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How Many UPSC Exam Attempts for General, OBC, SC/ST?

PWOnlyIAS October 21, 2024 11:30 3454 0

Know how many UPSC Exams attempts in are there for each category. Check out the category-wise number of attempts and age limit here.

How Many UPSC Exam Attempts for General, OBC, SC/ST?

UPSC Exam Attempts: How many UPSC Exam Attempts are there is a common question asked by the candidates preparing for IAS. Cracking the UPSC exam and becoming a civil servant is a dream for many youngsters. Many such aspirants successfully crack the exam in the first attempt, while others make multiple attempts to qualify for the exam. 

There is a limit on the number of attempts in UPSC a candidate can make in the UPSC exam, but this limit varies across categories. Candidates need to understand their allowed attempts to plan their preparation effectively. Read on to learn more about the number of attempts allowed for different categories to qualify for the exam.

How Many UPSC Exam Attempts Are Provided?

The UPSC sets a limit on the number of attempts in UPSC a candidate can appear for the IAS Examination, which varies depending on the category. Candidates must also ensure they stay within the age limit, calculated as of 1st August of the examination year. A number of UPSC Attempts category-wise is provided here:

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UPSC Attempt Limit for General Category

If you are wondering how many attempts in the UPSC exam are there for candidates belonging to the General category, then they have a maximum of 6 attempts. In rare cases, UPSC may provide additional attempts or age exemptions based on specific circumstances, but typically the limit remains at 6 attempts.

Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
General 6 32 years

 OBC Category Attempts in UPSC

For candidates in the OBC category, the number of allowed attempts is 9. However, they must not exceed the upper age limit of 35 years. If a candidate also falls under the PwBD category, they can receive a cumulative age relaxation.

Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
OBC 9 35 years

Attempts for SC/ST Candidates in UPSC

SC/ST candidates are allowed an unlimited number of attempts as long as they remain within the upper age limit of 37 years. If they also fall under the PwBD category, they are eligible for cumulative age relaxation under both categories. Here are the UPSC Attempt limits for SC/ST:

Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
SC/ST Unlimited 37 years

PwBD Attempts in UPSC

Candidates in the PwBD category are allowed a maximum of 9 attempts. With an age relaxation of 10 years, they can take the exam until the age of 42 years. However, SC/ST PwBD candidates can make unlimited attempts until they reach 42 years.

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Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
PwBD (General/OBC) 9 42 years
PwBD (SC/ST) Unlimited 42 years

 Ex-servicemen Attempts in UPSC

Ex-servicemen candidates are allowed a maximum of 9 attempts in the UPSC exam. The upper age limit for the General and OBC categories is 37 years, while candidates belonging to the SC/ST category can make unlimited attempts until they reach the age of 37 years.

Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
General/OBC 9 37 years
SC/ST Unlimited 37 years

 UPSC Attempts for Defence Services Personnel Disabled in Operations

Candidates in the category of Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations are also allowed 9 attempts. For those in the General and OBC categories, the upper age limit is 35 years, whereas SC/ST candidates can make unlimited attempts until they turn 37 years.

Category Maximum Attempts Maximum Age Limit
General/OBC 9 35 years
SC/ST Unlimited 37 years

UPSC Age Limit and Relaxations for Eligibility

To be eligible for the UPSC examination, candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1st of the examination year. However, there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to different categories, as mentioned below:

Category  Number of Attempts Maximum Age (Years)
General and EWS 6 32
OBC  9 35
PwBD 9 42
SC and ST Unlimited 37
Ex-Servicemen 9 37
Disabled Defence Services Personnel 9 35
General/OBC/EWS PwBD candidates 9 See below 
SC/ST categories PwBD candidates Unlimited See below 
Age Relaxation for PWD Candidates

The prescribed upper age limit of an examination (wherever applicable) is relaxable up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of candidates belonging to PwBD categories as below

(a) low vision and blindness; 

(b) deaf and hard of hearing; 

(c) Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy; 

(d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; 

(e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (e) including deafness, and blindness. PwBD candidates, who also belong to either SC or ST or OBC or Ex-servicemen, are eligible for a grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both categories. 

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Strategies to Crack UPSC in Your First Attempt

UPSC is a very competitive exam, which requires exhaustive preparation and dedication. Despite fulfilling much of the criteria, candidates are unable to crack the exam in the first attempt. However, there are many examples of candidates who have not just cracked the exam on their very first attempt but also have topped the exams.

The chances of cracking the exam on the very first attempt look very bleak, but following the below procedure can help you achieve your dream:

  • Dedication: A candidate has to dedicate all their time and energy to the preparation to obtain optimum results. Without proper dedication, goals cannot be achieved.
  • Planning: Planning a preparation is equally important as actually preparing. Without proper planning, a candidate may lose their way.
  • Dividing Goals into Components: Goals are important for candidates to put their efforts in the right direction. They must be divided into short-term and long-term for better results.
  • Practice: A successful candidate puts hard yards into practicing the tests so that they can identify loopholes and later try to fill them.
  • Knowledge Gaining: A successful candidate will not miss any opportunity to gain knowledge. He/she will strive to improve their knowledge base and apply them during exams.
  • Addressing Shortcomings: Candidates will make mistakes and falter. However, a successful candidate will put effort into identifying shortcomings and working on them.
  • Calm Head: A candidate having the right aptitude will keep calm even in adverse situations. To clear the exam on the very first attempt, he/she is required to keep their head calm without panicking.
  • Guidance: Candidates may require regular guidance from a mentor who can ensure the candidate does not lose sight of the goal.

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The UPSC exam is indeed a formidable challenge for any student. All those who prepare may not succeed in their very first attempt. Hence, every attempt is important. No attempt must be taken lightly. 

At the end of the day, a candidate who has the right approach, and is ready to put in the hard yards, is likely to succeed. Aspirants must not lose hope if they do not clear the exam in their initial attempts. They must decode their failure and look to improve themselves before attempting the exam again.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The number of attempts in UPSC varies across different categories. For a general candidate, the number of attempts is 6, whereas it is 9 for OBC and unlimited for SC/ST.

Candidates take an average of more than two attempts to clear UPSC. Looking at past trends, only 1 in 10 candidates have cleared UPSC in their first attempt, which amounts to 0.1%.

A candidate can crack UPSC in the very first attempt if they follow procedures such as planning, dedication, testing, analysing, discipline etc.

A candidate belonging to the general category has a maximum of 6 attempts. They have a maximum age limit of 32 years, provided they do not have additional category exemption.

A candidate belonging to OBC has 9 attempts. However, they have an upper age limit of 35 years if they do not have any other category exemption.

Yes. You can give the UPSC exam even if your age is above 32 years, provided that you belong to categories other than general.
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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