What are the eligibility criteria for UPSC CSE 2026?

The eligibility criteria for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 are defined across several parameters, including nationality, educational qualification, and age limit, with specific relaxations for reserved categories as per government norms. For nationality, candidates applying for the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, and Indian Police Service must be citizens of India, while those applying to other services can be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided they possess a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India . The educational requirement is a bachelor's degree from any recognized university, and candidates who are in the final year of their degree can apply provisionally, subject to submitting proof of passing before the interview stage . The age limit requires candidates to be between 21 and 32 years as of August 1, 2026, meaning they must have been born not earlier than August 2, 1994, and not later than August 1, 2005 . Age relaxation applies to reserved categories, with SC/ST candidates eligible for up to five years of relaxation, OBC candidates for three years, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities for ten years, with further cumulative relaxations for those belonging to multiple categories . A significant new restriction introduced in the 2026 notification bars candidates who have already been appointed to the IAS or IFS from appearing again, while those appointed to the IPS cannot opt for the same service again, and a one-time improvement opportunity is available only for candidates allocated to specific services in CSE-2026 to appear in CSE-2027 with training exemption