UPSC Civil Exam Attempts

Can you tell me how many times can I apply for UPSC IAS Exam? Also tell me what is the age limit and qualification for exam?

[Quick Sam]

The Union Public Service Commission conducts IAS Exams for important posts in Government of India. The minimum eligibility required for the exam is as follows:

The minimum age to appear for IAS Exam is 21 years.

This means that the candidate must have at-least 21 years of age on 1st August of that given year when the exam is held.

Upper age limit is fixed different for different categories, which is as given below.
Upper age limit for General category : 32 years
Upper age limit for OBC : 35 years
Upper age limit for SC/ST : 37 Years
Upper age limit for Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir : 37 years
Upper age limit for Defense Services personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence there of : 35 years
Upper age limit for Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service : 37 years
Upper age limit for blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons (general category) : 42 years
Apart from the mentioned limits, OBC/ SC/ ST candidates will get the benefit of cumulative age relaxation. This means age relaxations gets added in special cases, say for example, if the person is OBC + Ex-service men, he will get an extension of 5 + 7 = 12 years, i e his upper age limit now stands at 42 years.

Attempts allowed for UPSC Civil Services Exam

There are some restrictions on the number of times this exam can be written, which again is different for different categories.
Number of attempts for IAS exam : General Category : 6
Number of attempts for IAS exam : OBC : 9
Number of attempts for IAS exam : SC/ST : unlimited till they reach the upper age limit set by UPSC.

Physically Handicapped /disabled candidates belonging to General category will get the benefit of 9 attempts.

How are attempts for Civil Service Exam calculated

If you appear for any of the papers of the Civil Services Preliminary Exam, your attempt is counted. If you filled up the UPSC application form but didn’t go to take the Preliminary Exam, your attempt will not be counted.


Minimum Educational Qualifications for Civil Services Exam

Degree from:
Any of the Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India
or
other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament.
or
declared to be deemed as a University Under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
or
possess an equivalent qualification.