What is the Age Limit For UPSC?

We all know UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) is the gateway to the most prestigious and high-ranking job profiles in India. It is a constitutional body in India that conducts the primary examination for the Civil Service and manages the recruitment of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and other central services.

The civil servants selected by the board members of the Union Public Service Commission play a crucial role in governing the policy formulation, implementation and administration of the nation. They have the power to influence the masses and build the nation through effective public administration. Not only that, but along with recognition and prestige civil service examinations also offer strong job security and added attractive benefits.

Now, let us understand who can apply for UPSC and what is the age limit for UPSC. In this blog, we will discuss the eligibility criteria for taking UPSC examinations so that you can get an overview of the requirements and ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications before beginning your preparation.

What is the UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024? 

The UPSC Exam Eligibility Criteria provides the required details that need to be fulfilled to ensure candidates meet the qualifications for taking the civil service examination.

Let’s understand the age limit and age relaxation for civil service examination with an example. Suppose, Prashant wants to apply for UPSC 2024, then as per UPSC eligibility criteria he shouldn’t have been born earlier than (date assumed) 18th July 1993 and not later than 17th July 2003.

Let’s understand how the age limit would change for appearing in the civil service examination if Prashant belongs to the

• General Category

• Other Backward Classes

• Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST)

• Physical Disabled

• Ex-Serviceman (discharged due to disability)

• Ex-Serviceman (discharged after 5 years of duty)

• Jammu and Kashmir Domicile

UPSC Updated Age Limit Summary

UPSC Age Limit Relaxations for SC/ST/OBC

The following are the age limit relaxations for SC/ST/OBC:

1. The candidates who belong to the category of SC/S, there is an age relaxation of up to 5 years.

2. For Other Backward Classes (OBC), the age relaxation is up to 3 years.

3. If a Defense Services Personnelis disabled while on duty (that is, while combating a foreign country), the age limit is relaxed by a maximum of 3 years.

4. Those applicants who are ex-servicemen, commissioned Officers, or SSCO/ECO and had served 5 years in the Military and then released, get an age relaxation of 5 years.

5. This holds true for completion of assignments including those that need to be completed by August 1, 2025. However, it doesn’t cover cases where someone is discharged or dismissed due to misconduct, poor performance, or physical ability caused by military service.

6. You get a 5-year relaxation, if you are an ECO/SSCO

   who has completed 5 years of military service by August 2024.

7. If you are a candidate from the PwBD category

   , such as being deaf-mute, blind, or physically handicapped, you are given up to a maximum of 10 years of relaxation.

Special Case Senarios 

There are some special case scenarios for age limit eligibility shared by the UPSC in its official notification.

• If you belong to the ST, SC, or OBC categories and also fall under the ex-servicemen, blind, deaf-mute, or physically handicapped categories, you can get age relaxation from both categories combined.

• To get age relaxation based on physical disability, you must meet the government’s physical and medical standards for the PwBD category. You also need a disability certificate issued by the government or a valid authority.

• The term “Ex-servicemen” refers to people defined by the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Services and Posts). These are the rules of 1979, which may be updated/changed from time to time.

Summing It Up….

Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for the UPSC preliminary examination. For all such aspirants, this blog provides a clear overview of the varying age limits for UPSC, depending on the candidate’s category such as SC/ST, OBC, ex-servicemen, and persons with disabilities.

Alongside this blog also mentions the number of re-attempts allowed for each category of students. Ensure, that you plan your preparation strategy accordingly and make the most of the relaxations that are offered to the various categories of students.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1. What is the maximum age to join UPSC?

Generally, the maximum age is 32 years to join UPSC. However, the maximum age bar to join UPSC varies for different categories of applicants.

• For the general category, the maximum age is 32 years

• For the OBC category, the maximum age is 35 years

• For the SC/ST category, the maximum age is 37 years.

Q2. Is the age limit increased to 35 for UPSC?

The age limit for OBC Category is 35 years for UPSC. They get an age relaxation of 3 years on top of 32 years of UPSC exam eligibility in age.

Q3. How many IAS officers are selected every year?

180 IAS officers are selected every year through the civil service examination, conducted by UPSC.

Q4. Which is the top post in UPSC?

The highest post in IAS is the Cabinet Secretary under the central government. The Cabinet Secretary is India’s top official, who holds the highest post in civil service examination.