UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 for IAS, IPS & IFS – Age, Attempts, Qualification

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Civil Service Examination to recruit eligible candidates for IAS, IPS, IFS, and other posts. As per the official notification, around 933 vacancies will be filled through this UPSC CSE 2026 exam. Interested candidates can submit the UPSC application form till 24th February, 2026 (6:00 PM). They should carefully read the notification to identify whether they are qualified for this exam. UPSC has specified the eligibility requirements, such as age limit, qualification, attempts, nationality, and more. Those found ineligible at any stage will face disqualification of their candidature. Continue reading to know more about the UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 on this page.

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UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC eligibility criteria along with an advertisement on its official website. Candidates must make sure they fulfil all the requirements before applying for the role. They must fill out the applications with valid and correct details to avoid rejection at any stage. Applicants who have completed graduation and fall within the age group of 21-32 years are eligible for this exam. This year, UPSC have also specified the restrictions on applying for the examination in the notification. In this article, we have shared complete details of UPSC Eligibility criteria for females, OBC, etc.

UPSC Age Limit

The age limit plays an important role in the UPSC eligibility criteria. Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1994 and not later than 1st August 2005 to be eligible. The age of the candidates will be calculated as of 1st of August, 2026. The minimum age of the applicants must be 21 years. Given below is the minimum and maximum UPSC age limit for reference:

• Minimum Age: 21 years

• Maximum Age: 32 years

Note: The date of birth, accepted by the Commission, is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or equivalent. Check more about the UPSC eligibility criteria for OBC, female, and other categories. 

UPSC Age Limit Relaxation

Certain age relaxations are provided to candidates belonging to different categories. This includes Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, OBC, and other reserved categories. Below is the UPSC age limit relaxation for different categories:

UPSC Age Limit for Female

The UPSC age limit for female candidates in the General category is 21 to 32 years for the UPSC 2026 exam. Age relaxation for reserved categories is the same for both male and female candidates. UPSC does not provide a separate age criterion for women. They must have been born between  2nd August 1994 and 1st August 2005 to be eligible for this exam. 

UPSC Educational Qualifications

Educational Qualification is the next important factor of the UPSC eligibility criteria. All the candidates must hold a graduation degree from any recognised University to be eligible. Some of the important pointers related to UPSC educational qualification are:

• Applicants who have appeared at a qualifying examination, the passing of which would render them educationally qualified for the Commission’s Examination, but have not been informed of the result, as also the candidates who intend to appear at such a qualifying examination, will also be eligible for admission to the written part of the Civil Services Examination, 2026. However, all such applicants who are declared qualified by the Commission for the interview/Personality Test will be required to submit proof of passing the requisite qualifying examination within the deadline.

• Only valid proof of passing the qualifying examination, viz. Degree Certificate/Final Mark Sheet/Provisional Degree Certificate, etc., as are normally issued by the competent authority after the formal declaration of results by the University/Boards, may be accepted. 

• Proof of completion of internship is required in case of MBBS/BDS/Veterinary Science, etc., and equivalent degree.

• Candidates having professional and technical qualifications which are recognised by the Government as equivalent to a professional and technical degree are also eligible.

• Applicants who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S or any other equivalent professional examination leading to a medical degree or certificate, but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications, are eligible. But they have to submit along with their application a copy of a certificate from the concerned authority of the University/Institution that they have passed the requisite final professional examination. 

UPSC Eligibility Criteria: Nationality

The next important UPSC eligibility criterion is nationality. Given below are the complete details for reference:

1) For the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Foreign Service and the Indian Police Service, an applicant must be a citizen of India. 

(2) For other services, an applicant must be either: 

(a) a citizen of India, or 

(b) a subject of Nepal, or 

(c) a subject of Bhutan, or 

(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or 

(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.  

UPSC Eligibility Criteria: Number of Attempts

Every aspirant appearing at the UPSC CSE exam shall be allowed six (6) attempts at the CSE. However, relaxation in the number of attempts will be applicable for the SC/ST/OBC and PwBD category candidates. The number of attempts applicable to such candidates as per relaxation, is as follows:

UPSC Eligibility Criteria for Female

The UPSC eligibility criteria for females has been specified here. Female candidates who have completed their graduation from a recognised University are eligible. They must fall within the age group of 21-32 years when applying for the role. Age relaxation shall be applicable for the reserved categories. They shall be permitted six (6) attempts at the CSE.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria for OBC

The UPSC Eligibility Criteria for OBC is also discussed here. OBC stands for Other Backwards Classes. Candidates belonging to the OBC category must hold a Graduate degree from any recognised University to be eligible. The age limit for the OBC category candidate is 21-35 years when filling out the applications. There shall also be relaxation in the number of attempts available to the OBC category candidates. A total of 9 attempts are available to such candidates as per the relaxation. 

UPSC Eligibility Criteria for SC/ST

The UPSC Eligibility Criteria for SC/ST is also discussed here. SC/ST stands for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe. Candidates belonging to the SC/ST category must have completed graduation from any recognised University to be eligible. The age limit for the OBC category candidate is 21-37 years when filling out the applications. There shall also be relaxation in the number of attempts available to the SC/ST category candidates. Unlimited attempts are available to such candidates as per the relaxation. 

UPSC Eligibility Criteria for 12th percentage

There is no minimum 12th percentage requirement mentioned in the UPSC notification 2026. UPSC has not specified any minimum percentage criteria for Class 12 or graduation. As per the advertisement, a candidate must hold a Graduate degree to be eligible.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026: Restrictions on applying for the Exam

UPSC has specified certain restrictions on applying for the CSE 2026 exam. Check the complete details below:

• An applicant who is appointed to the IAS or IFS based on the results of an earlier Examination and continues to be a member of that Service will not be eligible to appear at the UPSC CSE 2026. In case such a candidate is appointed to the IAS or IFS after the prelims exam is over, and the candidate continues to be a member of that Service, the candidate shall not be eligible to appear in the mains exam.

• An applicant who has been selected or appointed to the IPS based on the results of the earlier examination shall not be eligible to opt for or be allocated to the IPS based on the results of CSE 2026.

• A candidate allocated to the Indian Police Service or a Central Service Group 'A' based on the result of the CSE-2026, will have the option to appear in the immediate subsequent CSE-2027, if otherwise eligible, subject to the following restrictions:

• Such a candidate shall be eligible to appear for the CSE-2027 if they are granted exemption from training for the service allocated to them based on CSE-2026 from the Authority concerned. They will be eligible for grant of one-time exemption only from joining the training in order to enable him/her to appear in CSE- 2027.

• The selected candidate shall join the training in the Foundation Course (FC) only.

• However, if such a candidate neither joins the training for the service allocated based on CSE2026 nor takes exemption from joining training, their allocation of service based on CSE-2026 shall stand cancelled.

• If the applicant is finally recommended based on CSE-2027, they can accept the service allocated either based on CSE-2026 or CSE-2027 and will join the training scheduled for CSE-2027. Their allocation to the service other than the one opted shall stand cancelled at this stage. In case he/she is not allocated to any service on the basis of CSE-2027, then they can join the service allocated through CSE-2026.

• However, if they don’t join training for the service allocated based on CSE-2026 or CSE2027, their allocation to both the services shall stand cancelled.

• The seniority of such candidates will be decided according to their joining the service allocated based on CSE-2026 or CSE-2027, and the same shall not be depressed.

• However, candidates shall not be allowed to appear for CSE-2028 and any CSE thereafter, unless they resign from the allocated service. 

• If the candidate is desirous of availing their remaining attempts to appear in any subsequent CSE, if otherwise eligible, after availing such onetime exemption from joining training, they must not join any service allocated to them based on CSE-2026 or CSE-2027, as the case may be, and the said Service Allocation shall stand cancelled automatically.

• In respect of a candidate who has been allocated to any service based on CSE-2025 or earlier years, they will be given a one-time opportunity to appear in either CSE-2026 or CSE-2027, as per their choice, to enable them to utilise their remaining attempt, subject to fulfilling other eligibility criteria, without the need to resign from service. However, such candidates desirous of appearing in CSE-2028 or beyond shall have to resign from their allocated service.