Age is counted on a cut-off date printed in each notification, usually the 1st of a month near the closing date. Always check that date; being eligible "this year" means eligible on that date.
Standard central-government relaxation
- SC / ST: 5 years beyond the upper limit.
- OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years.
- PwBD: 10 years (SC/ST PwBD 15 years, OBC PwBD 13 years).
- Ex-servicemen: service period plus 3 years, within the post’s rules.
- Widows, divorced women and judicially separated women not remarried: up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) in many Group C posts.
- Central government civilian employees with 3 years’ service: up to 40 years (45 for SC/ST) for several posts.
Exam-wise upper limits (general category)
- UPSC CSE: 21–32, six attempts (OBC 35 and nine attempts; SC/ST 37 and unlimited attempts).
- SSC CGL: 18–27 for most posts, 20–30 for Inspector/ASO-type posts, up to 32 for some.
- SSC CHSL and MTS: 18–27 (MTS up to 25 for some posts).
- IBPS PO and SBI PO: 20–30. IBPS Clerk: 20–28.
- RRB NTPC: 18–33 (graduate posts), 18–30 (undergraduate). RRB Group D: 18–33.
- Agniveer (Army/Navy/Air Force): 17.5–21, no relaxation.
Common mistakes
- Claiming OBC relaxation with a creamy-layer certificate or one older than the notification allows.
- Counting age on the exam date instead of the cut-off date.
- Assuming state PSC limits match central limits — many states allow up to 40 for general and 45 for reserved categories.