What is a cut-off date?
It is the date on which the recruiting body measures an eligibility condition. For age, the notice may say “must have attained 18 years and must not have attained 30 years as on 1 August 2026.” Use that date even if registration opens or closes on another day.
Completed age matters
Age is normally counted in completed years on the cut-off date. Someone becomes 18 on their eighteenth birthday, not at the start of that calendar year. Months and days help check a boundary but the notice’s exact wording controls inclusion.
Minimum and maximum age
A minimum age asks whether the required birthday has already occurred by the cut-off. A maximum age asks whether you have crossed the allowed upper boundary. Many notices make this easier by publishing “born not earlier than” and “born not later than” dates.
Age relaxation is conditional
SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, ex-servicemen, departmental employees and other groups may receive relaxation, but the amount and certificate conditions differ. Do not add a general relaxation found online. Read the table in the current notification and confirm that your category and certificate meet it.
How to check your age
- Copy your date of birth exactly from the accepted certificate.
- Copy the cut-off date exactly from the official notice.
- Use the age calculator to find completed years, months and days.
- Compare the result with the minimum, maximum and relaxation rule.
- If you are exactly on a boundary, also check the notice’s permitted birth-date range.
Common mistakes
Applicants often use today’s date, the application deadline, the exam date or an old notification’s cut-off. Another common error is claiming relaxation before confirming the certificate format and issue date. Save the relevant eligibility page from the PDF with your records.