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UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age, Qualification, Nationality, Medical Standards
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Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will mention the IAS eligibility criteria 2026 in the official notification at upsc.gov.in. The UPSC CSE 2026 eligibility criteria is based on nationality, age limit, educational qualification, number of attempts, and medical standards. As per the exam eligibility criteria, candidates between the age group of 21 to 32 years with a graduation degree are eligible to apply for the UPSC IAS exam. Interested applicants needed to check the UPSC IAS eligibility criteria thoroughly. Applicants belonging to the reserved category will be eligible for relaxation in the UPSC age limit criteria.
This Story also Contains
- UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Overview
- IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026
- IAS Application Form 2026
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Overview
Aspirants can check the UPSC IAS eligibility and other details related to the exam in the below table.
UPSC IAS Exam Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
Exam Name | Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination |
Examination Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
Exam Level | National |
UPSC Eligibility 2026 | Nationality - Indian Age limit - 21 years to 32 years Educational Qualification - Graduation |
Number of attempts | General/ EWS - 6 OBC/ General (PwD) - 9 SC/ ST - No limit (can apply till upper age limit is reached) |
IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026
The IAS 2026 eligibility criteria has multiple components which together determine the eligibility of candidates for the examination. The different components of IAS eligibility are mentioned below:
Nationality
IAS age limit
Educational Qualification
Attempt limit
Medical standards
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria - Nationality
According to the UPSC IAS eligibility, any candidate who is a citizen of India can apply for the exam. More details on the IAS 2026 eligibility on nationality are mentioned below.
Citizen of India or
A subject of Nepal/ Bhutan or
Tibetan refugee who came to India, to permanently settle here before January 1, 1962, or
People of Indian origin who migrated from Uganda, Burma, Pakistan, Zambia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Sri Lanka, East African Countries of Kenya, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.
UPSC CSE Preparation Strategy and Best Books
UPSC CSE preparation strategy along with best books for prelims as well as mains exam for sure success.
Download EBookNote: Applicants belonging to categories 2, 3 and 4 in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India are eligible to apply in the examination.
Other Quick Links: IAS exam dates 2026
IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age Limit
Union Public Service Commission prescribes the age limit in the official UPSC IAS notification 2026. As per the age limit eligibility criteria, those between 21 to 32 years as of August 1, 2025, can fill out the IAS application form 2026. Applicants belonging to the reserved category are eligible for age relaxation as per the rules set by UPSC. For more details on IAS exam age limit and age relaxation, check the tables below:
UPSC IAS age limit 2026 eligibility criteria
Category | IAS age limit |
General | 21 to 32 years |
IAS eligibility criteria 2026 - Age Relaxation
Categories | Age relaxation |
General | No age relaxation |
OBC | 3 years |
SC/ ST | 5 years |
Defense Services Personnel, who got disabled during operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence | 3 years |
Ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers (CO) and ECOs/ SSCOs who will render at least five years Military Service as of August 1, 2021, and have been released | 5 years |
ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as of 1st August 2021 | 5 years |
In the following cases: blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including acid attack, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, victims and muscular dystrophy, intellectual disability, autism, specific learning disability and mental illness | 10 years |
Candidates ordinarily domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir from January 1, 1981, to December 31, 1989. | 5 years |
Quick Links: UPSC IAS 2026 syllabus
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Educational Qualification
The educational qualifications that one must have to be eligible to apply for the Civil Services 2026 exam for all the posts will be mentioned in the notification. They must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university as laid down under the law. For more details on the IAS educational qualifications, check the table below:
IAS education qualification
IAS educational qualification | Bachelor's degree (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, BBA, BCA, B.Tech etc.) with at least one of the subjects namely Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering from recognized university. |
Note: Applicants awaiting their final graduation result can also apply for IAS exam. And there is no minimum UPSC qualification percentage required.
Other Links: How to prepare for IAS exam 2026
UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - UPSC attempts limit
The Commission also mentions the number of UPSC attempt limits for every category of candidates. The minimum number of attempts will be given to General/ EWS category applicants. For more information on the UPSC attempt limit, check the table below:
UPSC attempt and age limit
Category | UPSC Civil Services Age Limit | Number of Attempts |
General/ EWS | 32 | 6 |
OBC | 35 | 9 |
SC/ ST | 37 | No limit |
General Physically Disabled | 35 | 9 |
OBC Physically Disabled | 38 | 9 |
SC and ST Physically Disabled | 40 | No limit |
Disabled servicemen (General) | 35 | |
Disabled servicemen (OBC) | 38 | |
Disabled servicemen (SC and ST) | 40 |
Note: As per the UPSC rules, not withstanding the disqualification/ cancellation of candidature, the appearance of the applicant in the IAS exam will count as an attempt.
Check Here List of Other Government Exams
IAS Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Medical Standard
Candidates appearing in the IAS exam must be physically fit and have a sound mind. After the CSE personality test, the selected candidates undergo several medical tests at the medical centre notified by the commission. Candidates must pass all the medical tests to get admitted to any of the services.
Note: For more details on the medical requirements for the CSE exam read the eligibility criteria in the official IAS notification 2026.
Who are not eligible to apply for Civil Services Exam
According to the IAS eligibility criteria 2026, applicants who are serving in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS)/ Indian Foreign Services (IFS)/ Indian Police Services (IPS) can not appear for the IAS exam 2026 unless and until they resign from their current deputation.
IAS Application Form 2026
UPSC will release the UPSC IAS 2026 application form on January 14, 2026 on the official website. The UPSC IAS application form 2026 will be closed on February 3, 2026. The IAS application form has two parts - One Time Registration (OTR) and filling application form. On successful completion of both parts of the IAS application process, applicants will receive a confirmation regarding the same.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the IAS exam age limit?
A:
The UPSC age limit to apply for IAS 2026 exam is 21 to 32 years as on August 1, 2026.
Q: What is the qualification for IAS in UPSC?
A:
According to the IAS qualification, candidates must have a bachelor's degree in any discipline to apply for the IAS exam.
Q: Are all the posts under UPSC CSE gazetted posts?
A:
Yes, all the posts under Civil Services Exam gazetted posts.
Q: Will UPSC reduce age limit in 2026?
A:
Candidates are recommended to go through the UPSC CSE official notification to know the age limit. The UPSC CSE age limit likely will not reduce in 2026.
Q: Will the UPSC pattern change in 2026?
A:
It is unlikely that the IAS 2026 exam pattern will change much in 2026.
Q: How many attempts for UPSC 2026?
A:
Candidates of general category have 6 attempts, while OBC candidates have 9 attempts. Candidates belonging to SC/ST category do not have a limit.
Q: What is the IAS age limit for female?
A:
Aspirants can check the IAS qualification and age limit for females from the above article.
Q: Which degree is best for UPSC IAS 2026?
A:
The best degree to become an IAS officer is a Bachelor of Arts (BA), as it covers many of the topics in the UPSC CSE 2026 syllabus.
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Questions related to UPSC CSE
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to UPSC CSE ?
Hi Basar,
To get the fastest updates on upcoming government exam notifications and application dates, regularly check dedicated portals like Careers360. Click here for Upcoming Government Exams 2026: Latest Updates on UPSC, SSC, Bank, Railway, TET, Defence Exams
Hello,
After Class 10, it will take 2 years to complete Class 11 and 12, followed by 3 years of graduation, which is the minimum requirement for UPSC.
UPSC preparation and clearing the exam may take 1–2 years. After selection, IAS training takes about 2 years. Overall, it takes around
Hello Aspirant
As your question is not clear, you are asking how to become an IAS, which course or degree you should pursue, and all the related details regarding the IAS. So, I can suggest you choosing the right stream in Intermediate is important.
The Arts/Humanities stream is most helpful
Hello Aspirant
All colleges are the best, and selection mainly depends on you and your consistency. But I can help you regarding this :
After the 10th, you can join PU (11–12th) colleges that offer strong academics and an early IAS foundation.
Some good options are Delhi’s Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya
Hello
If you want to become an IAS officer, you can choose any group CEC, MPC, or BiPC as IAS does not require a specific subject stream.
However, many students prefer CEC (Commerce, Economics, Civics) or MPC (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) because they help build analytical and general knowledge skills useful
Applications for Admissions are open.
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University
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