BharatNotes ⚡ TL;DR
Age limits vary by state and category; most start at 21 and cap between 37-40 for general category, with relaxations of 3-5 years for OBC and 5-10 years for SC/ST.
Age limits for the four largest state PCS exams (as per their latest notifications):
| Exam | General (Male) | OBC | SC/ST | Reference Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPPSC PCS | 21-40 years | Up to 43 years | Up to 45 years | 1 July 2025 |
| BPSC CCE | 21-37 years (male) | Up to 40 years | Up to 42 years | 1 August 2025 |
| MPPSC SSE | 21-40 years | Up to 45 years | Up to 45 years | 1 January 2025 |
| RPSC RAS | 21-40 years | Up to 45 years (male) | Up to 45 years | 1 January 2025 |
Key distinctions:
- UPPSC: General female candidates get the same upper limit as OBC in many years — verify the current notification at uppsc.up.nic.in
- BPSC: General female candidates get 3 extra years (up to 40); SC/ST women up to 42 years
- MPPSC: Relaxation applies only to Madhya Pradesh domicile candidates
- RPSC RAS: Rajasthan domicile OBC/SC/ST female candidates can get up to 10-year relaxation (up to 50 years); widowed/divorced women have no upper age limit
- Attempts: None of these four exams imposes a fixed attempt limit — candidates may appear any number of times within the age window
This contrasts sharply with UPSC CSE, which caps attempts at 6 (General), 9 (OBC), or unlimited-within-age for SC/ST.
