unlimited attempt rule is one of the most widely searched points under terms like:
- SC/ST UPSC attempts
- UPSC age limit for government jobs
This gives candidates from these reserved categories enough time to prepare, plan, and attempt the examination multiple times.
UPSC Age Limit for PwD Candidates (Largest Overall Relaxation)
PwD candidates receive additional age relaxation depending on their community:
| PwD Category | Maximum Age Limit |
| PwD – General | 42 years |
| PwD – OBC | 45 years |
| PwD – SC/ST | 47 years |
Candidates with benchmark disabilities like blindness, hearing issues, locomotor disability, and autism can apply under the PwD quota (as per UPSC rules).
This extended age possibility is often explored in searches like:
- UPSC PwD eligibility
- IAS exam age for disabled category
Age Relaxation Rules for Ex-Servicemen & Defence Personnel
Those who have served in the Indian Armed Forces may receive up to 5 years of age relaxation depending on service conditions.
Applicable individuals include:
- Commissioned officers released on completion of assignment
- Disabled defence personnel
- Emergency commissioned officers
These candidates often search for:
- UPSC age limit for ex-servicemen
- Civil Services eligibility after army service
UPSC Educational Qualification – What Degree Is Required?
To apply for UPSC CSE, candidates must possess a:
👉 Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognized university
Acceptable educational backgrounds include:
- Arts
- Science
- Commerce
- Engineering
- MBBS
- BDS
- B.Tech / B.E
- Law
- Agriculture
- Any other valid bachelor’s program
Important Points
✔ Final year students can apply provisionally
✔ There is no minimum percentage requirement
✔ Degrees from distance or open universities are acceptable if recognized
These points help answer major queries like:
- Can engineering students apply for IAS?
- Is distance education valid for UPSC?
- What qualification is needed for UPSC?
How UPSC Calculates Age (Crucial for Eligibility)
UPSC calculates age as on 1st August of the exam year.
Example:
If the exam is in 2025, and you turn:
- 32 years on 2nd August 2025 → You are eligible
- 32 years on 31st July 2025 → You are not eligible
This point often confuses aspirants and is frequently searched along with:
- UPSC age calculation date
- Cut-off date for IAS exam
UPSC Attempt Limit (Category-Wise Breakdown)
| Category | Attempts Allowed |
| General | 6 |
| OBC | 9 |
| SC/ST | Unlimited |
| PwD | Depends on category |
This attempt structure is important because many candidates may remain within age limits but exceed the attempt limit.
A common mistake is forgetting that even appearing in Preliminary Exam counts as one attempt.
UPSC Posts Covered Under This Age Limit
All services recruited through the Civil Services Examination follow these rules, including:
- IAS – Indian Administrative Service
- IPS – Indian Police Service
- IFS – Indian Foreign Service
- IRS – Indian Revenue Service
- IAAS – Indian Audit and Accounts Service
- IIS – Indian Information Service
- IRTS – Indian Railway Traffic Service
- 20+ other Group A and Group B services
Candidates searching for government job opportunities under keywords like result, rojgar, government jobs, free job alert often compare age rules for different services, and UPSC is usually the most competitive among them.
People Also Search
Below are commonly searched queries related to UPSC age limits, elaborated for depth:
IAS Age Limit
IAS uses the same age criteria as UPSC. Most candidates search specifically for IAS even though it is part of CSE.
IPS Age Limit
The same age rules apply for IPS, but candidates must also meet physical and medical fitness standards.
Civil Services Age Limit for Female Candidates
There is no separate age rule for female candidates.
Female aspirants follow the same category-based limits (General/OBC/SC/ST).
Government Job Age Limit in India
Many searches compare UPSC age limits with SSC, Banking, Defence, and State PCS exams to choose the right preparation path.
UPSC Age Limit for Working Professionals
Thousands of candidates working in private or government jobs prepare for UPSC. Many begin their journey between 20–28 years, making age calculation important.
UPSC Eligibility for Final-Year Students
Final-year students can apply, provided they submit proof of passing before Main examination.
These expanded explanations help cover search intent that other portals often overlook.
Common Mistakes About UPSC Age Limit (Important for Aspirants)
Mistake 1: Assuming age relaxation applies automatically
Candidates must submit valid certificates; otherwise, relaxation is not granted.
Mistake 2: Miscalculating age due to the 1st August rule
Even a one-day difference can change eligibility.
Mistake 3: Confusing attempt limit with age limit
Both are separate, and both must be satisfied.
Mistake 4: Assuming UPSC accepts any graduation degree
The university must be recognized by the government.
Mistake 5: Ignoring PwD category specifications
PwD categories have specific benchmark disability rules.
These points help candidates looking for reliable eligibility information on age limit, free job alert, sarkari naukri, and related topics.
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AGE LIMIT | ELIGIBILITY | SARKARIRESULT | ROJGAR | RESULT | JOB | FREE JOB ALERT
Final Summary: UPSC Age Limit & Eligibility 2025
- Minimum age for all categories: 21 years
- Maximum age:
- General: 32 years
- OBC: 35 years
- SC/ST: 37 years
- PwD: 42–47 years
- Attempts:
- General: 6
- OBC: 9
- SC/ST: Unlimited
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in any stream
- Age is calculated as of 1st August
- Final-year students are eligible
- Same age rules apply for IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and all Civil Services posts
This guide provides a complete explanation that aspirants normally look for across sarkari result, rojgar, government job age limit, free job alert, and exam-preparation portals.
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