How Many Attempts Are There in UPPSC?

UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission) conducts the PCS exam for state civil services.
Unlike UPSC, UPPSC has no fixed limit on the number of attempts.

Candidates can appear unlimited times as long as they fall within the prescribed age limit:

• General category: 21–40 years

• OBC: Up to 43 years

• SC/ST: Up to 45 years

• PwD: Up to 55–58 years

This allows candidates to attempt UPPSC repeatedly for posts such as SDM, DSP, and other PCS roles until they cross the age limit.

UPPSC vs UPSC: Attempt Limits Explained

While UPPSC has no numerical cap on attempts, UPSC Civil Services Examination has strict limits.

UPSC Attempt Limits by Category

• OBC creamy layer candidates follow General category rules (6 attempts).

• SC/ST candidates can attempt unlimited times until the age limit.

How Many Attempts for UPSC Prelims and Mains?

• Each appearance in UPSC Prelims counts as one attempt, even if only one paper is attempted.

• Mains does not count separately—only qualifying Prelims counts as an attempt.

How Many Attempts for UPSC SC/ST Category?

SC and ST candidates are allowed unlimited attempts until they reach the maximum age limit of 37 years.

Who Gets 6 Attempts in UPPSC / UPSC?

• In UPPSC, no candidate is restricted to 6 attempts because there is no attempt limit, only age limits apply.

• In UPSC, the following categories get exactly 6 attempts:

  • General

  • EWS

  • OBC (Creamy Layer)

Other categories:

• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 9 attempts

• PwBD (General/OBC): 9 attempts

• SC/ST/PwBD SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (age-bound)

Strategic Insights for Aspirants

UPPSC’s flexible policy makes it a strong option for candidates who:

• Exhaust UPSC attempts (e.g., 6 attempts for General category)

• Want to continue civil services preparation at the state level

Many aspirants shift to UPPSC after UPSC cycles, as there are no attempt restrictions.
The Prelims count rule applies uniformly—there is no separate count for Mains.

Candidates should track UPPSC notifications for 2025, as age relaxations typically add 3–5 years based on category.

Success depends more on strategy and preparation quality than the number of attempts.
Always verify eligibility and updates on uppsc.up.nic.in.