UKPSC Eligibility 2026: Age Limit and Qualification Guide

The Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) fills Group A and B posts such as Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Block Development Officer through the Combined State Civil/Upper Subordinate Services Examination, also known as the Upper PCS. The UKPSC eligibility criteria for the 2026 cycle are set out in Advertisement No. A-1/E-1/2026-27, published on 9 September 2026 for 67 posts.

This page covers every condition you must meet: age limit and the exact date-of-birth window, educational qualification by post, the deadline for holding your degree, age relaxation, nationality, domicile rules for reserved posts, physical standards and the conditions that make a candidate ineligible. Two dates matter most this cycle: age is counted on 1 July 2026, and your qualification must be complete by 29 September 2026.

Table of Contents

UKPSC Eligibility 2026

Educational Qualification

For most posts, you need a bachelor's degree from a university established by law in India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the government. A handful of posts ask for a specific degree, a postgraduate degree or a professional qualification.

The advertisement states that every essential qualification must be held by the last date of online application, which was 29 September 2026. In practice, this means final-year students whose results were not declared by that date cannot apply in the 2026 cycle. If you are in your final year now, plan for the next notification.

Post-Wise Qualification Requirements

The table summarises the 2026 advertisement. Where a post lists several acceptable subjects or combinations, read the exact wording in the advertisement before applying for that post.

One application covers all posts. You only become eligible for a specialised post if you hold its qualification, so fill in post preferences that match your degree.

Preferential Qualifications

Other things being equal, preference in direct recruitment is given to candidates who hold an NCC "B" or "C" certificate or have served in the Territorial Army, along with any post-specific experience the advertisement lists. These do not make you eligible on their own; they only help when other factors are equal.

UKPSC Age Limit

The minimum age is 21 years and the maximum is 42 years, counted as on 1 July 2026. Converted into dates, your date of birth must fall between 2 July 1984 and 1 July 2005, both dates included.

Example: A candidate born on 15 March 1983 is 43 years old on 1 July 2026. A General category candidate with that date of birth is over-age. An Uttarakhand OBC candidate with the same date of birth is eligible, because the 5-year relaxation raises the limit to 47.

Age Relaxation

Relaxation is added to the upper age limit of 42 years. The 2026 advertisement lists the following categories, each based on Uttarakhand government orders.

Points to Note on Relaxation

• Uttarakhand domicile is essential: The relaxations for SC, ST, OBC, persons with disabilities and dependents of freedom fighters apply to residents of Uttarakhand. A reserved-category candidate from another state applies as a General candidate and gets no relaxation.

• Ex-servicemen exclusions: The relaxation is not available to those dismissed or discharged for misconduct or inefficiency, or discharged on grounds of physical incapacity as described in the advertisement.

• Relaxations are not stacked freely: Some older summaries add relaxations together. Unless the advertisement specifically allows it, assume you get the one relaxation that applies to you and check the advertisement before relying on a combination.

Nationality

To apply, you must be one of the following:

• A citizen of India.

• A subject of Nepal.

• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling here.

• A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania to settle permanently in India.

Candidates in the categories other than Indian citizens need an eligibility certificate from the Government of Uttarakhand before appointment.

Domicile and Reservation Rules

You do not need to be a resident of Uttarakhand to apply. However, posts reserved for SC, ST, OBC and EWS are open only to candidates who belong to those categories and hold Uttarakhand domicile. Candidates from other states compete only for unreserved posts.

The advertisement also provides horizontal reservation, which works within each vertical category. The categories include:

• Women of Uttarakhand: Posts earmarked for Uttarakhand women are shown category-wise in the vacancy table.

• State movement participants and their dependents: Earmarked posts, if any, are shown in the vacancy table for the cycle.

• Skilled sportspersons, ex-servicemen, dependents of freedom fighters and orphans of Uttarakhand: Reserved as per state rules, where posts are available in a given cycle.

• Persons with disabilities: A minimum of 40% disability, certified by the competent authority, is required.

Category certificates must be issued in the formats prescribed in the advertisement and be valid on the relevant date. Keep originals ready, because they are checked at document verification.

Physical Standards for Police Posts

Most posts need only general medical fitness. The Police Deputy Superintendent post has specific physical standards in the 2026 advertisement.

Vision must be 6/6 in one eye and not worse than 6/9 in the other. The District Commandant (Home Guards) post also has its own physical standards, listed in the advertisement. If you list these posts in your preferences, check the standards first, because failing them removes you from those posts even after a good rank.

Marital Status and Other Conditions

• Marital status: A man who has more than one living wife, and a woman who has married a man who already has a living wife, are not eligible unless the state government grants an exemption.

• Character: Your character must be suitable for government service. Selected candidates go through character and antecedent verification.

• Medical fitness: All selected candidates must be medically fit for the post.

• Attempts: No limit on attempts has been notified, so you can appear in every cycle while you are within the age limit.

Application Fee by Category

The 2026 Prelims application fee, including the processing fee, was as follows. Payment is accepted only online.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Degree pending on the deadline: Candidates who did not hold the required qualification by 29 September 2026, including final-year students awaiting results.

• Outside the age window: Anyone born before 2 July 1984 (without relaxation) or after 1 July 2005.

• Reserved category without Uttarakhand domicile: Such candidates are not barred, but they cannot claim reservation or relaxation and compete as General.

• Wrong degree for a specialised post: Your application stays valid for posts that need any degree, but not for posts whose qualification you do not hold.

• Below physical standards: Candidates who do not meet the standards for police and home guard posts lose those posts.

Eligibility Checklist

1. Confirm your age: Check your date of birth against the window above, adding relaxation only if you hold a valid Uttarakhand certificate.

2. Match your degree to posts: Shortlist the posts your qualification allows and note any physical standards.

3. Get certificates in order: Domicile, category, disability and other certificates should be in the prescribed format.

4. Understand the exam: Read the UKPSC exam pattern to see how Prelims screening, Mains and the Interview work.

5. Start practising: Once you know you are eligible, timed practice matters most.

All rules on this page come from the 2026 advertisement. Rules can change between cycles, so read the full advertisement and any corrigendum on the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission website before you apply.