Government Exam Age Limit 2026: OBC, SC/ST & PwBD Relaxation — Full List
One complete table. Every major exam. Exact category-wise relaxations for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railway. Know your limit before the notification drops.
✅ Key Update — 2026 Recruitment Cycle
Major bodies like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, and RRB have maintained their standard age limits for 2026. However, the exact cut-off date for age calculation — usually August 1 for UPSC/SSC and January 1 for RRB — is the ultimate deciding factor. Always check the official notification.
📋 Overview: Age Limits at a Glance
Government exams have strict age cut-offs, but reserved category candidates get significant buffers that can extend eligibility by up to 15 years. Understanding these rules can be the difference between applying confidently and missing your window entirely.
The minimum age for most central government exams is 18 years, while a few like UPSC CSE require you to be at least 21 years old. The maximum age for General/EWS candidates typically falls between 27 and 33 years, depending on the exam and post.
Use our free Eligibility Checker tool to instantly verify whether you qualify for any of our 100 listed government exams.
🧮 How Age Relaxation Works
Your maximum eligible age is simply the General (UR) upper age limit for that exam plus your specific category relaxation. This is consistent across virtually all central government recruitment bodies.
| Category | Relaxation | Example (IBPS PO, Base 30 yrs) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 0 years | 30 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | +3 years | 33 years |
| SC / ST | +5 years | 35 years |
| PwBD — General | +10 years | 40 years |
| PwBD — OBC | +13 years | 43 years |
| PwBD — SC/ST | +15 years | 45 years |
⚠️ Warning: Calculate to the Exact Day
Never estimate your age eligibility. Calculate your exact age based on the specific cut-off date in the official notification. Even being one day over the limit will result in immediate application rejection at document verification.
📊 Full List: Exam-wise Maximum Age Limits (2026)
The table below covers the maximum upper age limit for all major central government exams. Minimum age varies from 18 to 21 years depending on the exam.
| Exam | General / EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC / ST | PwBD (UR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC CSE (IAS/IPS) | 32 yrs | 35 yrs | 37 yrs | 42 yrs |
| SSC CGL (Max Post Age) | 32 yrs | 35 yrs | 37 yrs | 42 yrs |
| SSC CHSL | 27 yrs | 30 yrs | 32 yrs | 37 yrs |
| SSC MTS | 25 yrs | 28 yrs | 30 yrs | 35 yrs |
| IBPS PO | 30 yrs | 33 yrs | 35 yrs | 40 yrs |
| SBI PO | 30 yrs | 33 yrs | 35 yrs | 40 yrs |
| IBPS Clerk | 28 yrs | 31 yrs | 33 yrs | 38 yrs |
| RBI Grade B | 33 yrs | 36 yrs | 38 yrs | 43 yrs |
| RRB NTPC (UG Posts) | 30 yrs | 33 yrs | 35 yrs | 40 yrs |
| RRB Group D (Level 1) | 33 yrs | 36 yrs | 38 yrs | 43 yrs |
| RRB ALP | 33 yrs | 36 yrs | 38 yrs | 43 yrs |
| UPSC NDA | 19.5 yrs | — | — | — |
| UPSC CDS | 24–25 yrs | — | — | — |
| CAPF AC | 25 yrs | 28 yrs | 30 yrs | 35 yrs |
📌 Quick Note
NDA and CDS do not offer category-based age relaxation (OBC/SC/ST) as they are defence entry exams with fixed age bands. Ex-Servicemen and central government employees have separate rules — see the section below.
🏛️ UPSC CSE Age Limit in Detail
UPSC CSE (IAS/IPS/IFS) is the most attempt-sensitive exam in India. The General category upper age limit is 32 years with a maximum of 6 attempts. OBC candidates get 9 attempts up to age 35. SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts up to age 37.
| Category | Upper Age | Max Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 32 years | 6 |
| OBC (NCL) | 35 years | 9 |
| SC / ST | 37 years | Unlimited |
| PwBD — General | 42 years | 9 |
| PwBD — SC/ST | 47 years | Unlimited |
The UPSC CSE cut-off date for age calculation is August 1 of the exam year. Visit the UPSC IAS exam page for complete eligibility criteria, syllabus, and preparation resources.
📄 SSC Exam Age Limits
SSC (Staff Selection Commission) covers multiple exams with different age bands. SSC CGL has the highest upper age limit among SSC exams (up to 32 years for some posts), while SSC MTS has the lowest (25 years for General). The cut-off date is generally August 1.
- 🎓 SSC CGL: 18–32 years (General). Varies by post — some posts like Tax Assistant go up to 27 years, while Inspector posts allow up to 30 years.
- 📋 SSC CHSL: 18–27 years (General). Strictly for 12th-pass candidates.
- 🔧 SSC MTS: 18–25 years (General). Entry-level central government roles.
- 🚔 SSC GD Constable: 18–23 years (General). Cut-off date is January 1.
- 👮 SSC CPO (SI): 20–25 years (General). For Delhi Police and CAPF posts.
See the full SSC CGL exam guide including eligibility, syllabus, and preparation strategy.
🏦 Banking Exam Age Limits
Banking exams (IBPS, SBI, RBI) generally have a narrower age window compared to UPSC/SSC. The standard upper age for PO-level exams is 30 years for General candidates. Unlike UPSC, banking exams rarely have an attempt limit — you can keep applying until you cross your age limit.
- 🏦 IBPS PO: 20–30 years (General). Cut-off: date of notification.
- 💳 IBPS Clerk: 20–28 years (General). Cut-off: date of notification.
- 🏛️ SBI PO: 21–30 years (General). Max 4 attempts for General category.
- 💵 RBI Grade B: 21–33 years (General). Maximum age is higher than other banks.
- 📊 NABARD Grade A: 21–30 years (General).
Check the IBPS PO complete guide and the SBI PO complete guide for full eligibility breakdowns.
🚂 Railway (RRB) Age Limits
Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams are unique — they use January 1 as the cut-off date for age calculation, unlike the August 1 used by SSC/UPSC. RRB also offers age relaxation for serving railway employees in addition to standard category relaxations.
- 🚆 RRB NTPC (Graduate Posts): 18–36 years (General). Covers Station Master, Goods Guard, etc.
- 🔩 RRB NTPC (Undergraduate): 18–30 years (General).
- ⚙️ RRB Group D: 18–33 years (General). Largest railway recruitment.
- 🔧 RRB ALP & Technician: 18–33 years (General).
- 🚔 RPF Constable: 18–25 years (General).
Visit the RRB NTPC complete guide for full preparation resources.
🎖️ Special Age Relaxations (Ex-SM, Govt. Employees)
Beyond the standard OBC/SC/ST relaxations, certain other groups receive significant age allowances. These are post-specific and you must verify them in the official notification.
| Special Category | Typical Relaxation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-Servicemen (General) | 3 yrs + service period | Subject to max 45–50 yrs depending on post |
| Ex-Servicemen (OBC) | 6 yrs + service period | OBC relaxation stacks with Ex-SM |
| Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) | 8 yrs + service period | SC/ST relaxation stacks with Ex-SM |
| Central Govt. Employee (Gp. C) | Up to 40 years | For Group C posts only |
| Widows / Divorced Women | Up to 35 years (Gen) | Varies by exam; not universal |
| J&K Domicile (1980–89) | +5 years | For candidates who resided in J&K during that period |
📌 Quick Note
Ex-Servicemen relaxation is calculated differently: the actual period of service is deducted from your chronological age before comparing it to the standard upper limit. This can extend eligibility well beyond 40 or even 45 years in some posts.
💡 Why the Age Window Matters More Than You Think
Many candidates realize they are still eligible for top exams only after learning about category relaxations. If you are in the OBC/SC/ST category, your effective window can be 3–5 years wider than a General candidate — often the difference between one more attempt and giving up entirely.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the age limit for SSC CGL 2026?
A: The SSC CGL age limit is 18–32 years for General/EWS candidates. OBC candidates get +3 years (up to 35), SC/ST get +5 years (up to 37), and PwBD (General) get +10 years (up to 42). The cut-off date is August 1 of the exam year.
Q: Can an OBC candidate apply for UPSC after 32 years of age?
A: Yes. While the General category upper age limit for UPSC CSE is 32 years, OBC (NCL) candidates receive a 3-year relaxation and can apply up to 35 years of age with up to 9 attempts.
Q: What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
A: IBPS PO age limit is 20–30 years for General/EWS candidates. OBC can apply up to 33 years, SC/ST up to 35 years, and PwBD (General) up to 40 years. There is no attempt limit for IBPS PO.
Q: How much age relaxation do PwBD candidates get?
A: PwBD (General) candidates receive a base relaxation of 10 years. PwBD (OBC) gets 13 years, and PwBD (SC/ST) gets 15 years of relaxation over the standard General category upper age limit.
Q: What is the age relaxation for Ex-Servicemen in central government exams?
A: Ex-Servicemen (General) receive 3 years of relaxation plus the actual period of service rendered. For OBC Ex-SM it is 6 years plus service, and for SC/ST Ex-SM it is 8 years plus service. The relaxed age is subject to a maximum of 45–50 years depending on the post.
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