Govt Exam Attempt Limits & Calculator 2026
Wondering if you have attempts left for UPSC, SBI PO, or RBI? Use our tool below to check attempts eligibility instantly based on your category and previous attempts.
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Attempt Limits Comparison Table 2026
Here is a comprehensive overview of attempt limits for major central and state government recruitment examinations in India.
| Exam Name | General / EWS | OBC (NCL) | SC / ST | Attempt Counting Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC CSE UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) | 6 | 9 | Unlimited | Counts if you appear in any Prelims paper. |
| UPSC IES UPSC Engineering Services (IES/ESE) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| UPSC CDS UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| UPSC NDA UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| UPSC CAPF UPSC Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) AC | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC CGL SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC CHSL SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC MTS SSC Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC GD SSC General Duty (GD) Constable | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC CPO SSC Central Police Organisation (CPO) SI | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC Steno SSC Stenographer Grade C & D | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SSC JE SSC Junior Engineer (JE) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| IBPS PO IBPS Probationary Officer (PO/MT) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| IBPS Clerk IBPS Clerk | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| SBI PO SBI Probationary Officer (PO) | 4 | 7 | Unlimited | Counts only if you write the Main exam. |
| SBI Clerk SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RBI Grade B RBI Grade B Officer | 6 | 9 | Unlimited | Counts only if you write Phase-I. |
| RBI Assistant RBI Assistant | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB NTPC RRB Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB Group D RRB Group D | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB JE RRB Junior Engineer (JE) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB ALP RRB Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| UPPSC PCS UPPSC Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RPSC RAS RPSC Rajasthan Administrative Services (RAS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| MPPSC SSE MPPSC State Service Examination | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| BPSC CCE BPSC Combined Competitive Examination | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| TNPSC CCSE TNPSC Combined Civil Services Examination | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| MPSC Rajyaseva MPSC State Service Examination (Rajyaseva) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| CGPSC SSE CGPSC State Service Examination | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| OPSC OCS OPSC Odisha Civil Services (OCS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB Technician RRB Technician Grade-III (CEN 02/2026) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| RRB Technician Gr-I RRB Technician Grade-I Signal (CEN 02/2026) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| DSSSB DSSSB Combined Recruitment (Advt. 03/2026) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
| UPSSSC Auditor UPSSSC Auditor & Assistant Accountant (Exam 14/2026) | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | No attempt limit. Unlimited attempts up to age limit. |
Frequently Asked Questions on Attempt Limits
Q: Does applying for UPSC CSE count as an attempt?
A: No. Simply filling out the application form for UPSC Civil Services does not count as an attempt. An attempt is only counted if you physically appear for at least one paper of the Preliminary Examination.
Q: Do Prelims marks count as attempts in SBI PO?
A: No. In SBI PO, attempts are only counted if you sit for the Main Examination. Appearing in the Preliminary exam has no impact on your available attempts.
Q: Do SSC or Railway exams have any attempt limit?
A: No. Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams like CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO and Railway recruitment board (RRB) exams have no attempt limits. You can appear as many times as you like, provided you remain within the age limits.
Q: Are attempt limits separate from age limits?
A: Yes. You must meet both criteria. Even if you have remaining attempts, you cannot apply once you exceed the upper age limit for your category. Similarly, even if you are under the age limit, you cannot apply if your attempts are exhausted.
Q: What is the UPSC IES attempt limit?
A: There is no attempt limit for the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (IES/ESE). Candidates can appear unlimited times until they reach the upper age limit of 30 years (General) or relaxed limits for reserved categories.
Q: What is the BPSC attempt limit for general and OBC candidates?
A: BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) has no attempt limits for General, OBC, SC, ST or female candidates. You can appear unlimited times as long as you meet the age eligibility requirements.
Q: Is there an attempt limit for MPPSC State Service Exam?
A: No, there is no attempt limit for the MPPSC State Service Examination for General, OBC, or any category candidates. You can take the exam unlimited times up to the maximum age limit.
Q: What is the RPSC RAS attempt limit?
A: There is no attempt limit for RPSC RAS. General, OBC, SC, ST, and female candidates can appear unlimited times, provided they are within the upper age limit.
Q: What is the attempt limit for UPPSC PCS?
A: There is no attempt limit for UPPSC PCS. Candidates of all categories (General, OBC, SC/ST, and PwD) can appear as many times as they want, up to their respective age limits.
Q: How many attempts are allowed for SSC CHSL General category?
A: There is no attempt limit for General category candidates or any other category in the SSC CHSL exam. You can appear unlimited times, as long as you are within the age limit of 18-27 years (General) or relaxed limits for other categories.
More on attempts and age limits in our government exam FAQ and age limit guides.