UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Educational Qualification, Nationality & Age Limits
Candidates aspiring to appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) must meet specific eligibility conditions related to education, nationality, and age. Below is a clear, expanded, website-friendly presentation of these criteria.
Educational Qualification for UPSC CSE
To be eligible for the Civil Services Examination, a candidate must have:
- A graduate degree from a recognized university established by:
- An Act of Parliament or State Legislature
- An institution declared as a university under UGC Act, 1956 (Section 3)
- Any other qualification recognized as equivalent by the Government of India
Important Clarifications
- Candidates appearing for their final-year graduation exam may apply for the Prelims.
- Proof of graduation must be submitted at the time of applying for the Main Examination.
- UPSC may consider a candidate qualified even if their degree does not strictly meet the above conditions, provided it is deemed equivalent by the Commission.
- Candidates holding professional or technical degrees recognized by the Government are also eligible.
MBBS / Medical Graduates
- Medical graduates who have passed the final MBBS exam but have not completed their internship are eligible for Mains.
- They must submit a certificate confirming that they passed the final professional examination.
- They must complete their internship and present proof before the Interview stage.
Nationality Requirements
For IAS and IPS
The candidate must be a citizen of India.
For All Other Services
A candidate must belong to any one of the following categories:
- Citizen of India
- Subject of Nepal
- Citizen of Bhutan
- Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 for permanent settlement
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from: Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
Candidates under categories (2)–(5) must obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
Note: Candidates from categories 2, 3, and 4 are not eligible for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Age Limits for UPSC CSE
As per UPSC requirements, a candidate must be:
- At least 21 years old
- Not more than 32 years old
These age limits are calculated as of 1st August of the examination year.
Age Relaxation – Category-wise
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Up to 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | Up to 3 years |
| Domicile of J&K (1 Jan 1980 – 31 Dec 1989) | Up to 5 years |
| Defence Personnel disabled during operations | Up to 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / ECOs / SSCOs with 5 years of service | Up to 5 years |
| ECOs/SSCOs with extended service permitted to seek civil employment (Ministry of Defence certificate) | Up to 5 years |
| PwBD Candidates (Blind, Deaf-Mute, Orthopedically Handicapped) | Up to 10 years |
Note: These are the standard UPSC eligibility guidelines. Candidates must refer to the official UPSC notification of the respective year for updated rules and special provisions.