Age relaxation in government jobs
Reserved categories get extra years on the upper age limit. Here is how much in central government jobs, and what the limit becomes for the most popular exams.
Central government rule
| Category | Extra years | Note |
|---|---|---|
| OBC (non-creamy layer)Needs a central-format OBC certificate for central jobs | +3 years | Needs a central-format OBC certificate for central jobs |
| SC / STUnlimited UPSC Civil Services attempts within the age limit | +5 years | Unlimited UPSC Civil Services attempts within the age limit |
| EWS10% reservation in posts, but no age relaxation | None | 10% reservation in posts, but no age relaxation |
| PwBD (General / EWS)Benchmark disability of 40% or more | +10 years | Benchmark disability of 40% or more |
| PwBD (OBC) | +13 years | |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | +15 years | |
| Ex-servicemen+5 years in some UPSC and bank officer exams | Military service + 3 years | +5 years in some UPSC and bank officer exams |
| Defence entries (NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer)Fixed age windows for all categories | None | Fixed age windows for all categories |
Upper age limit by category for popular exams
Maximum age in years, before any PwBD or ex-servicemen relaxation.
| Exam | General / EWS | OBC | SC / ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS) | 32 | 35 | 37 |
| SSC CGL (Inspector, ASO, Auditor, Tax Assistant) | 32 | 35 | 37 |
| SSC CHSL (LDC, JSA, Data Entry Operator) | 27 | 30 | 32 |
| SSC MTS & Havaldar | 27 | 30 | 32 |
| SSC GD Constable (BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles) | 23 | 26 | 28 |
| RRB NTPC – Graduate posts (Station Master, Goods Guard, Clerk) | 33 | 36 | 38 |
| RRB NTPC – Class 12 posts (Clerk, Ticket Clerk, Typist) | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| RRB Group D (Level 1) | 33 | 36 | 38 |
| IBPS PO (public sector banks) | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| IBPS Clerk | 28 | 31 | 33 |
| SBI Probationary Officer | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| UPSC NDA & Naval Academy | 19.5 | 19.5 | 19.5 |
| Agniveer – Indian Army | 21 | 21 | 21 |
Some SSC CGL and SSC MTS posts have lower limits (27 or 25). NDA and Agniveer have fixed age windows with no category relaxation.
How your age is counted
Age is counted on the cut-off date printed in each notification, not on the exam date or the day you apply. SSC usually uses 1 August (1 January for GD Constable and Selection Posts), UPSC Civil Services 1 August of the exam year, and Railway notifications 1 January or 1 July. A limit of “up to 27 years” normally means you must not have turned 28 on that date.
State governments set their own limits and relaxations, which are often more generous (several states allow up to 40 or 42 for their civil services). See your state's guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Do EWS candidates get age relaxation?
Not in central government jobs. EWS candidates get 10% reservation in posts but the same age limit as General candidates. A few states give EWS candidates age relaxation in their own recruitment.
Is age relaxation added for both OBC and PwBD?
Yes. A PwBD candidate from the OBC category gets 13 years (3 + 10) and from SC or ST 15 years (5 + 10) in central government jobs.
Does age relaxation apply in other states?
Category relaxation in state recruitment usually applies only to that state's residents. A reserved-category candidate from another state is treated as General.
Which certificate do I need?
A caste certificate in the central government format for central jobs (for OBC, a non-creamy-layer certificate valid for the financial year in the notification), and a disability certificate from a competent medical authority for PwBD relaxation.
Rules checked against the latest notifications in October 2026. Exam bodies change age limits and cut-off dates each cycle, so always confirm in the official notification before you apply.