πŸ”’ How Many Attempts Are Allowed in Government Exams? πŸ“šπŸŽ―

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Confused about how many attempts are allowed in government exams? πŸ€”πŸ“š This complete guide explains attempt limits for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, and State PSC exams, including category-wise rules and age limits. Plan your preparation smartly and make every attempt count! πŸŽ―πŸš€

Last update: 11-02-2026 04:32 PM

One of the most common questions among aspirants is:
πŸ‘‰ How many attempts are allowed in government exams?

Whether you’re preparing for SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, or State PSC exams, knowing the attempt limit is very important for planning your preparation strategy. ⏳

Let’s understand everything clearly. πŸ‘‡


🎯 Why Attempt Limit Matters?

βœ” Helps in long-term planning
βœ” Avoids last-minute pressure
βœ” Helps manage age eligibility
βœ” Allows better career decisions

Some exams have fixed attempt limits, while others depend only on the age limit.


πŸ“Œ Attempt Rules in Major Government Exams


πŸ›οΈ 1. UPSC Civil Services Exam

UPSC has a fixed number of attempts.

  • 🟒 General Category – 6 Attempts
  • 🟒 OBC – 9 Attempts
  • 🟒 SC/ST – Unlimited (till age limit)
  • 🟒 PwBD – 9 Attempts (General/OBC), Unlimited (SC/ST)

πŸ“Œ Age limit also applies:

  • General – 32 years
  • OBC – 35 years
  • SC/ST – 37 years

🏒 2. SSC Exams (CGL, CHSL, MTS)

For most SSC exams:

❗ No fixed attempt limit
βœ” You can attempt until you reach the maximum age limit.

Example:

  • SSC CGL – 18 to 32 years (post-wise)
  • SSC CHSL – 18 to 27 years

So attempts depend on how many times the exam is conducted before you cross age limit.


🏦 3. Banking Exams (IBPS & SBI)

For IBPS & SBI:

❗ No fixed attempt limit
βœ” You can attempt until you reach the upper age limit (usually 30 years for PO).

Age Relaxation:

  • OBC – +3 years
  • SC/ST – +5 years

πŸš† 4. Railway Exams (RRB)

Most Railway exams also:

βœ” Do not have fixed attempt limits
βœ” Based only on age eligibility


🏫 5. State PSC Exams

State PSC rules vary by state.

Some states:

  • Have fixed attempt limits
  • Some allow attempts till age limit

Always check official notification.


πŸ“Š Summary Table

ExamFixed Attempts?Based on Age Limit?
UPSCYesYes
SSCNoYes
BankingNoYes
RailwayNoYes
State PSCDependsYes

⚠️ Important Points to Remember

βœ… Attempt is counted only if you appear in the exam
βœ… Filling form but not appearing may not count (check notification)
βœ… Age relaxation applies to reserved categories
βœ… Always verify latest official notification


🎯 How to Use Your Attempts Smartly?

βœ” Don’t waste early attempts without preparation
βœ” Give mock tests before actual exam
βœ” Track your improvement
βœ” Keep backup options

Remember β€” quality attempts matter more than quantity. πŸ’―


🏁 Final Conclusion

The number of attempts allowed in government exams depends on the exam type.
UPSC has fixed limits, while most SSC, Banking, and Railway exams depend only on age limit.

Plan your preparation wisely, understand eligibility rules, and make every attempt count. πŸš€


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