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UPSC Age Limit 2024, Eligibility Criteria, Qualification

Madhavi Gaur July 09, 2024 01:00 53689 0

UPSC Age limit 2024 is set by the UPSC for the candidates applying for the UPSC Exam 2024. Know more about minimum and maximum age limit, qualification and eligibility from here!

UPSC Age Limit 2024, Eligibility Criteria, Qualification

UPSC Age Limit 2024 is crucial for candidates to check before applying for the UPSC Exam. As per the notification for the UPSC exam 2024, UPSC has set an age limit of 21-32 years for General category students. The number varies depending on different categories.

Along with the age limit, candidates must fulfill the other certain criteria as well to be eligible for the UPSC exam. These eligibility criteria are mainly based on age, number of attempts, citizenship, and medical parameters.

The minimum educational qualification required for candidates is graduation from a recognized university. There are certain exceptions, which we will discuss further in this article. 

UPSC Age Limit 2024 Overview

The UPSC age limit of 2024 for candidates to apply for the UPSC exam ensures that candidates acquire a certain maturity to handle important positions. Educational qualification also acts as a tool to filter out unsuitable candidates. There are other important eligibility as well, which are given below.

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Minimum Age 21 years
Maximum Age 32 years
Relaxation Based on Category
Number of Attempts 6
Exemption Based on Category
Minimum Educational Qualification Graduate
Citizenship Qualification Service-wise requirements are provided below.
Medical Qualification Required for technical services such as IPS

Category-Wise UPSC Age Limit 2024

The category-wise UPSC age limit for OBC, General, & other categories is provided here. For the candidates belonging to the General category, the UPSC age limit for General is 21 to 32 years

To be eligible for UPSC examination 2024, candidates must be at least 21 years old and not more than 32 years old as of August 1, 2024. For candidates belonging to other categories, the IAS age limit 2024 is different owing to the age relaxation provided by UPSC.

Category  Maximum Age (Years)
General and EWS 32
OBC  35
PwBD 42
SC and ST 37
Ex-Servicemen 37
Disabled Defence Services Personnel 35

UPSC Age Limit 2024 For SC, ST, OBC, and Ex-servicemen Candidates

The maximum UPSC age limit 2024 is capped at 32 years for the General category. However, there are exceptions for students belonging to other categories. Also, age relaxation in UPSC is provided to some categories as mentioned below:

Category of Candidates Age Relaxation in UPSC
Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes 5 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC) 3 years
Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations 3 years
Ex-servicemen (Commissioned Officers, Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers) with at least five years of service 5 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)

(a) blindness and low vision; 

(b) deaf and low hearing;

(c) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; 

(d) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; and

(e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness

10 years

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UPSC Eligibility 2024 Based on Number of Attempts

The UPSC imposes a limit on the number of times a candidate can appear for the IAS Examination. This number varies according to the category of the candidate. The eligibility based on attempts is given below.

Category  Number of Attempts Maximum Age (Years)
General and EWS 6 32
OBC  9 35
PwBD 9 42
SC and ST Unlimited 37
Ex-Servicemen 9 37
Disabled Defence Services Personnel 9 35
General/OBC/EWS PwBD candidates 9 See below Description
SC/ST categories PwBD candidates Unlimited See below Description
Age Relaxation for PWD Candidates

The prescribed upper age limit of an examination (wherever applicable) is relaxable up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of candidates belonging to PwBD categories as below

(a) low vision and blindness; 

(b) deaf and hard of hearing; 

(c) Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; 

(d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; 

(e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (e) including deaf, blindness. PwBD candidates, who also belong to either SC or ST or OBC or Ex-servicemen, are eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both categories. 

UPSC Eligibility 2024 Based on Educational Qualification

The minimum educational qualification is graduation. However, there are other detailed criteria mentioned below.

  • Minimum Qualification for IAS: As a minimum qualification for IAS, a candidate must have graduated from a recognized university or have an equivalent qualification.
  • Eligibility Criteria for Final Year Graduates: Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results can also appear for the UPSC Prelims Examination. However, they are required to have passed their final year examination while applying for the UPSC Mains Examination.
  • Eligibility of Professional and Technical Qualifications: Candidates who possess professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees are also eligible for IAS Exam.
  • Eligibility for Medical Students: Medical students, who have not completed their internship, despite passing the final year of MBBS, can also apply for the IAS Exam. However, they are required to submit a course completion certificate from the concerned authority along with their Mains Exam application.

UPSC Eligibility 2024 Based on Citizenship

There is a citizenship qualification for Grade-A Services such as IAS, IPS and IFS. A candidate must fulfil certain citizenship criteria to be eligible for these services.

Service  Citizenship Requirements
IAS A Citizen of India
IPS A Citizen of India
IFS A Citizen of India or a Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, for permanently settle in India.
Other Services
  • A citizen of India, or
  • A citizen of Nepal, or
  • A citizen of Bhutan, or
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 to settle permanently, or
  • A Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, to permanently settle in India.

Candidates who are citizens of Nepal, citizens of Bhutan, Tibetan refugees, or a Person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam, for permanently settling in India, must furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India for getting appointed, even though they are eligible to write the exam without it.

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UPSC Eligibility 2024 Based on Medical Criteria

For serving as IPS officers for districts, Indian Railway services, and the police services of Pondicherry, candidates need to have the necessary eyesight, height, and chest measurements. The details of this eligibility are as below.

Physical Feature Requirement
Height 165 cm for males and for females it is 150 cm (Relaxation applicable)
Chest Minimum 84 cm and Expansion 5 cm for males. For females, it is a Minimum 79 cm and an Expansion of 5 cm.
Eyesight 6/6 or 6/9 distant vision for good eye

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FAQs On UPSC Age Limit 2024

The age limit for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, which includes the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), is determined by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and may vary depending on the candidate's category. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the maximum age limit for the General category is 32 years.

The minimum age limit for OBC is 21 years and maximum age limit for OBC is 35 years.

The age limit for the UPSC IAS exam is 21 to 32 years for general category candidates.

General and EWS candidates have 6 attempts; OBC candidates have 9 attempts; SC/ST candidates can attempt until they reach the age limit.

The UPSC age limit for SC/ST candidates is 21 to 37 years, with a 5-year age relaxation.

The minimum age limit for OBC is 21 years and maximum age limit for OBC is 35 years.
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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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