UPSC SO / Steno LDCE Eligibility
Last verified 31 Jul 2026
UPSC SO / Steno LDCE eligibility requires the following. Restricted to departmental candidates already serving in the relevant cadres. This is a limited departmental examination — it is not open to the general public. The age limit is As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre, applied on the crucial date in the notice.
Educational qualification
Restricted to departmental candidates already serving in the relevant cadres. This is a limited departmental examination — it is not open to the general public.
Age limit
As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre, applied on the crucial date in the notice.
Age relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 10 years |
| Defence Services personnel disabled in operations | 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen (commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs) | 5 years |
A candidate who belongs to SC, ST or OBC and is also an Ex-serviceman or PwBD candidate is eligible for cumulative relaxation under both heads.
Number of attempts
As prescribed in the Recruitment Rules for the cadre.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or fall within the other categories of nationality set out in the Examination Notice — which for most services include subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1 January 1962, and persons of Indian origin who have migrated from certain countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.