UPSC Age Limit 2025: Category-Wise Age Limit PDF Download

On February 1, 2023, the official notification for UPSC IAS 2023 was released on the Union Public Service Commission's website, which includes the eligibility criteria for the exam. The eligibility criteria for UPSC CSE 2023 take into account various factors such as nationality, age limit, educational qualification, number of attempts, and medical standards. According to the age limit specified by UPSC, applicants with a graduation degree between the ages of 21 and 32 years are eligible to apply for the UPSC IAS exam.
Prospective candidates who are both interested and eligible for the UPSC IAS 2023 exam are strongly advised to review the eligibility criteria thoroughly. Candidates who belong to reserved categories may be eligible for relaxation in terms of age limit and the number of attempts permitted for the UPSC IAS 2023 exam. Further details regarding the eligibility criteria for UPSC IAS 2023 can be found in the article below.

IAS Eligibility Overview

UPSC Age Limit – Minimum and Maximum Age for IAS

To be eligible for the UPSC IAS 2023 exam, candidates must have completed 21 years of age but not exceed 32 years of age as of August 1, 2023. This means that candidates must have been born between August 2, 1990, and August 1, 2001. The official notification will contain specific information regarding the age limit for UPSC Exam 2023.

IAS Eligibility – Age Relaxation & Number of Attempts

Here is a table of the age relaxations available for different categories in the UPSC Civil Services Examination

Important Information for Disabled Candidates

• The IAS Eligibility criteria for Defence Servicemen offers special age limit relaxation for individuals disabled during hostilities with foreign countries or in disturbed areas and subsequently released due to their disability.
• Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have completed at least 5 years of military service as of August 1, 2023, are entitled to a 5-year age relaxation.
• To qualify for the age relaxation, the individual's assignment must have been extended beyond 5 years, and the Ministry of Defense must issue a certificate stating that they are eligible for civil employment and can be released on three months' notice upon selection from the date of receipt of an offer of appointment.

IAS Eligibility: Educational Qualification

Below are the academic requirements specified in the IAS Eligibility Criteria:

• Minimum qualification for UPSC exam: The candidate must possess a degree from a university recognized by the government, or an equivalent qualification.
• Eligibility for candidates in their final year: Candidates in their final year of study or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for the UPSC preliminary examination. However, they must provide proof of passing the examination when applying for the main IAS examination.
• Acceptable professional and technical qualifications: Professional and technical qualifications recognized by the government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also accepted.
• Eligibility for medical students who have completed their final year: Medical students who have completed their final year of MBBS but have not yet completed their internship are eligible to apply for IAS. However, they must submit a certificate of course completion, including their internship, from the concerned authority of the university or institution along with their Main Examination application.

IAS Eligibility- Nationality

For IAS and IPS:

• Candidate must be a citizen of India.

For all other services:

• Candidate must be a citizen of India, OR
• A subject of Nepal, OR
• A subject of Bhutan, OR
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, OR
• A person of Indian origin (PIO) who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
• Candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), (4), and (5) must obtain a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. They may take the exam before obtaining the certificate, but will only receive an offer of appointment after the certificate has been issued.
• Note that candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), and (4) are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria 2023 - Medical Standard:

• Applicants appearing for the UPSC IAS exam must have good physical and mental health.
• After the UPSC CSE personality test, selected applicants undergo several medical tests at the medical center notified by the UPSC.
• Candidates must pass all the medical tests to get admitted to any of the services.
• Detailed medical requirements for the UPSC CSE exam can be found in the official UPSC IAS notification 2023.

Who are not eligible to apply for UPSC Civil Services 2023:

• Serving officers of Indian Administrative Services (IAS)/ Indian Foreign Services (IFS)/ Indian Police Services (IPS) are not eligible to apply for the UPSC IAS 2023 exam.
• These officers can only appear for the exam if they resign from their current deputation.

Who are not eligible to apply for UPSC Civil Services 2023

The IAS eligibility criteria 2023 states that applicants who are currently serving in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), or Indian Police Services (IPS) cannot apply for the UPSC IAS 2023 exam unless they resign from their current position. This condition is applicable to all candidates, regardless of their experience or years of service in their respective departments.

UPSC Eligibility: Summary

Nationality Eligibility for IAS exam:

• Must be a citizen of India
• Can be a person of Indian origin or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet settled in India before 1st January 1962.

Education Qualification for IAS exam:

• Candidate must hold a Graduate Degree from a recognised University.
• UPSC Civil Services Exam Age Limit
• Candidate must be a minimum of 21 years of age and must not be more than 32 years of age.

Category-wise UPSC CSE Age Limit, Relaxation and Maximum Attempts:

• General Category & EWS: 32 years; 6 attempts.
• OBC (with certificate): 32 years + 3 years; 9 attempts.
• SC/ST: 32 years + 5 years; unlimited attempts.
• Physically Disabled: 32 years + 10 years; Gen/OBC/Person with Benchmark Disability(EWS category)- 9 attempts & SC/ST unlimited attempts.
• Jammu & Kashmir Domicile: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST); Number of attempts depends on the reserved category.
• Disabled and discharged Defence service personnel: 32 years + 3 years + (3 years, if Gen/OBC OR 5 years, if SC/ST).
• Ex-Servicemen Commission Officer: 32 years + 5 years + (3 years, if OBC OR 5 Years, if SC/ST).

Using EduRev Infinity to prepare for UPSC

Now that you are aware of the eligibility criteria for the UPSC exam by reading this article, you should start preparing for the exam. A great resource for UPSC preparation is EduRev, a platform that offers a variety of study materials and resources. With EduRev, you can access previous years' question papers, mock tests, video lectures, and more. You can also connect with other UPSC aspirants and discuss your doubts and queries. Make sure to incorporate EduRev into your study routine to increase your chances of success in the UPSC exam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)on UPSC Eligibility

What is the age limit for the IAS Exam?

Candidates belonging to the General category should not have completed 32 years as on 1st August of that year, while candidates belonging to other categories have relaxations to the upper age limit. The age limit for UPSC CSE is clearly mentioned in the official notification released by the conducting body.

How many attempts are there for the IAS exam?

A general category/EWS category candidate has 6 attempts in the UPSC IAS exam. OBC candidates have 9 attempts, SC/ST candidates have no bar on the number of attempts. EWS category with benchmark disability have 9 attempts, general and OBC physically disabled candidates have 9 attempts. SC/ST physically disabled candidates have no bar on the number of attempts.

Is there any reservation for ex-servicemen in the UPSC exam?

Yes, ex-servicemen are given age relaxations of up to 5 years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years Military Service.

Is there a minimum percentage required in graduation for IAS exam?

No, there is no minimum graduation percentage required for IAS eligibility. Candidates only have to be graduates from a recognised university.

What is the salary of an IAS officer?

The basic entry-level pay of an IAS officer is Rs. 56,100, and officers are given other benefits too like residences, official vehicles, etc.

What is the highest post an IAS officer can reach in his career?

The highest position an IAS officer can aspire to is the Cabinet Secretary of the country.

Is there a lateral entry in the IAS?

Yes, there is a lateral recruitment scheme in civil services since 2018. The government tried to bring in 10 joint secretaries through lateral recruitment. Lateral entry refers to the induction of private sector specialists in government departments.

What is the IAS age limit for general category candidates?

The age limit for IAS exam for general category is between 21 and 32 years, and there are no relaxations for civil service age limit for general category.

Can a 30 year old take the UPSC exam?

Yes, if a candidate has not exhausted their number of attempts, he/she can take the IAS exam at the age of 30 years.

What is the age limit for OBC in UPSC?

The Civil Services age limit for UPSC is between 21 and 32 years of age, and an age relaxation of 3 years is added for OBC candidates, making the maximum age for UPSC 35 years for the OBC category.

Can a candidate who has exhausted his/her number of attempts but is eligible based on the UPSC IAS Exam age limit, apply for the civil services exam?

No, one must fulfil both the criteria of number of attempts and cut off age for IAS exams.

What is the age bar for UPSC?

The minimum age to take the UPSC exam is 21 years, and there are variations in the upper age limit as relaxations are provided to candidates belonging to different categories.

Are there any age relaxations in UPSC for female candidates?

No, there are no separate relaxations for female candidates. The UPSC age criteria are only dependent on the category.