The UPSC exam is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in India. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the exam with the hope of clearing it and serving the nation as an IAS, IPS, or IFS officer. However, one of the most common questions that candidates have is, “How many attempts are allowed for the UPSC exam?” In this article, we will answer this question and provide other relevant information related to the UPSC exam.
Understanding the UPSC Exam
Before we dive into the number of attempts allowed for the UPSC exam, let us first understand the exam itself. The UPSC exam consists of three stages:
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam
The first stage of the UPSC exam is the Preliminary Exam, which consists of two papers: General Studies Paper 1 and CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) Paper 2. Both papers are objective type and carry 200 marks each. Candidates who clear the Preliminary Exam are eligible to appear for the Main Exam.
Stage 2: Main Exam
The Main Exam consists of nine papers, out of which two are qualifying in nature: English Language Paper and Indian Language Paper. The other seven papers are evaluated for ranking purposes. These seven papers carry a total of 1750 marks. Candidates who clear the Main Exam are eligible for the Interview round.
Stage 3: Interview
The Interview round is the final stage of the UPSC exam. It carries 275 marks, and the total marks for the UPSC exam are 2025.
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How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the UPSC Exam?
Now coming to the main question, “How many attempts are allowed for the UPSC exam?” The answer is, it depends on the category of the candidate. The number of attempts for the UPSC exam is as follows:
General Category Candidates
General category candidates can attempt the UPSC exam six times, provided they do not cross the upper age limit. The upper age limit for the UPSC exam is 32 years.
OBC Category Candidates
OBC category candidates can attempt the UPSC exam nine times, provided they do not cross the upper age limit. The upper age limit for the UPSC exam is 35 years.
SC/ST Category Candidates
SC/ST category candidates can attempt the UPSC exam as many times as they want until they cross the upper age limit. The upper age limit for the UPSC exam is 37 years.
Some Important Points to Note
Here are some important points that candidates should keep in mind related to the number of attempts for the UPSC exam:
- The number of attempts is counted from the year in which a candidate first appears for the Preliminary Exam.
- Appearing for just one paper in the Preliminary Exam is also considered an attempt.
- The number of attempts is not affected if a candidate appears for the Preliminary Exam but fails to qualify for the Main Exam.
- The number of attempts is not affected if a candidate appears for the Main Exam but fails to qualify for the Interview round.
- The upper age limit and the number of attempts for the UPSC exam are subject to change as per the government’s notification.
Conclusion
To sum up, the number of attempts for the UPSC exam varies based on the candidate’s category. General category candidates can attempt the exam six times, OBC category candidates can attempt it nine times, and SC/ST category candidates can attempt it until they cross the upper age limit.
Candidates should keep in mind the various rules related to the number of attempts and prepare accordingly.
