A Closer Look at the UPSC Attempt Limit for General Category

UPSC advises candidates to thoroughly go through the Civil Services Examination rules notified by the Government (Department of Personnel and Training) before they proceed with their applications. Unlike many other competitive exams in India, UPSC not only prescribes an age limit but also limits the number of attempts. For General Category candidates, the number of attempts is restricted to six. However, merely applying for the exam does not count as an attempt. It is interesting to note that the number of attempts for the General category is less than that for other categories like OBC, SC, ST, and PwBD.

As indicated in the table above, the number of attempts is the same for both EWS and General categories. However, candidates from the PwBD category who fall under General or EWS are granted relaxation in the number of attempts.

For more information on the UPSC Eligibility Criteria , check out the linked article.

Who Qualifies for EWS Relaxation Under UPSC?

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) is essentially a sub-category within the General category. This sub-category is akin to the Non-creamy Layer sub-category of OBC. However, they do not get any relaxation in the number of attempts, which remains the same as for the General category.

A candidate is eligible for EWS reservation only if they meet the criteria set by the Central Government and have the necessary Income & Asset Certificate based on the income for the Financial Year (FY) 2019-2020.

For more details about the EWS Reservation Eligibility , visit the linked article.

Is Submission of EWS Certificate Mandatory?

Yes, candidates claiming reservation under the EWS category must submit their certificate during the verification process.

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