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Some exams reuse almost all of your GS reading, CSAT practice and optional. Some reuse one part, and some very little. This page sorts them by how much transfers, with each exam’s age limit.
The exam most similar to UPSC CSE is the Indian Forest Service. Its Prelims is the CSE Prelims: one sitting serves both.
Next come the state PCS exams that copy UPSC’s three stages, then UPSC’s own CAPF Assistant Commandant exam, whose second paper is General Studies, Essay and Comprehension.
No commission publishes a similarity score, so this ranking is our judgement. It rests on three questions you can check yourself against each notification:
The age limits in the tables are not judgement. Each was read from an official notification, linked in the right-hand column.
UPSC’s 2027 calendar lists the IFoS Preliminary Examination as held “through CS(P) Examination 2027”. If you apply for both, one sitting counts for both.
The Mains is where they part: IFoS has its own papers, including two optional subjects from a list of science, engineering and agriculture disciplines. Our IFoS vs IFS guide explains the difference between the two services.
| Exam & conducting body | Age limit (General) | Attempts | Eligibility | What to know | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Forest Service (IFoS)UPSCCloses 28–37 | 21–32as on 1 August 2026 | 6 (General/EWS); 9 OBC; unlimited SC/ST | Graduate with at least one of Animal Husbandry, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Maths, Physics, Statistics, Zoology, or an Agriculture/Forestry/Engineering degree | IFoS Prelims is held through the CSE Preliminary examination, so one sitting serves both. Mains is separate, with two optional subjects chosen from a list of science, engineering and agriculture disciplines.Practise its previous year questions → | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
An em dash means we could not confirm that field in an official source, not that no limit exists — open the official link before you rely on it. Age limits shown are the General/UR ceiling; OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations apply on top.
States run their own civil services exams. The ones built most closely on UPSC’s model — UPPSC, MPPSC and UKPSC — have a GS and CSAT prelims, descriptive mains and an interview. You add state general knowledge.
Our state PCS comparison sets seven of them side by side, and the domicile guide covers who can apply from outside the state.
| Exam & conducting body | Age limit (General) | Attempts | Eligibility | What to know | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State PCS — UPPSC, MPPSC and RPSC (RAS)Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Public Service CommissionsOpen at 35+ | Under 40 in all three (MPPSC uniformed posts: under 33)as on UPPSC 1 Jul 2026 · MPPSC 1 Jan 2026 · RPSC 1 Jan 2027 | UPPSC: no cap stated. RPSC and MPPSC: none in the sections read | A degree | All three keep their flagship exam open until just before 40. The reckoning dates differ — UP counts age on 1 July, MP and Rajasthan on 1 January — so the same birthday can leave you inside one and outside another. Rajasthan adds one extra year in its 2026 cycle.
| uppsc.up.nic.in ↗ |
| BPSC Combined Competitive Examination (Bihar)Bihar PSCCloses 28–37 | 37 for unreserved men; 40 for unreserved women and BC/EBC; 42 for SC/STas on 1 August 2026 (72nd CCE) | No cap — abolished in 2003 (serving Bihar government employees: 5) | A degree; a few posts need a specific subject (Financial Administrative Officer: Commerce, Economics, Maths or Statistics) | Bihar sets its ceiling by category and sex rather than one number: 37 for unreserved men, 40 for unreserved women and BC/EBC candidates, 42 for SC/ST. The minimum is 20, 21 or 22 depending on the service. Attempts are unlimited except for serving Bihar government employees, who are allowed five.Practise its previous year questions → | bpsc.bihar.gov.in ↗ |
| TNPSC Group I (Tamil Nadu)Tamil Nadu PSCCloses 28–37 | 21 to under 34 (reserved communities: 39)as on 1 July 2025 (Notification 04/2025) | No cap stated | A degree | Tamil Nadu’s flagship exam closes before 34 for candidates outside the reserved communities and before 39 for BC, MBC, SC and ST candidates. A law degree adds a year for Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Taxes). The 2024 and 2025 notifications set the same ceilings. | tnpsc.gov.in ↗ |
| State PSC subordinate services (Naib Tehsildar, BDO, Sub-Registrar…)All State PSCsPost-wise | The combined exam’s rule: under 40 in UP, MP and Rajasthan; under 32 for most TNPSC Group II postsas on see each example | No cap stated by UPPSC, TNPSC or RPSC; MPPSC not fully confirmed | A degree for most posts; some need a specific degree | In UP, MP and Rajasthan there is no separate, easier exam for these subordinate posts: UP’s PCS fills Naib Tehsildar, Sub-Registrar and BDO, MP’s State Service Exam fills Naib Tehsildar and Sub-Registrar, and Rajasthan’s RAS/RTS carries 415 subordinate posts including Tehsildar — all through the same combined exam as the flagship posts, and your rank decides which post you get. Tamil Nadu is different — its Group II is a separate examination.
| rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in ↗ |
| Other state PCS exams — Haryana (HCS) and ChhattisgarhRespective State PSCsPost-wise | Haryana HCS 18–42; Chhattisgarh 21–30 from other states, 21–40 for domicilesas on see each example | No cap stated by HPSC or CGPSC | A degree | Of the state PCS exams checked, only Haryana’s HCS has a General ceiling above 40. Domicile can matter more than the headline number: Chhattisgarh closes at 30 for candidates from other states but runs to 40 for its own domiciles. Check your home state first: in UP, Rajasthan, Haryana and Bihar, reserved-category age relaxations go only to the state’s own residents.
| hpsc.gov.in ↗ |
| State Commercial Tax / GST officer postsState PSCs / boardsPost-wise | The combined exam’s rule: under 40 in UP and Rajasthan; Tamil Nadu under 34 (Group I) or under 32 (Group II)as on see each example | No cap stated in any advertisement read | A degree; Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Commercial Tax Officer takes a B.A., B.Sc. or B.Com. with a preference for Commerce or Law | In every state checked, recruited inside the combined exam rather than separately, so the age rule is the combined exam’s. A cycle can carry no vacancies at all — Rajasthan’s 2026 round had none for commercial tax.
| uppsc.up.nic.in ↗ |
| State statistical postsState PSCs / boardsPost-wise | Rajasthan Statistical Officer under 40; Gujarat Research/Statistical Assistant 18–37; Bihar Junior Statistical Assistant 37 (UR men) to 42 (SC/ST)as on see each example | No cap in Rajasthan or Gujarat; Bihar abolished its cap (serving Bihar government employees: 5) | Varies by level. Rajasthan’s Statistical Officer needs a second-class Master’s in Economics, Statistics or a related subject plus a year of official-statistics experience; Bihar’s Junior Statistical Assistant is a graduate-level post | A good fit for economics and statistics graduates, but the level matters: officer grades want a Master’s, assistant grades a degree. | rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in ↗ |
An em dash means we could not confirm that field in an official source, not that no limit exists — open the official link before you rely on it. Age limits shown are the General/UR ceiling; OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations apply on top.
These exams test the general studies you already know but package it differently. The CAPF Assistant Commandant exam sets Paper-I, General Ability and Intelligence, and Paper-II, General Studies, Essay and Comprehension.
CDS has a General Knowledge paper. UPSC’s EPFO recruitment tests mix general studies with labour law, social security and accountancy — that job-specific block was about three in ten questions in the 2023 and 2025 APFC papers. The subject weightage, counted from 360 questions across three past APFC papers, is on our EPFO APFC syllabus page.
SSC CGL is among the most open of the group: a degree in any subject for most posts, ceilings up to 32 and no attempt cap. Its General Awareness section overlaps UPSC GS.
| Exam & conducting body | Age limit (General) | Attempts | Eligibility | What to know | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPF Assistant Commandant (AC)UPSCCloses by 27 | 20–25as on 1 August 2026 | No cap stated | Graduate | Gazetted officer entry to BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB. The written stage is Paper-I, General Ability and Intelligence (250 marks), and Paper-II, General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (200 marks). Paper-II overlaps the most with CSE preparation.Practise its previous year questions → | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Combined Defence Services (CDS)UPSCCloses by 27 | 19–25, academy-wise (IMA & INA 24; OTA 25)as on 1 July of the year the course begins | No cap stated | Graduate; branch-specific (INA: an engineering degree or a B.Sc. with Physics; AFA: a degree with Physics and Maths at 10+2, or a B.E.) | Officer entry to IMA, INA, Air Force Academy and OTA. Candidates must be unmarried, except that married candidates aged 25 or above may apply for AFA, and issueless widows and divorcees for the OTA women’s entry. Your GS reading covers much of the General Knowledge paper.Practise its previous year questions → | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| EPFO — Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC)UPSC (for EPFO)Closes 28–37 | Up to 35as on age reckoned as on the prescribed closing date for submission of the online application — 11 September 2026 for this advertisement | No cap stated | Graduate; a Diploma in Company Law, Labour Laws or Public Administration is desirable | One of the most age-generous UPSC recruitments: a Group-A officer post open to 35, three years past the CSE ceiling for General candidates, with no attempt cap. Relaxable by up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.Practise its previous year questions → | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| EPFO — Enforcement Officer / Accounts Officer (EO/AO)UPSC (for EPFO)Closes 28–37 | Up to 30as on age reckoned as on the prescribed closing date for submission of the online application — 18 August 2025 for this advertisement | No cap stated | Graduate | Group B (Non-Ministerial) posts in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, recruited by UPSC. Last advertised July 2025; no EO/AO vacancy has appeared in a 2026 advertisement so far.Practise its previous year questions → | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Combined Graduate Level (CGL)SSCCloses 28–37 | 18–32, post-wise (bands: 18–27, 18–30, 20–30, 18–32)as on 1 August 2026 | No cap stated | Bachelor’s degree for most posts. Junior Statistical Officer additionally needs 60% in Mathematics at 12th level or Statistics at degree level; Statistical Investigator Gr-II needs a degree in Statistics, Maths, Economics or a related quantitative subject | The flagship graduate exam: Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer in central ministries, Auditor, Excise Inspector. No attempt cap — the word does not appear in the 132-page notice.Practise its previous year questions → | ssc.gov.in ↗ |
An em dash means we could not confirm that field in an official source, not that no limit exists — open the official link before you rely on it. Age limits shown are the General/UR ceiling; OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations apply on top.
If you chose an optional from your own degree, each exam below is built on that one subject.
The Indian Statistical Service takes a Bachelor’s degree with Statistics. Of the two, only the Economic Service needs a postgraduate degree.
| Exam & conducting body | Age limit (General) | Attempts | Eligibility | What to know | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Economic / Statistical Service (IES/ISS)UPSCCloses 28–37 | 21–30as on 1 August 2026 | No cap stated | Indian Economic Service: postgraduate degree in Economics. Indian Statistical Service: a Bachelor’s degree with Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics as a subject in every year of the course, or a Master’s in one of those | Specialist Group-A cadre. The Statistical Service accepts a Bachelor’s with Statistics studied in every year of the course — a one- or two-semester component does not count — so it does not require a postgraduate degree. | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Combined Geo-ScientistUPSCCloses 28–37 | 21–32as on 1 January of the exam year | No cap stated | Master’s in Geology, Geophysics, Physics or Applied Physics (Geophysicist posts), Chemistry, Hydrogeology or a related discipline (post-wise) | Scientist posts in the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board. | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Engineering Services (ESE / IES)UPSCCloses 28–37 | 21–30as on 1 January 2026 | No cap stated | An engineering degree in any branch, or an equivalent such as AMIE Sections A and B; you then sit one of four streams (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecom) | Group-A and Group-B engineer posts across central ministries. Relaxable to 35 for specified serving government servants. | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Combined Medical Services (CMS)UPSCCloses 28–37 | Up to 32 (35 for CHS General Duty Medical Officer)as on 1 August 2026 | No cap stated | MBBS (final-year candidates may apply, subject to the notification) | Medical officer posts in the Railways, Delhi municipal services and the Central Health Service. No minimum age is prescribed. | upsc.gov.in ↗ |
| Higher Judicial Service — District Judge (direct from the Bar)State High CourtsOpen at 35+ | 35–45 in all six states verifiedas on varies — Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat reckon on the last date for applications; Rajasthan on 1 January following the closing date; Uttar Pradesh on 01.01.2024 for the 2023 cycle | No cap stated in any notification read | Seven years’ continuous practice as an advocate as on the closing date — uniform across all six states checked | A second-career route for practising advocates, with a minimum age of 35. The General-category window was 35 to 45 in every state read — Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh — though some close just before the 45th birthday and others allow 45 itself. A ceiling of 48 applies only to reserved categories, in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
| delhihighcourt.nic.in ↗ |
| Civil Judge (Junior Division) / Judicial ServicesState High Courts / State PSCsPost-wise | Set by each state: Delhi up to 32; Gujarat up to 35; Rajasthan 21–under 40as on varies — Rajasthan reckons on 1 January following the closing date, Gujarat on the closing date itself, Delhi on 1 January of the year applications are invited | No cap stated in any notification read | An LLB alone no longer qualifies in several states. Delhi now requires at least 3 years’ practice as an advocate, and Gujarat requires current practice on the closing date | The entry judicial cadre, and a route where the eligibility rules have tightened: Delhi now requires three years’ practice at the Bar, following the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment, and Gujarat already required current practice in its 2024-25 round, so two of the three states read require practice at the Bar before you can sit. Check your own state’s current rule before planning a fresh-graduate attempt. | hcraj.nic.in ↗ |
| UGC-NET — Assistant Professor eligibilityNational Testing Agency (for UGC)Open at 35+ | No upper age limit | No cap stated | A Master’s degree with at least 55% (50% for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD and third-gender candidates). Final-year candidates may apply provisionally | The NTA bulletin states there is no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility — and it sets no attempt cap either. It qualifies you for lectureship, which you then apply for college by college; it is an eligibility test, not a job offer. | cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in ↗ |
An em dash means we could not confirm that field in an official source, not that no limit exists — open the official link before you rely on it. Age limits shown are the General/UR ceiling; OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen relaxations apply on top.
Banking exams share UPSC’s current affairs and economy, but they also test reasoning, quantitative aptitude and English under tight time limits — the CSAT side of your preparation.
They are still worth a place in a plan B: IBPS recruits every year, and only two banking exams on our list cap attempts. Budget practice time for the speed sections. The age limits are on our government exams by age limit page.
The Indian Forest Service Examination is the closest, because its first stage is the same examination: UPSC holds the IFoS Preliminary Examination through the Civil Services Preliminary Examination. After that come the state PCS exams that copy UPSC's three-stage structure of GS plus CSAT prelims, descriptive mains and interview — UPPSC, MPPSC and UKPSC follow it most closely. UPSC's own CAPF Assistant Commandant exam is next, since its Paper-II is General Studies, Essay and Comprehension.
Yes. The state PCS exams that mirror UPSC's GS and CSAT prelims reuse most of your preparation; the main addition is state-specific general knowledge, which is usually one or two papers or sections. Your home state is normally the best choice, because its general knowledge is familiar and domicile gives you reservation and age relaxation you cannot use elsewhere.
It is conducted by UPSC and shares a good deal of CSE's general studies, but the structure differs. The written stage is two papers: Paper-I, General Ability and Intelligence (250 marks), and Paper-II, General Studies, Essay and Comprehension (200 marks). Physical Standards and Physical Efficiency Tests follow, then an interview; Medical Standards Tests come last, only for those who sat the interview. The age window is 20 to 25 for General candidates, so it suits aspirants early in their preparation rather than late.
If your optional was Economics, the Indian Economic Service needs a postgraduate degree in Economics. If Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics was a subject in every year of your Bachelor's degree, the Indian Statistical Service accepts it at Bachelor's level. A Master's in Geology feeds the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, an engineering degree feeds the Engineering Services Examination, an MBBS feeds Combined Medical Services, and a law degree feeds the state judicial services, though Delhi and Gujarat now also require practice at the Bar before you can sit. UGC-NET tests your postgraduate subject and has no upper age limit for Assistant Professor eligibility.
Partly. SSC CGL Tier-I has four sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. The General Awareness section draws on the same history, polity, geography, economy and current affairs you study for UPSC. The other three sections are closer to CSAT. The General age ceiling is post-wise, from 27 to 32, and the notification sets no cap on attempts.
Less so than the exams above. IBPS and SBI examinations share UPSC's current-affairs and economy content, but their papers also test reasoning, quantitative aptitude and English under tight time limits — skills CSAT covers, but not at that speed. RBI Grade B, an officer-level entry to the central bank held in two phases, is the closest in level; NABARD Grade A, whose work is rural credit and development finance, is the closest in mandate.
Work through a real CAPF, CDS or EPFO paper before you commit a year to one.
Sources: UPSC’s Annual Calendar 2027 and the CAPF (ACs) 2026 notification for paper structure; SSC’s Notice of Examination for the CGL Tier-I sections; an official notification for each exam’s age limit, linked row by row. The grouping by similarity is our editorial judgement, explained above.
Last checked against the official documents: 12 September 2026.