Age & Attempt Calculator
Calculate your age as of 1 August of the exam year, the applicable upper age limit, and attempts remaining.
UPSC counts your age as of 1 August of the exam year, not the day you apply, so a birthday between the application window and that date can change your eligibility. This tool applies the correct cutoff date and category-based attempt limits automatically.
Indicative only, based on commonly published UPSC CSE criteria — always confirm against the official notification for the exam year you are applying to.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is age calculated as of 1 August, not the application date?
UPSC fixes a single reference date — 1 August of the exam year — for age eligibility across all candidates, regardless of when the application form is submitted. This keeps the cutoff consistent even though the application window opens months earlier.
Do PwBD candidates get extra attempts and age relaxation?
Yes. PwBD candidates in the General, EWS and OBC categories get 10 years of age relaxation and additional attempts on top of their category's base limit. SC/ST and PwBD SC/ST candidates already have unlimited attempts up to the age cutoff.
What happens if I've used all my attempts but I'm still under the age limit?
Once you exhaust your category's attempt limit, you cannot appear again for UPSC CSE even if you haven't reached the upper age limit — the attempt cap and age cap are independent restrictions, and both must be satisfied.
Does an attempt count if I was absent or didn't clear Prelims?
Any appearance in the Prelims exam counts as an attempt, regardless of performance — including if you appeared for even one paper. Not applying at all, or being absent from every paper, does not count as an attempt.