UPSC Civil Services Eligibility Criteria 2024: GO on the path of a UPSC aspirant requires a thorough understanding of the UPSC eligibility, which serves as the gateway to one’s dream of becoming a civil servant. These CSE eligibility criteria encompass several crucial aspects, including age limitations, educational qualifications, and citizenship requirements, which determine an individual’s eligibility to participate in the esteemed Civil Services Examination.

Key highlights of  UPSC eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • The UPSC Civil Services age limit is 21 to 32 years
  • Age relaxations are allowed for reserved category candidates.
  • Candidates must have completed graduation to be eligible to appear for the exam.

UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria 2024

The UPSC CSE eligibility criteria 2024 includes details of age limit,educational qualification, minimum number of attempts, etc. Below is an overview of the essential criteria which the applicants must fulfil.

UPSC CSE Eligibility Criteria Overview
IAS Age Limit
21 to 32 years (Gen/EWS)/ 21-35 years (OBC)/ 21-37 years (SC/ST)/ 21-42 years (PWD)
Age Relaxation
As per the Government of India rulebook
Educational Qualification
Graduation
Nationality
Indian citizens only
Number of attempts
6 attempts for Gen/EWS. 9 attempts for OBC. Till the age limit for SC/ST. 9 attempts for Gen/OBC candidates and unlimited age limit for SC/ST candidates for PWD candidates

UPSC CSE Age Limit 2024

In Simple Words-The minimum age limit for UPSC candidates is 21 years.

The maximum age limit for

  • Gen Category: Should not be more than the age of 32 years,
  • OBC Category: Should not be more than the age of 35 years,
  • SC/ST Category: Should not be more than the age of 37 years,
  • PwBD Category: Should not be more than the age of 42 years.

So, in order to be eligible for applying in the UPSC CSE exam, it is
important for all aspiring candidates to be within the age limit as mentioned by the UPSC.

The UPSC CSE age limit was last revised in the year of 2015, since then, there have been no changes.

You can have a look at the summary of the UPSC IAS Age Limit in the table below.

UPSC CSE Age Limit
Category
Minimum Age Limit For CSE
Maximum Age Limit For CSE
General
21
32
OBC
21
35
ST/SC
21
37
EWS
21
32

UPSC Civil Services Age Relaxation

Category Age Relaxation
OBC
3 Years
Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence there of
3 Years
SC/ ST
5 Years
Ex-servicemen including commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years of military service and have been released
5 Years
PwD (a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and hard of hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness
10 Years

UPSC CSE Attempt Limit - Number Of Attempts For UPSC CSE Below

Candidates of different categories will be able to appear for the UPSC CSE
Exam up to a certain number which is mentioned below in the article.

  • 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.

UPSC Civil Services Educational Qualification

Candidates willing to appear for the UPSC CSE Exam, candidates must possess the minimum educational qualification.

Check below to know about the minimum educational qualification required.

  • The minimum qualification for the UPSC CSE exam is that the candidate must have a degree from a Government recognized University or possess an equivalent qualification.
  • Candidates who are awaiting results or are in their final year are also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination. All such candidates who are qualified to appear for UPSC exams must make sure to produce confirmation of having passed the said examination along with the application for the main CSE examination.
  • Candidates having technical and professional qualifications recognized by the Government as equal to professional and technical degrees.
  • Medical students who have passed the final year of MBBS, but are still to complete their internship are also qualified for the UPSC exam. Although, along with the Main Examination application, a certificate of course fulfilment of educational qualifications as well as the degree from the concerned authority of the University/Institution has to be submitted.

UPSC Civil Services Nationality

Candidates applying for the UPSC CSE Exam 2024 must necessarily be Indian. The candidates will have to satisfy other requirements as well in order to be eligible for the UPSC CSE exam 2024. Read below to know in detail about the nationality of the candidates.

  • The candidate must be a citizen of India or
  • Citizen of Nepal
  • A subject of Bhutan
  • The candidate must have been a Tibetan Refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to be settled forever in India
  • The candidate must be a person of Indian Origin who has migrated from the given countries- Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zaire, or Zambia with an intention of permanently settling in India

UPSC Civil Services​ Physical Eligibility

The UPSC, which conducts the CSE exam, does not have any specific physical fitness requirements for candidates. However, all candidates are required to undergo a medical examination after the interview stage of the exam. 

The medical examination is conducted to assess the candidate’s overall health and fitness. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination ​: Summary

To be eligible for the UPSC CSE Examination, candidates must following criteria.

Mentioned below is a summary of CSE eligibility criteria mentioning the UPSC maximum age limit, count of attempts, relaxations, and more

  •  Nationality Requirements for the CSE Exam: Candidates must be either a citizen of India, of Indian origin, or a subject of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who settled in India before January 1, 1962.
  • Educational Qualifications for the CSE Exam: Applicants are required to possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university.
  • Age Requirements for the UPSC Civil Services Exam: Applicants should be at least 21 years old but not exceed 32 years.
  • Categorial Age Relaxations and Attempt Limits for the UPSC CSE:
  • General Category & EWS: Up to 32 years; limited to 6 attempts.
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Up to 35 years (32+3); allowed 9 attempts.
  • SC/ST Categories: Up to 37 years (32+5); permitted unlimited attempts.
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: Up to 42 years (32+10); General/OBC/EWS candidates are limited to 9 attempts while SC/ST candidates have unlimited attempts.
  • Domiciles of Jammu & Kashmir: Up to 37 years or 40 years (32+5, plus 3 if OBC or 5 if SC/ST); The number of attempts varies according to the reservation category.
  • Disabled and Discharged Defence Service Personnel: Age is extended to 35 years for General/OBC (32+3) and 37 years for SC/ST candidates (32+3/5 years).
  • Ex-Servicemen Commissioned Officers: Allowed up to 37 (for General) or up to 40 years (for OBC) or 42 years (for SC/ST) (32+5, plus 3 if OBC or 5 if SC/ST).

We hope that you are got an adequate idea about the eligibility criteria which you will have to keep in mind while preparing for the UPSC CSE exam 2024.