The number of attempts allowed in the UPSC exam varies depending on the category and the type of exam. Let me explain it to you in detail.

For the Civil Services Examination (CSE), the number of attempts allowed for general category candidates is 6. For OBC candidates, the number of attempts is 9, and for SC/ST candidates, it is unlimited.

It is important to note that an attempt is considered only if a candidate has appeared in any of the papers of the CSE exam. If a candidate has submitted their application form but has not appeared for any paper of the exam, then that attempt will not be counted.

In addition to the CSE, there are certain other exams conducted by UPSC, such as

Combined Defence Services (CDS), National Defence Academy (NDA), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), which have different limits on the number of attempts allowed.

For CDS exam, there is no limit on the number of attempts for candidates belonging to the SC/ST category. For general and OBC candidates, the number of attempts is limited to 6.

For NDA exam, candidates are allowed to appear for the exam a maximum of two times. However, this limit is not applicable to candidates belonging to the SC/ST category.

For CAPF exam, the number of attempts allowed for general category candidates is 4, while OBC candidates are allowed 7 attempts. There is no limit on the number of attempts for candidates belonging to the SC/ST category.

It is important for candidates to keep track of the number of attempts they have already made and plan their future attempts accordingly. Candidates should also refer to the official notification issued by UPSC for the specific exam they are interested in for the most accurate and up-to-date information on the number of attempts allowed.