UPSC CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS) Age Calculator
Check Eligibility (21-32 Years) - Updated 2026
Checking eligibility for CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS) under Union Public Service Commission. The age limit is 21–32 years (as on August 1, 2026).
Official sources (2)
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026
05/2026-CSE · 4 Feb 2026
Official PDF ↗ · Archived copy ↗
- Age limit — p. 12, Para 3(II)(1) Age Limits
- Age cut-off date — p. 12, Para 3(II)(1) Age Limits
- Age relaxation — p. 12, Para 3(II)(2)(a)
- OBC: up to 3 years — p. 12, Para 3(II)(2)(b)
- Ex-servicemen: up to 5 years — p. 12, Para 3(II)(2)(d)
- PwBD: up to 10 years — p. 13, Para 3(II)(2)(f)
- SC/ST/OBC + ExSM or PwBD: cumulative — p. 13, Para 3(II)(2), Note-I
- Six attempts (General/EWS) — p. 14, Para 3(IV) Number of attempts
UPSC Examination Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE, Indian Forest Service Examination 2026
06/2026-IFoSE · 4 Feb 2026
- IFoS: 21 to under 32 years on 1 August 2026 — p. 7, Para 3(ii)(a) Age Limits
100% Private: Dates are calculated locally. No data is saved.
UPSC CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS): age limit at a glance (CSE 2026 cycle)
For the Civil Services Examination 2026 you must be at least 21 and under 32 on 1 August 2026, so born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005. The upper limit rises by 3 years for OBC, 5 for SC/ST and 10 for PwBD candidates, and General candidates get six attempts. The Indian Forest Service notice of the same date uses the same 21–32 rule.
Key dates
| Notice issued | 4 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Last date to apply | 24 February 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary exam | 24 May 2026 (held) |
| Age counted as on | 1 August 2026 |
Age rules in the notification
- Minimum 21 years and must not have reached 32 years on 1 August 2026.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 12 · Para 3(II)(1) Age Limits“must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2026”Open official PDF ↗ - Date of birth between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005 (both included).
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 12 · Para 3(II)(1) Age Limits“the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1994 and not later than 1st August, 2005.”Open official PDF ↗ - SC/ST: up to 5 years’ relaxation.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 12 · Para 3(II)(2)(a)“up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe;”Open official PDF ↗ - OBC (eligible for reservation): up to 3 years.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 12 · Para 3(II)(2)(b)“up to a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes”Open official PDF ↗ - Ex-servicemen with at least 5 years’ military service (released as the notice describes): up to 5 years.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 12 · Para 3(II)(2)(d)“up to a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)”Open official PDF ↗ - PwBD: up to 10 years.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 13 · Para 3(II)(2)(f)“up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories”Open official PDF ↗ - SC/ST/OBC candidates who are also ex-servicemen or PwBD get both relaxations added together.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 13 · Para 3(II)(2), Note-I“will be eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both categories.”Open official PDF ↗ - Attempts: six for General/EWS; nine for OBC and PwBD; unlimited for SC/ST.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026p. 14 · Para 3(IV) Number of attempts“shall be permitted six (6) attempts at the CSE.”Open official PDF ↗ - IFoS 2026 uses the same age rule: 21 to under 32 on 1 August 2026.
Source
UPSC Examination Notice No. 06/2026-IFoSE, Indian Forest Service Examination 2026p. 7 · Para 3(ii)(a) Age Limits“A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on 1st August, 2026”Open official PDF ↗
Worth knowing
- The notice wording is “must not have attained the age of 32”: on 1 August 2026 you must still be 31.
- Only the date of birth on your Matriculation/Secondary certificate (or the equivalents in para 3(II)(3)) is accepted, and it cannot be changed later.
- Appearing in any one paper of the Preliminary exam counts as an attempt.
Source: UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026. Checked on 21 October 2026. The official notice is final.
Official UPSC Age Guidelines 2026
Updated for 2026- Age is strictly calculated as on August 1, 2026.
- Minimum required age is 21 years.
- Base maximum age (General/UR) is 32 years.
How to Check Eligibility
Verify Your Post
You are checking for CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS). If this isn't your target post, go back to UPSC to select the right one.
Enter DOB
Input your exact Date of Birth using our fast, mobile-friendly input fields.
Select Category
Tap your reservation category to instantly get your "Eligible" or "Not Eligible" verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC CSE 2026 age limit?
You must be 21 or older and under 32 on 1 August 2026, i.e. born between 2 August 1994 and 1 August 2005. OBC candidates get 3 extra years, SC/ST 5 and PwBD 10.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC CSE?
Six for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC and PwBD candidates, and unlimited for SC/ST candidates (within the age limit).
Can an OBC PwBD candidate add both age relaxations?
Yes. Note-I under para 3(II)(2) allows cumulative relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates who are also ex-servicemen or PwBD, so OBC + PwBD is 3 + 10 = 13 years.
Is the IFoS 2026 age limit the same as CSE?
Yes. The IFoS 2026 notice (06/2026-IFoSE) also requires 21 to under 32 years on 1 August 2026.
What is the minimum age for UPSC CSE?
Candidates must be at least 21 years old as on the official cutoff date.
What is the age relaxation for OBC in UPSC?
OBC candidates get a 3-year age relaxation over the general category limit.
Is this age calculator officially provided by UPSC?
No. FreeApplyTools is an independent utility platform. However, our engine is hardcoded to strictly follow the official UPSC notification rules and cut-off dates for 2026. We recommend using this as a quick reference, but always cross-check with the official UPSC notification for your specific exam and post.
What is the official Cut-off Date for age calculation?
For the 2026 cycle, UPSC calculates your exact age as on August 1, 2026. Our calculator automatically uses this exact date.
Common CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS) Age Eligibility Errors
"Applying under wrong category relaxation"
Many candidates select General instead of their eligible reservation category, missing out on age relaxation of up to 5–10 years for OBC/SC/ST.
"Incorrect DOB entered during registration"
Even a single-day typo can render you ineligible. Always cross-check your DOB against your 10th certificate before submitting.
"Cut-off date confusion"
UPSC calculates age as on August 1, 2026 — not the exam date or application date. Our calculator already uses this exact date.
Next Steps for CSE / IFoS (IAS, IPS, IFS)
Continue preparing your application documents with official specifications.