UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) Civils exam is much coveted in India by eligible graduates. It opens doorways to various bureaucrat services like IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS. However, how many attempts for UPSC are allowed? Is it limited or unlimited? Is there any age relaxation for category-wise students? These are the most sought-after questions by aspirants in India.
Indeed, the UPSC attempt limit exists and depends on the category of a candidate. UPSC attempt limit for the general category is 6 and it is 9 for OBC candidates and unlimited for SC/ST aspirants. Keep reading to learn more about how many attempts for the UPSC India examination.
UPSC General Eligibility Criteria
| IAS Exam Age Limit | 21 to 32 years |
| Age Relaxation | Applicable As per category |
| Educational Qualification for IAS | Graduation (Bachelor’s degree) |
| Nationality | Indian citizens only |
How Many Attempts for UPSC
| Category | Age Limit (Years) | Number of Attempts | Age Relaxation (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 21-32 | 6 | 0 |
| OBC/Disabled Defence Services Personnel | 21-35 | 9 | 3 |
| SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen | 21-37 | Unlimited up-to-age limit | 5 |
| PwBD | 21-42 | 9 | 10 |
UPSC Attempts for General
UPSC has set the age limit for general category candidates at 32 with a zero age-relaxation norm. So, the number of UPSC attempts allowed for them is only 6. Moreover, they can’t attempt the UPSC exam after 32 years of age, even if they don’t utilise one of their UPSC maximum attempts. It is advised to utilise the maximum UPSC attempt limit for the general category.
| Number of UPSC Attempts for General | IAS Age Limit |
| 6 | 32 |
UPSC Attempts for OBC
Based on the general age limit, UPSC maximum attempts are 6 for general-category students. But OBC students have a 3-year age relaxation due to their reservation, which makes the maximum number of UPSC attempts for OBC 9. They can appear for the Civils exam until they’re 35, as opposed to the 32 for general category people. However, the educational qualifications remain the same.
| Number of UPSC Attempts for OBC | IAS Age Limit |
| 9 | 35 |
UPSC Attempts for SC/ST
How many attempts in UPSC Civils for SC/ST? SC or Scheduled castes always have more reservations about Government-related jobs. The same goes for UPSC. The UPSC maximum attempts for SC candidates stands at 5, thanks to the age relaxation limit of 5 years. The educational qualifications and other eligibility criteria remain the same.
| Number of UPSC Attempts for SC/ST | IAS Age Limit |
| Unlimited till the age limit | 37 |
UPSC Eligibility Criteria: At a Glance
Nationality for IAS Exam:
- Must be a citizen of India, a person of Indian origin, or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibet settled in India before 1st January 1962.
Education Qualification:
- Must have a Graduate Degree from a recognized university.
Age Limit for IAS Exam:
- Must be at least 21 years old and not older than 32 years.
Age Relaxation & Maximum Attempts:
- General & EWS: 32 years, 6 attempts.
- OBC (with certificate): 32 + 3 years, 9 attempts.
- SC/ST: 32 + 5 years, unlimited attempts.
- Physically Disabled: 32 + 10 years.
- General/OBC/EWS: 9 attempts, SC/ST: unlimited attempts.
- J&K Domicile: 32 + 5 years (+3 years for OBC, +5 years for SC/ST). Attempts based on category.
- Disabled/Discharged Defence Personnel: 32 + 3 years (+3 years for OBC, +5 years for SC/ST).
- Ex-Servicemen Commission Officer: 32 + 5 years (+3 years for OBC, +5 years for SC/ST).
IAS Age Limit 2025 Category-Wise
- SC/ST candidates: Age relaxation of up to 5 years.
- OBC candidates: Age relaxation of up to 3 years.
- Defense personnel disabled in combat with a foreign enemy or in a disturbed area get up to 3 years of age relaxation.
- Ex-servicemen, Commissioned Officers, ECO/SSCO: After 5 years of military service, you receive a 5-year age relaxation. This applies if service ends within a year of August 1, 2024, except for discharge due to inefficiency or misconduct, or injury from military service.
- ECO/SSCO: If you’ve completed 5 years of military service by August 1, 2024, and your assignment is extended, you still get a 5-year relaxation. The Ministry of Defence will issue a certificate allowing you to apply for civil jobs and leave on 3 months’ notice if selected.
- PwBD candidates (deaf-mute, blind, orthopedically handicapped): Relaxation to 10 years of age.
Special Cases for IAS Age Limit
Indian UPSC has mentioned special cases in case of the UPSC age limit for OBC/SC/ST and related candidates.
- If you belong to both ST/SC/OBC and another category like ex-servicemen or PwBD (blind, deaf-mute, orthopedically handicapped, etc.), you can receive cumulative age relaxation for both categories.
- For age relaxation based on physical disability, you must meet the government’s medical and physical standards for PwBD. A disability certificate from the government or a valid appointing authority is required.
- The term “ex-servicemen” refers to individuals defined under the Ex-Servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Services and Posts) Rules, 1979, with any updates.
Can I Crack UPSC Civils in the first Attempt?
While UPSC Civils is one of the toughest exams in India, it is not impossible to clear the UPSC examination in the first attempt. The best way to accomplish that is by starting preparation while you’re pursuing graduation. You should dedicate extra time to prepare for UPSC subjects right from the state of your graduation to internalise the knowledge and make it easy for you. In fact, it works by taking the load off you at the time of writing the examination.
Otherwise, it could be difficult to crack the exam in the first attempt with preparation done at once in a year. But even now, you can make it happen by developing a consistent study schedule, taking guidance from IAS toppers, preferring coaching and sticking religiously to your goal of passing through the exam.
Conclusion
While getting to realise “how many attempts for UPSC” much more clearly, you shouldn’t stop there. It’s imperative to consider the quality of each attempt. Aspirants should view each attempt as an opportunity to refine their approach and knowledge. Developing a strategic study plan, analysing previous years’ question papers, and focusing on core subjects can significantly improve performance. Remember, success in UPSC isn’t just about the number of attempts, but how effectively you utilise each one to grow and learn.
FAQs
What is the UPSC general age limit?
The UPSC age limit for general category students lies between 21-32 years. The minimum age of general candidates appearing for the UPSC examination should be 21 years and a maximum of 32 years.
What is the UPSC attempt limit for the general category?
General category students get to write the UPSC exam a maximum of 6 times within the UPSC age limits of 21-32 years. After that, they can’t write the UPSC exam even if they skip one of their attempts.
What if I cross the UPSC maximum limit?
Once a candidate crosses the maximum limit to attempt the UPSC examination set for their category, it is not possible to apply anymore, even if they don’t utilise one of their eligible attempts. So it is advised to exhaust all of the eligible attempts for the respective category of students.
Is it possible to increase my UPSC exam age limit?
Increasing the UPSC exam age limit isn’t possible for individuals. Age limits are set by the government and apply uniformly. However, some categories like SC/ST and OBC have higher age limits, given their backward status in the constitution of India.
Does my economic background matter in the UPSC exam?
Economic background doesn’t directly impact UPSC exam evaluation. However, it may affect preparation resources. The exam is merit-based, but there are reservation quotas for certain categories. Financial assistance programs exist for eligible candidates.
