Maharashtra Police Constable Eligibility 2026: Age, Education and Physical Standards

Maharashtra Police Constable eligibility rests on three checks: you must have passed HSC (Class 12), be within the age limit, and meet the height and chest standards at the physical measurement. These conditions come from the Maharashtra Police Constable recruitment rules of 2011 and their amendments, which governed the 2024-25 Police Shipai Bharti.

This page explains each condition, the category-wise age limits, the one-time age relaxation given in 2024-25, physical standards and the common reasons candidates are disqualified. The age reference date and any unit-specific conditions are printed in each advertisement, so read the one for your unit before you apply.

Table of Contents

Eligibility at a glance

Educational qualification

You must have passed the Higher Secondary School Certificate (Class 12) examination from a recognised board, or an examination the state government has declared equivalent. The state publishes its equivalence orders on the official recruitment rules page.

• Result in hand: You should hold the qualification by the date set in the unit advertisement, usually the last date of application.

• No minimum percentage: The rules ask for a pass in HSC and do not set a minimum percentage.

• Any stream: Arts, commerce and science students are all eligible.

• Driver posts: Police Constable Driver posts also require a valid driving licence of the type stated in the advertisement.

Age limit

The recruitment rules set a minimum age of 18 years. The maximum is 28 years for the open category and 33 years for backward classes, under a 2016 amendment. Age is counted as on the date given in your unit advertisement.

One-time age relaxation in 2024-25

A 2025 amendment to the rules allowed candidates of all categories who crossed the upper age limit between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2025 to apply. It applied as a one-time measure for vacancies of the calendar years 2024 and 2025. Do not assume the same relaxation will be repeated in the next cycle; check the new advertisement.

Physical standards

These figures come from the 2011 recruitment rules. One official Maharashtra Police information page lists a different figure for women, so treat the women's height as indicative and confirm it in your unit advertisement. Ex-servicemen get physical concessions under separate government orders.

Nationality and other conditions

• Citizenship: You must be a citizen of India.

• Marathi: The written test is in Marathi, so you need to read and write the language well.

• Domicile for reservation: Reserved category, women and other parallel reservation benefits need valid Maharashtra certificates, including non-creamy layer certificates where required.

• Small family declaration: Maharashtra civil service rules require a small family declaration from candidates for government posts.

• Character and medical fitness: Selected candidates go through character verification and a medical examination before appointment.

• One unit only: Unit advertisements generally allow one application per post. Read the advertisement for the rule that applies to you.

Who is not eligible

• Below the height or chest standard: Physical measurement is pass or fail, with no marks.

• Over age without a valid relaxation: A category claim without a valid certificate is treated as open.

• HSC not passed by the cut-off date: Results expected later do not count.

• Adverse character verification: Cases are reviewed by the committee set up under state orders.

Fee and documents

In 2024-25 the fee was Rs. 450 for the open category and Rs. 350 for reserved categories. Keep your HSC marksheet, school leaving certificate, caste and non-creamy layer certificates, domicile certificate and any parallel reservation certificates ready before you apply.

Once you know you are eligible, start physical training and written test practice together. You can attempt Maharashtra Police Constable online tests on Testkart to check where you stand in the written subjects. All rules and amendments are on the official Police Constable recruitment rules page.