BharatNotes Interactive Tool
UPSC CSE Eligibility Calculator
Enter your date of birth and category. Get age, attempts left, last eligible year, and a personalised eligibility roadmap — based on UPSC 2026 notification.
Your eligibility report will appear here
Fill in the form on the left and click "Check My Eligibility" to see your personalised report.
Eligibility Rules — Quick Reference
Based on UPSC CSE 2026 notification (released 4 February 2026). Source: upsc.gov.in
📅 Age Limits (as on 1 August 2026)
| Category | Min | Max | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 21 | 32 | — |
| OBC (NCL) | 21 | 35 | +3 yrs |
| SC / ST | 21 | 37 | +5 yrs |
| PwBD — General | 21 | 42 | +10 yrs |
| PwBD — OBC | 21 | 45 | +13 yrs |
| PwBD — SC/ST | 21 | 47 | +15 yrs |
| Ex-Serviceman (5+ yrs) | 21 | 37 (Gen) | +5 yrs cumulative |
| J&K Domicile (1980–89) | 21 | 37 (Gen) | +5 yrs cumulative |
🎯 Number of Attempts
| Category | Max Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 |
| OBC (NCL) | 9 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited (till age limit) |
| PwBD — General / OBC / EWS | 9 |
| PwBD — SC / ST | Unlimited (till age limit) |
🎓 Educational Qualification
- Required: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university (Central/State Act, deemed university under UGC, or equivalent).
- Final-year students: Eligible to write Preliminary. Must submit proof of degree with the DAF for Mains.
- Equivalents accepted: MBBS (without internship — provisional cert OK), CA, ICSI, ICWA, foreign degrees recognised by AIU.
- Result awaited: Acceptable for Prelims; must clear by Mains DAF deadline.
🇮🇳 Nationality
- For IAS, IPS, IFS: Must be a citizen of India.
- For other services: Indian citizen, OR subject of Nepal/Bhutan, OR Tibetan refugee (entered India before 1 Jan 1962), OR PIO from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam — with intent to settle permanently in India.
- Non-Indian categories need a Certificate of Eligibility from Govt. of India before final allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the cut-off date for age calculation?
UPSC calculates your age as on 1 August of the exam year. For CSE 2026, you must be 21–32 (General) as on 1 August 2026. Born between 2 Aug 1994 and 1 Aug 2005 for General category.
Does appearing in only Mains count as an attempt?
No. Only appearing in the Preliminary examination counts as an attempt. If you cleared Prelims of CSE 2024 but skipped Mains, it counts as 1 attempt (because you appeared in Prelims).
I'm a final-year student. Can I apply?
Yes. Final-year graduation students are eligible to write the Preliminary examination. You must produce proof of having passed the degree along with the Detailed Application Form (DAF) for Mains.
Can I claim more than one age relaxation?
Yes, relaxations are cumulative. Example: OBC + PwBD = 3 + 10 = 13 years over General (max age becomes 32 + 13 = 45). However, ex-servicemen relaxation can be combined with category relaxation as per detailed rules in the notification.
I'm EWS — do I get age/attempt relaxation?
No. EWS candidates are treated as General category for age limit and attempts (max age 32, 6 attempts). EWS only gets reservation in seats and fee exemption.
What if I'm a J&K domicile after the abrogation of Article 370?
The 5-year age relaxation for J&K domiciled candidates (between 1 Jan 1980 and 31 Dec 1989) is still in effect in the 2026 notification, despite the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Is there a separate attempt limit for IFS or IPS?
No. All services under CSE share the same attempt and age limits. The number of attempts is based on the Preliminary examination, regardless of which service you're targeting.
What happens if I exceed the age limit mid-attempts?
You are no longer eligible to apply, even if you have unused attempts. Both age and attempt conditions must be satisfied simultaneously.
