Number of Attempts for UPSC Exam

No of attempts for IAS Exam (UPSC exam)

There is trend of increasing and decreasing in the number of attempts that the UPSC allows to take the exams for the candidates

UPSC notifies changes on number of attempts as required based on government notifications and laws as required.

Category	Number of attempts	Age limits
General candidates (OC)	4 attempts	up to 30 years
OBC's who have reservation	7 attempts	up to 33 years
SC’s, and ST’s aspirants	No restrictions on no of attempt candidates belonging to SC/ST can give attempts till the eligibility age limit	up to 35 years (SC's and ST candidates )can attempt unlimited no of times till they reaches 35 years of age
Physically handicapped candidates(relaxation available to PH candidates who are eligible for reservation)	They will get as many attempts as are available to non physically handicapped candidates of his or her community, subject to the condition that a physically handicapped level candidate belonging to General category shall be eligible for seven attempts	37 years Still many more chances to attempt

What is Valid Attempt in UPSC Prelims Exam?

Till the year 2019, candidate attempt is valid only if he/she attends for prelims examination, an attempt is considered as valid if he/she attempts at least one paper in the prelims examination,  to reduce the unnecessary cost in conducting examination UPSC has made a new change in 2019. Those who apply for UPSC exam, even though he is not attending the exam will be considered as attempt In the year 2019 UPSC had made its decision that if anybody applies for UPSC exam and if attempts or not, the attempt is valid in order to reduce the absent percentage.

Changes made in the number of attempts (Past to Present)

The number of attempts varies from time to time according to political, reservations and many other factors, Firstly Before 2011 the number of attempt were as given in the above table, Rally by the students to Increase no of attempts in prelims, In the Year 2013 due to the agitations from different groups our leader Rahul Gandhi had made a promise with them as a result the attempts to all the sections are increased to 2 more attempts, but no official announcement from UPSC Board

After the general elections and subsequent government formed at the centre the no of attempts reduced again to its normal level (General-4, OBCs-7 etc)

So the number of attempts prone to change from time to time so keep watch on the updates and news follow ups of UPSC

As the sudden introduction of the changes in the pattern of Paper 2 in civil services in the year 2011 the candidates are given one more attempt in the year 2015.

So we can’t say the exactly no of attempts a candidates gets to attempt for the examination. so plan carefully and every attempt is important to achieve goal as there are incidents where the candidate had prepared well for the examination, but due to the fear of losing attempt come back from his Centre without taking exam.

For more important details on this aspect refer official website of UPSC examination and News follow ups. Every attempt is important plan well do well achieve your goal.

Restrictions on the applying for the examination

A candidate who is appointed to the IAS/IFS on the results of an earlier examination and continued in his service will not be eligible to compete at the examination, in short those who have selected for IAS and IFS after the final interview will not eligible to give any further attempts again for the prelims examination even thought he has attempts to write the examination and all other except those who have appointed as IAS/IFS will be eligible to give their left over attempts for the examination again

Note :Follow up UPSC website even though the government makes changes the UPSC should receive the directions from department of personnel and training and then the changes will reflect in the examination and will be published in the notification area of UPSC website