UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 - Age Limit, Qualification, Attempts

UPSC Eligibility includes parameters such as age limit, nationality, educational qualification, etc. which decides whether or not an individual is eligible to apply for the UPSC CSE exam. An Indian citizen who is at least 21 years old and has completed graduation or is in the final year of graduation can apply for the CSE exam as per the UPSC eligibility criteria.

Candidates appearing for Civil Services Examination must meet specific UPSC eligibility criteria to be eligible to appear for the Prelims and Mains exam. This rigorous selection process aims to ensure that only the most qualified and competent individuals join the esteemed civil services of India, contributing to the efficient governance and development of the nation.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024

Candidates appearing for UPSC 2024, must check the official notification scheduled to be released on 14 February 2024 to check their eligibility criteria.

UPSC Age Limit

The UPSC age limit for the General category candidates is 21 to 32 years. For eligibility in the UPSC examination, candidates must meet the age criteria specified as follows: they must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1, 2024. This means candidates must have been born between August 2, 1992, and August 1, 2003.

UPSC Age Relaxation

The UPSC upper age limit mentioned above can be relaxed under certain circumstances:

1. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes are eligible for a maximum relaxation of five years.
2. Candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBC) eligible for reservation can avail of a maximum relaxation of three years.
3. Defence Services Personnel who were disabled in operations during hostilities with a foreign country or in a disturbed area and subsequently released can get a maximum relaxation of three years.
4. Ex-servicemen, including Commissioned Officers, Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs), and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs), who have completed at least five years of military service as of August 1, 2023, and have been released due to completion of the assignment, physical disability attributable to military service, or invalidment, can avail a maximum relaxation of five years.
5. ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of five years of military service as of August 1, 2023, and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years can get a maximum relaxation of five years. They must have a certificate from the Ministry of Defence stating their eligibility for civil employment with a three months notice period for release upon selection for the position.
6. Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories, such as blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, muscular dystrophy, autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness, can avail a maximum relaxation of ten years.

UPSC Qualification

The UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria include the following Academic Qualifications:

• A candidate must possess a degree from Government-recognized University or an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for the UPSC Prelims Examination. However, they must provide proof of having passed the required examination while applying for the UPSC Mains Examination.
• Candidates with professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also eligible.
• Medical students who have passed the final year of MBBS but have not completed their internship can also apply for UPSC CSE. However, they need to submit a certificate of course completion from the concerned authority of the University/Institution along with their Mains Exam application.

UPSC Eligibility - Nationality Criteria

For IAS, IPS and IFS:

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.

For All Other Services:

The candidate must be either:

1. A citizen of India, or
2. A citizen of Nepal, or
3. A citizen of Bhutan, or
4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently, or
5. A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, intending to settle in India permanently.

Candidates who are a citizen of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibetan Refugee must furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. They can appear for the exam before obtaining the certificate of eligibility, but they will receive the offer of appointment only after the Government of India issues the certificate.

Number of Attempts in UPSC

The number of attempts allowed for the UPSC Civil Services Examination varies based on the category of the candidate. Here are the attempt limits:

• General Category: 6 attempts until the age of 32 years.
• OBC Candidates: 9 attempts until the age of 35 years.
• SC/ST Candidates: Unlimited attempts until the age of 37 years.
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 9 attempts until the age of 42 years.
• EWS Category: 6 attempts until the age of 32 years.

Restrictions on Applying for the UPSC Exam

Candidates appointed to the IAS or IFS posts, based on the results of a previous examination and currently serving in either of these two services, will not be eligible to appear in the exams for that specific year.

Similarly, a candidate previously appointed to the IPS Position based on the results of a previous examination and currently serving as an IPS officer will not be eligible to select the IPS as an option in the exams for that particular year.

UPSC Physical Eligibility - Medical and Physical Standards

It is essential to ensure that a candidate possesses the necessary physical fitness and capabilities required for the role of a Bureaucrat, as specified in the UPSC eligibility criteria.

• Candidates who successfully pass the UPSC CSE undergo several stages, including qualifying for a medical test. Upon clearing this specific test, candidates become eligible to be appointed as Civil Servants.
• Certain standard physical requirements such as weight, height, and chest measurements are necessary for the selection of officers, especially those being appointed as IPS officers for districts or Indian Railway services and the police services of Pondicherry, among others.
• However, non-technical fields do not have stringent physical standards, but candidates are expected to meet basic demands, such as being physically fit and mentally stable.
• These physical standards are determined according to the guidelines provided in Appendix-III of the Rules for Examination published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated February 02, 2023.

FAQs on UPSC Eligibility

What is the UPSC Eligibility Criteria?

The UPSC Eligibility Criteria for the Civil Services Examination include the following:

• Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India
• Age Limit: The candidate's age must be between 21 and 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year. Certain relaxations are provided for candidates belonging to reserved categories and other specific groups.
• Educational Qualification: The candidate must hold a degree from a university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a university under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

What is UPSC Age Limit 2024?

The candidate's age must be between 21 years and 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year.

Will the Govt reduce the Age limit for UPSC?

No, the Government will not reduce the UPSC Age Limit. Any changes to the exam's age limit would be officially communicated through notifications or official announcements on the UPSC website and in leading newspapers.

How many attempts are there in UPSC?

The number of attempts allowed for the UPSC CSE varies based on the candidate's category. Here are the attempt limits:

• General Category Candidates: 6 attempts until the age of 32 years.
• OBC Candidates: 9 attempts until the age of 35 years.
• SC/ST Candidates: Unlimited attempts until the age of 37 years.
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): The number of attempts is 9.

What is the Educational Qualification required for IAS?

To be eligible for the IAS Exam conducted by UPSC, a candidate must hold a degree from a recognised university in India. Even those in their final year of graduation can apply, but they need to provide proof of passing the degree exam during the main IAS examination application process.

Can 12th pass apply for UPSC?

No, a 12th-pass candidate cannot directly apply for the UPSC CSE. The minimum educational qualification required for UPSC CSE is a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Candidates who have completed their graduation or are in the final year of graduation can apply for the examination.

What is the minimum percentage required for graduation for UPSC?

There is no specific minimum percentage required for graduation to appear for the UPSC CSE. The eligibility criterion for the UPSC CSE is a Bachelor's degree from any university recognised by an Act of Parliament in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a university under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

What is the maximum UPSC Age Limit to appear for the CSE exam?

The maximum age limit to appear for the UPSC CSE varies based on the candidate's category. Here are the maximum age limits:

• General Category Candidates: The maximum age limit is 32 years as of August 1 of the exam year.
• OBC Candidates: The maximum age limit is 35 years as of August 1 of the exam year.
• SC/ST Candidates: The maximum age limit is 37 years as of August 1 of the exam year.
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): The maximum age limit is different for each PwBD category and varies between 35 to 42 years as of August 1 of the exam year.

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