Eligibility and Age Limit for UPSC 2024: What You Need to Know

Physics Wallah Academic Expert

July 15, 2024

Starting the path of a UPSC candidate requires a thorough understanding of Eligibility and Age Limit for UPSC 2024, which acts as a gateway to the dream of becoming a civil servant. These UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 contain several important aspects including age limits, educational requirements and citizenship requirements that determine a person's eligibility for the prestigious civil services exam.

The main highlights of Eligibility and Age Limit for UPSC 2024 are:

Age limit for UPSC Civil Services is 21-32 years

Age limit is allowed for reserved category candidates.

To participate in the exam, candidates must have graduated.

Eligibility and Age Limit for UPSC 2024

Although hard work is essential, candidates must know the main part of the examination process, i.e. Eligibility and Age Limit for UPSC 2024 before planning their exam preparation. Full knowledge of the eligibility requirements is the first step in the UPSC 2024 exam as it ensures your successful application for the examination and avoids last-minute challenges.

That is why at our PW blog we are covering all the information related to UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024.

Educational Qualification for UPSC 2024

Candidates who want to appear in UPSC IAS exam candidates must have minimum Educational Qualification for USPC 2024. Check the minimum education required below.

The minimum qualification for the UPSC exam is that a candidate must have a degree or equivalent qualification from a university recognized by the government.
Candidates who are awaiting results or are in their final year can also appear for the UPSC preliminary exam. All such candidates who are qualified for the UPSC examinations must submit the confirmation of passing the said examination along with the application form for UPSC Mains Exam.
Candidates with technical and professional qualifications recognized by the government as equivalent to professional and technical qualifications.
Medical students who have completed their final year of MBBS but are still doing their internship can also appear for the UPSC exam. Although the main application must be accompanied by a certificate of completion of education and a diploma from the relevant institution of the university/department.

Age Limit for UPSC 2024

The minimum age limit for UPSC candidates is 21 years. Maximum Age Limit for Gen Category: Not more than 32 years, OBC Category: Not more than 35 years, SC/ST Category: Not more than 37 years, PwBD Category: Not more than 42 years.

All candidates must be within the age limit specified by UPSC to apply for the UPSC exam. The IAS age limit was last revised in 2015 and there has been no change since then.

Age Limit for UPSC 2024
Category	Maximum Age
General/EWS	32 Years
OBC	35 Years
SC/ST	37 Years
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD)	42 Years

Nationality for UPSC 2024

Only a citizen of India is eligible to apply for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
To apply for the other services candidates should be either:

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

(i) To apply for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) or Indian Police Service (IPS), the applicant must be a citizen of India.

(iii) An Eligibility Certificate issued by the Government of India is required for candidates belonging to categories B, C, D and E.

(iv) Candidates whose eligibility certificate is mandatory will be allowed to appear for the examination but can get an appointment letter and offer after verification of certificate or issuance of certificate by Government of India.

Number of Attempts for UPSC 2024

Candidates from different categories can appear in the UPSC IAS exam up to a certain limit. We have mentioned below the Number of Attempts for UPSC 2024.

General Category: 6 attempts till 32 years of age.
OBC: 9 attempts till 35 years of age.
SC/ST: unlimited attempts till 37 years of age.
Physically Handicapped /disabled candidates belonging to the General category will get the benefit of 9 attempts till the age prescribed by UPSC - 42 years.

Note I: The terms GL (General), EWS (Economically Weaker Sections), SC (Scheduled Castes), ST (Scheduled Tribes), OBC (Other Backward Classes) and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) are used to describe the categories. of the candidates who participated in the examination

Note-II: Pre-examination duty is assumed during probationary period of the civil servant.

Note-III: If a candidate appears in any paper of the preliminary round, it is assumed that the person has attempted the examination.

Note-IV: Irrespective of future disqualification/withdrawal of the candidate, the candidate's participation in the examination will be considered as an attempt.

UPSC Post Medical Standard

Applicants must meet certain medical and physical requirements before applying for the study. Candidates must be physically fit for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) on 02nd February 2022 as per the examination guidelines in Annexure III of the Indian Special Issue Rules.