UPSC Civil Services Exam Mains Optional Paper 1 Eligibility Criteria
Updated 2026
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. No specific subject combination is mandatory for the Optional Paper, provided the candidate chooses from the UPSC-notified list.
Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as of August 1st of the examination year.
- Civil Services Preliminary Examination (Objective)
- Civil Services Mains Examination (Descriptive/Optional Paper)
- Personality Test (Interview)
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
Practice & Excel
UPSC Civil Services Exam Mains Optional Paper 1 Mock Test Series
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