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Before you begin preparing, make sure you are eligible to sit for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Eligibility is determined across three dimensions: your age on 1 August of the examination year, the number of attempts you have consumed, and your educational qualification. These criteria vary by category — so read this page carefully, identify your category, and confirm your standing before filling the application form. All figures on this page are applicable to CSE 2027, with age reckoned as on 1 August 2027.

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Age Limits and Number of Attempts

The table below lists the upper age limit and maximum number of permitted attempts for each category. The lower age limit is 21 years for all categories — you must have turned 21 on or before 1 August 2027 to be eligible. For General and EWS candidates, the qualifying date of birth window is not earlier than 2 August 1995 and not later than 1 August 2006. Other categories receive upper-age relaxation on top of this baseline, as shown in the table.
Age is reckoned as on 1 August of the examination year — not the date of the notification, the date of the application, or the date of the Prelims. If your 33rd birthday (for General/EWS) falls on 2 August 2027 or later, you are still eligible for CSE 2027.

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Educational Qualification

You must hold a degree from a university incorporated by an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature, an institution established by an Act of Parliament, or another educational institution declared equivalent by the Government of India. Key details to note:
  • No minimum percentage is required. A pass-class degree is sufficient.
  • Final-year students are eligible to apply. You can sit for the Preliminary Examination even if your results are not yet declared — you simply need to produce proof of passing before the Mains application deadline.
  • Distance and correspondence education is valid, provided the degree is from a recognised university or institution.
  • Professional and technical degrees — such as MBBS, BE/B.Tech, LLB — are fully valid educational qualifications.
  • Foreign degrees are acceptable if the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has recognised the degree as equivalent.
If you’re in the final year of your degree, apply without hesitation. Many successful candidates have appeared in Prelims while still completing their graduation. Just ensure your final result is available before you fill the Detailed Application Form (DAF-I) for Mains.

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Important Clauses and Edge Cases

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OBC Creamy Layer

If you belong to the OBC category but fall under the creamy layer (as defined by the Government of India), you are treated as a General category candidate for all eligibility purposes — age limit and number of attempts.
Your OBC certificate must specifically state that you belong to the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL). An OBC certificate without the NCL declaration will not grant you OBC relaxation.

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What Counts as an “Attempt”

An attempt is counted against you the moment you appear in any paper of the Preliminary Examination. The following situations do not count as an attempt:
  • You applied but did not appear on exam day.
  • Your application was rejected due to ineligibility.
However, if you sat in the examination hall and submitted your answer sheet — even if you left early or answered no questions — that counts as a consumed attempt.
If you are appearing for the first time, make sure you are confident in your preparation before sitting. A casual attempt that yields no result still reduces your available attempts.

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Female Candidates in the General Category

There is no separate upper age relaxation for female candidates who fall in the General or EWS category. The standard limit of 32 years applies equally. Age relaxation for women exists only where explicitly stated in the notification — currently limited to certain State PSC exams, not the Union Public Service Commission examination.

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Always Verify Before You Apply

Eligibility criteria can be revised by UPSC from cycle to cycle. The data on this page reflects the criteria applicable to CSE 2027 as publicly known at the time of writing. Always read the official UPSC notification at upsc.gov.in before submitting your application. Applying on the basis of outdated information may lead to disqualification at any stage, including after the Interview.