UPSC 2026 Eligibility Criteria Explained

To appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen (or possess nationality/eligibility as specified in the official notification).

Age Limit: Should be between 21 and 32 years as of 1st August 2026 (with age relaxations applicable for reserved categories as per rules).

Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Final-year students are also eligible to apply provisionally.

Number of Attempts: General Category- 6 attempts

Number of Attempts: OBC Category- 9 attempts

Number of Attempts: SC/ST Category- Unlimited attempts (till age limit)

Number of Attempts: PwBD Candidates- Relaxations as per UPSC rules

Other Conditions: Candidates must ensure they fall within the permissible age, attempt limits, and educational qualifications as on 1st August 2026.