UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Limit 2026: 35 Years, DOB Cutoff & Relaxation
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UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Limit 2026: 35 Years, DOB Cutoff & Relaxation

If you are checking the UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I age limit 2026, the upper age limit in Advertisement No. 08/2025 is 35 years for UR/EWS candidates, 38 years for OBC candidates and 40 years for SC candidates. The original application closing date was 17 July 2025, so age was reckoned with reference to that closing date. The post is for Administrative Officer Grade-I at Naval Headquarters, Directorate of Civilian Personnel, Ministry of Defence.

This guide explains the category-wise age limit, practical date-of-birth boundaries, applicable relaxation, qualification, experience, vacancy details, job profile and the latest Recruitment Test status. Because applications closed in 2025, the current stage is the recruitment test rather than a fresh application window.

UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Limit 2026 at a Glance

CategoryMaximum ageAge referencePractical DOB boundary
UR35 years17 July 202518 July 1990 or later
EWS35 years17 July 202518 July 1990 or later
OBC38 years17 July 202518 July 1987 or later
SC40 years17 July 202518 July 1985 or later
Eligible PwBDApplicable concession as per rulesAs prescribedCheck the applicable concession

The date-of-birth examples above are practical boundary examples for understanding the age ceiling. Candidates should use the exact age-reckoning rule and the category, certificate and relaxation provisions applicable to their case rather than treating a single DOB example as a substitute for the notification.

What Is the UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Limit?

UPSC Advertisement No. 08/2025 notified eight Administrative Officer Grade-I vacancies at Naval Headquarters, Directorate of Civilian Personnel, Ministry of Defence. The reservation position was UR-04, EWS-01, OBC-02 and SC-01. The advertised upper-age limits were 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 years for OBC and 40 years for SC.

The post is a General Central Service, Group A, Gazetted, Non-Ministerial post at Pay Level 10. The advertisement also states that the vacancies are suitable for specified categories of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Suitability is different from a separately reserved PwBD vacancy, so candidates should read the disability and age-relaxation provisions together.

Nausena Bhawan, Indian Navy Headquarters in Delhi Cantt
Nausena Bhawan, the Indian Navy headquarters building in Delhi Cantt. Source: Ministry of Defence via Wikimedia Commons.

UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I DOB Cutoff 2026

For this recruitment, the original online application closing date was 17 July 2025. That date is important because the advertised age condition is tied to the normal closing date. A candidate who wants to verify eligibility should therefore calculate age as of the prescribed closing date, not the later 2026 Recruitment Test date.

Maximum ageIllustrative latest DOBHow to read it
35 years18 July 1990Birth on or after this date falls within the 35-year ceiling on 17 July 2025.
38 years18 July 1987Birth on or after this date falls within the 38-year ceiling on 17 July 2025.
40 years18 July 1985Birth on or after this date falls within the 40-year ceiling on 17 July 2025.

These boundaries are useful for a quick check, but category status must also match the reservation rules and documentary requirements. OBC candidates, for example, must satisfy the applicable Central Government OBC conditions; an OBC certificate from a different framework does not automatically establish eligibility for UPSC reservation.

For example, a candidate born on 18 July 1990 would be one day short of turning 35 on 17 July 2025 and therefore falls within a 35-year maximum-age rule. The safest approach is to apply the notification’s exact date calculation rather than relying on an approximate age shown by a calculator. The same method applies to the 38-year OBC and 40-year SC ceilings. Candidates should also distinguish the category attached to the vacancy from a personal claim for an age concession. A relaxation can change the permissible upper age only when the governing rule and supporting documents make the candidate eligible for it.

Age Relaxation for Administrative Officer Grade-I

The base upper-age limits are not the only provisions that can matter. UPSC’s general recruitment instructions provide category and service-related concessions where the relevant government rules apply. The exact concession depends on the candidate’s category, status, certificate and the wording applicable to the post.

Candidate situationWhat to check
OBCAdvertised upper age of 38 years and the applicable Central Government OBC requirements.
SCAdvertised upper age of 40 years for the reserved SC vacancy.
PwBDThe post is stated to be suitable for specified PwBD categories; applicable PwBD age concession should be checked under UPSC instructions.
Government employeeCheck whether the applicable Central Government age concession for government servants applies to the candidate’s service status.
Other special categoriesCheck the specific UPSC advertisement and current government instructions before relying on any additional concession.

Do not add different relaxations together automatically. Where more than one concession may appear relevant, the controlling UPSC instruction and the candidate’s documentary status determine the permissible age.

Vacancy and Reservation Details

DetailInformation
PostAdministrative Officer Grade-I
Vacancy number25060803428
AdvertisementUPSC Advertisement No. 08/2025
Total vacancies8
UR4
EWS1
OBC2
SC1
PwBDPost suitable for specified PwBD categories; no separate PwBD-reserved vacancy was listed

Educational Qualification

The essential educational qualification is a degree from a recognized University or Institute. The qualification is therefore broad at the degree level, but education alone is not sufficient because the advertisement also prescribes relevant experience.

Experience Required

Candidates must have three years of experience in a supervisory capacity in administration, accounts and establishment work in a Government office, Public Sector Undertaking, Autonomous body or Statutory body. The experience condition is an essential part of eligibility and should be supported by appropriate certificates.

RequirementMinimum prescribed condition
EducationDegree from a recognized University or Institute
Experience3 years in a supervisory capacity
Experience areasAdministration, accounts and establishment work
Acceptable organization typesGovernment office, PSU, Autonomous body or Statutory body

UPSC also stated that qualifications may be relaxed at its discretion for otherwise well-qualified candidates, subject to the conditions in the advertisement. The experience requirement may likewise be considered for relaxation for SC candidates in the circumstances specified by UPSC. Such provisions are discretionary and should not be treated as an automatic exemption.

Administrative Officer Grade-I Job Profile

The post is connected with civilian personnel administration at Naval Headquarters. The advertised duties include dealing with personnel, legal, financial, administrative and establishment matters relating to civilian employees of the Indian Navy. The role therefore combines administrative coordination with personnel and establishment responsibilities.

  • Handling personnel and establishment matters for civilian employees.
  • Dealing with administrative and financial matters.
  • Processing matters connected with recruitment, promotion, upgradation and transfer or posting of civilian employees.
  • Handling court and disciplinary matters within the assigned area.
  • Working on pay and allowances and related service matters.
  • Performing other duties assigned by the competent authority.

Pay Level, Service Status and Posting

Service detailInformation
Pay levelLevel 10 under the 7th CPC Pay Matrix
ClassificationGeneral Central Service, Group A
StatusGazetted, Non-Ministerial
NaturePermanent
Probation1 year
HeadquartersNaval Headquarters, New Delhi
Service liabilityAll India Service Liability

Current UPSC Recruitment Test Status

The recruitment has moved beyond the application stage. UPSC’s current Recruitment Test notices list the eight Administrative Officer Grade-I vacancies under Advertisement No. 08/2025 and Vacancy No. 25060803428. UPSC’s combined Recruitment Test for this post, together with the Manager Grade-I/Section Officer and Accounts Officer recruitments, is scheduled for 27 September 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Test detailCurrent information
Recruitment Test date27 September 2026
Time11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
ModeOffline, pen-and-paper based
MediumHindi and English
StageRecruitment Test for shortlisting
Admit cardIssued through the UPSC ORA e-Admit Card system

The current UPSC ORA e-Admit Card portal also lists this Administrative Officer Grade-I recruitment alongside the Manager Grade-I/Section Officer and Accounts Officer posts, with the Recruitment Test date shown as 27 September 2026. Candidates who applied should rely on their e-Admit Card and UPSC instructions for the final venue and reporting requirements.

Indian Navy officials in an office in New Delhi
Indian Navy officials in an office in New Delhi. Source: Indian Navy via Wikimedia Commons.

Recruitment Test and Selection Process

UPSC introduced the combined Recruitment Test to shortlist candidates for the three listed recruitment cases. The test is offline and objective, with the detailed scheme and syllabus governed by the applicable UPSC notice. UPSC’s general recruitment framework commonly uses the Recruitment Test followed by interview, with the final merit process applying the weightage specified in the notice.

For candidates who applied in 2025, the important point is that age eligibility was determined at the recruitment stage specified in the advertisement; the September 2026 test date does not reset the age calculation. The 2026 test is the later selection event for the already-advertised vacancies.

Application Date and Fee

Application detailInformation
AdvertisementNo. 08/2025
Application opened28 June 2025
Original closing date17 July 2025
Application modeOnline Recruitment Application (ORA)
Current application statusClosed; recruitment test stage

Since the application window has closed, a new candidate cannot use this article as an indication that applications are currently open. The useful purpose of the 2026 update is to explain the age rule and document the present recruitment-test stage for candidates who applied under Advertisement No. 08/2025.

How to Check Your Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Eligibility

  1. Identify the category under which you applied: UR, EWS, OBC or SC.
  2. Use 17 July 2025 as the relevant closing-date reference for the original recruitment.
  3. Compare your date of birth with the applicable 35-, 38- or 40-year ceiling.
  4. Check whether a valid PwBD or other applicable government-service concession applies to your case.
  5. Verify that your degree and three years of prescribed supervisory experience satisfy the notification.
  6. Keep the certificates used to establish category, education and experience available for document verification.

For a broader explanation of age cutoffs, DOB boundaries and category-based government recruitment rules, see our Government Job Age Eligibility Guide. For the other recruitment in the same combined test, see UPSC Manager Grade-I / Section Officer Age Limit 2026.

Important Documents to Verify

  • Degree certificate or provisional degree and supporting mark sheets.
  • Experience certificates showing dates, nature of duties and supervisory responsibilities.
  • SC/OBC/EWS documentation as applicable to the recruitment.
  • PwBD certificate and related documents where a disability concession is claimed.
  • Government-service or employer certificates where an additional service-based concession is claimed.
  • UPSC application and e-Admit Card details for candidates proceeding to the Recruitment Test.

Key Points to Remember

  • 35 years is the upper age limit for UR/EWS candidates.
  • 38 years is the upper age limit for OBC candidates.
  • 40 years is the upper age limit for SC candidates.
  • The original age reference was the 17 July 2025 application closing date.
  • The post requires a recognized university degree plus three years of specified supervisory experience.
  • There were 8 vacancies: UR-04, EWS-01, OBC-02 and SC-01.
  • The post is a permanent Group A Gazetted, Non-Ministerial role at Level 10.
  • The current Recruitment Test is scheduled for 27 September 2026, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
  • Applications are closed; candidates should use the current UPSC notices and e-Admit Card for the test stage.

FAQ: UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I Age Limit 2026

Official Sources and Final Eligibility Check

The primary reference for the vacancy was UPSC Advertisement No. 08/2025, which specified the vacancy, age limits, qualifications, experience and service conditions. The latest recruitment-test status is reflected in UPSC’s Recruitment Test notices and the UPSC ORA e-Admit Card portal. Candidates should use those official notices for any later change to the test date, venue or instructions.

Bottom line: For the UPSC Administrative Officer Grade-I recruitment under Advertisement No. 08/2025, the advertised age ceiling was 35 years for UR/EWS, 38 years for OBC and 40 years for SC, measured against the original closing-date framework. The application process is over, and the recruitment has progressed to the combined Recruitment Test scheduled for 27 September 2026.