UPSC Age Limit for SC and ST Category (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe)

UPSC Age Limit for SC and ST Category (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe).

The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body that conducts various examinations in the country to recruit candidates for various posts in the Government of India. The Civil Services Examination is one such exam conducted by the UPSC every year to fill candidates in various posts like the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), among the others.

Aspirants can know more about UPSC 2022 at the linked article.

More than 9 lakh candidates apply to write the civil services exam but only a few thousand clear the exam and get into the post and this one of the reasons why this exam is called as one of the toughest and mother of all exams.

But here in this article, we are discussing the age limit one of the eligibility criterion set by the UPSC, which every candidate should fulfil along with other criteria to write the civil services exam commonly and popularly now as IAS Exam.

The UPSC Age Limit varies from candidates to candidates based on the category to which they belong. The UPSC defines the age limit criteria that a candidate must fulfil, as mentioned below.

“A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st of August, 2021 i.e., he must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1989 and not later than 1st August, 2000. The upper age-limit prescribed above will be relaxable The upper age-limit prescribed above will be relaxable up to a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.

Here we discuss the maximum upper Age limit for the SC/ST (Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe) and the number of attempts.

Category Maximum Upper Age Limit Number of Attempts
Scheduled Caste (SC) /Scheduled Tribe (ST) 32 years + 5 years relaxation = 37 years Unlimited (till the age limit)

Note I:

Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes who are also covered under the category of Ex-servicemen, persons domiciled in the State of J & K, blind, Hearing Impaired and orthopaedically handicapped etc. will be eligible for grant of cumulative age relaxation under both the categories.

Find below the age limit and number of attempts for other categories.

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for GENERAL CATEGORY

Age Limit Attempt Limit
32 Years 6

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for OBC CATEGORY

Age Limit Attempt Limit
Non-creamy layer 35 Years 9
Creamy layer 32 6

NOTE

  • OBC gets 9 attempts and 35 years, but this applies only to non-creamy layer OBC and not to creamy layer OBC.
  • For age/attempt limit, the creamy layer OBC is treated as General category candidate (which means they get only 6 attempts and age limit is 32 years as mentioned in the above table).

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for  PH CATEGORY

PH Candidate Category Age Limit Attempt Limit
General Category 42 9
OBC Category 45 9
SC/ST Category 47 Unlimited

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for J & K Domicile

Category Age Limit Attempt Limit
General Category 37 depending on the categories viz. Gen, OBC, SC/ST, PH
OBC Category 40
SC/ST Category 42
PH 50

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for Ex-Servicemen

Category Age Limit Attempt Limit
General Category 37 depending on the categories viz. Gen, OBC, SC/ST
OBC Category 40
SC/ST Category 42

UPSC Age Limit and number of attempts for Disabled Defence Services Personnel

Category Age Limit Attempt Limit
General Category 35 depending on the categories viz. Gen, OBC, SC/ST
OBC Category 38
SC/ST Category 42

To know detailed UPSC Eligibility Criteria, aspirants can visit the linked article.

If candidates are appearing for the CSE 2022; they may refer to the linked articles below:

  1. UPSC Online Application
  2. UPSC Notification

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  1. HI MY WIFE AGE IS 37 YEARS NOW AND CATEGORY SC CAN SHE APPLY AND ELIGIBLE FOR UPSC CIVILS PLEASE LET ME KNOW

  2. Hi my age is now 21 I am sc caste can I apply for IAS exam

  3. Hi,
    I am 38 years (SC candidate) as on 1st August 2020. can I apply for Civil services?

    • UPSC 2020 application process is over. UPSC 2021 application process will start from 10th February 2021. To sit for UPSC 2021, a candidate belonging to SC category should not have attained the age of 38 as of 1st August 2021.

  4. Sir, I am HARISH KAMLE, 46 years old, SC Category and 60% Visually impaired handicapped. Am I eligible to appear in UPSC 2021 Exam. Last year upsc application form was filled by me, but I was unable to download e-admit card. Why????

    • Hi
      As per UPSC notification, “Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes who are also covered under any other clauses of para 3(ii) (b) above, viz. those coming under the category of Ex-servicemen, persons domiciled in the State of J & K, blind, deaf-mute and orthopedically handicapped etc. will be eligible for grant of cumulative age relaxation under both the categories.”
      Hence, if you do not attain 47 as of 1st August 2021; you may sit for the examination. We request you to consult UPSC facilitation counter through one of these numbers – 011-23098543 / 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098591

  5. I have furnished incorrect certificate number while filling community certificate number in civils application form, is there a way that I can rectify this?

    • Hi,
      There is no explicit solution given by the Commission. Commission asks candidates to review before submitting the form. However, right now, you can focus on prelims. Once you will be asked to submit the copies of the certificates in the Mains examination, you can submit the correct certificate copy and carry it along in your interview.

  6. Hi
    I born in Feb 1989 and come under (obc category )
    Can I write ups. Exam in 2024