Age Relaxation in Government Jobs: OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwD +10 Years (Full Chart)
Updated 11 Oct 2026 Β· Sarkari Core
Every government recruitment sets a minimum and a maximum age. Many candidates are allowed to be older than that maximum β this extra allowance is called age relaxation. If you belong to a reserved category, have a disability, have served in the armed forces or already work for the government, relaxation can keep you eligible for years after the general age limit has passed.
This guide explains the standard relaxations used in central government recruitment (SSC, RRB, UPSC, banks and central PSUs), how states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar differ, and how to work out your own eligibility.
Quick chart: standard age relaxation in central government jobs
These are the relaxations most central recruitments follow. They are added to the upper age limit of the post.
| Category | Extra years allowed | Example: post with upper limit 27 |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) / EWS | None | 27 years |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years | 30 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 32 years |
| PwD β General / EWS | 10 years | 37 years |
| PwD β OBC | 13 years | 40 years |
| PwD β SC / ST | 15 years | 42 years |
| Ex-servicemen | 3 years after deducting military service from actual age | Depends on length of service |
Two points people often miss:
- EWS candidates get no age relaxation in central recruitment. EWS gives a 10% reservation of seats, but the age limit is the same as for General candidates.
- PwD relaxation already includes the category relaxation. An OBC candidate with a benchmark disability gets 13 years in total (10 + 3), not 10 years plus a separate 3 years on top.
Relaxation for government employees
Candidates who are already in government service often get a higher upper limit. In SSC recruitments, for example, central government civilian employees with at least 3 years of regular, continuous service can usually apply up to 40 years (General), 43 years (OBC) and 45 years (SC/ST) for many Group B and C posts.
State government employees are treated differently: a state usually gives relaxation only to its own employees applying for that state's posts. A UP government employee applying to a UPSSSC post may get relaxation, but the same person applying to an SSC (central) post normally does not β unless the central notification specifically includes state employees. The notification lists exactly which employees qualify and how much service they need.
Widows, divorced and judicially separated women
For several central Group C posts (for example in SSC recruitments), widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their husbands who have not remarried can apply up to 35 years (General), 38 years (OBC) and 40 years (SC/ST). This applies only to the posts named in the notification.
How states differ: UP and Bihar
State recruitment boards set their own age rules, and they are often more generous than the central rules for their own residents.
- Uttar Pradesh (UPSSSC, UPPSC, UP Police): SC, ST and OBC candidates who are domiciled in UP usually get 5 years of relaxation β so OBC candidates get more here than the 3 years they get in central jobs. Many UP posts also give relaxation to UP government employees, ex-servicemen and dependants of freedom fighters.
- Bihar (BPSC, BSSC): Bihar commonly sets different upper limits by category and gender instead of a single number. For many posts the limit is higher for women in the unreserved category, for BC/EBC candidates and highest for SC/ST candidates.
Important: reserved-category relaxation in a state recruitment is usually only for residents (domicile) of that state. If you are OBC from Bihar applying for a UP post, you will generally be treated as a General candidate β with no relaxation.
How to calculate your age correctly
- Find the cut-off date in the notification. It is often written as "age as on 01-01-2026" or "as on the last date of application". It is not the day you fill the form.
- Calculate your age on that exact date from the date of birth on your 10th certificate β the date recruiting bodies accept.
- Check the date-of-birth range. Many notifications state "candidates should be born not before 02-01-1999 and not after 01-01-2008". With relaxation, the earlier date moves back by your relaxation years.
- Add your relaxation to the upper limit and compare.
Worked example: A post has an age limit of 18β27 years as on 01-08-2026. Rahul (OBC, non-creamy layer) was born on 15-03-1997. On 01-08-2026 he is 29 years and 4 months old. The General limit is 27, but his OBC limit is 27 + 3 = 30, so he is eligible. Had he been General, he would be over-age.
If arithmetic is tedious, our eligibility checker compares your date of birth and category against current notifications for you.
Age relaxation and number of attempts
Some exams also limit how many times you can appear, and reserved categories get more attempts. In the UPSC Civil Services Examination, for example, General and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC and PwD (General/EWS/OBC) candidates get 9, and SC/ST candidates have no limit on attempts as long as they are within the age limit. Most SSC and railway exams have no attempt limit β only the age limit applies.
Documents you need to claim relaxation
- Caste certificate (SC/ST) or OBC non-creamy layer certificate in the format the notification asks for β for central jobs this is the central-government format. See our guide to the OBC NCL certificate.
- Disability certificate showing at least 40% benchmark disability, issued by the competent medical authority.
- Discharge certificate for ex-servicemen, or an undertaking if you are about to complete your service.
- No-objection or service certificate from your employer if you claim relaxation as a government employee.
Your claim is checked at document verification. If you cannot produce a valid certificate, your candidature is cancelled even after passing the exam β so never claim a category or relaxation you cannot prove.
Frequently asked questions
Does EWS get age relaxation?
Not in central government recruitment. A few states give EWS candidates some relaxation for their own posts, so check the state notification.
Can I combine two relaxations?
Only where the rules allow it. Disability relaxation combines with category relaxation (as in the chart above). Ex-servicemen and government-employee relaxations usually cannot be stacked on top of each other β you get whichever benefits you more.
Does relaxation also lower the minimum age?
No. Relaxation only raises the upper limit. Everyone must meet the minimum age.
Is women's age relaxation available everywhere?
No. Central recruitments generally give no relaxation simply for being a woman (apart from the widow/divorced provision above). Some states, such as Bihar and Rajasthan, do give extra years to women for their own posts.
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