The IAS Exam is conducted as a part of Civil Services Examination. The Union Public Service Commission is a conducting body.
There are lakhs of aspirants who apply for the civil services examination annually. It is imperative for all candidates to know the qualifications to sit for the exam, including what is the UPSC Age Limit. The minimum qualifications with respect to age, and education are an important set of parameters to consider while applying for the UPSC Exam.
Here, you will learn the list of facts that every IAS Exam aspirant must know before they start their UPSC preparation.
What is the UPSC Eligibility Criteria?
This is one of the frequently asked questions when it comes to UPSC application. The Commission has set the minimum and maximum age limit for UPSC for all categories of candidates. Due to the age relaxation offered to candidates belonging to reserved categories, the maximum age limit differs. Let’s find it out below:
| Category of UPSC Candidates | IAS Age Limit |
| General Category | Minimum age – 21 Maximum age – 32 |
| EWS Category | Minimum Age – 21 Maximum Age – 32 |
| SC/ST Category | Minimum Age – 21 Maximum Age – 37 |
| OBC Category | Minimum Age – 21 Maximum Age – 35 |
| Ex-servicemen | Minimum Age – 21 Maximum Age – 37 |
| Persons with Disability | Minimum Age – 21 Maximum Age – 42 |
What is the education qualification criteria for UPSC?
The Union Public Service Commission has fixed the bachelor’s degree in any stream from a government-recognized university; as the minimum education requirement.
So a candidate has to adhere to the following facts:
- He/she has a bachelor’s degree from a government-recognized university/institution/college.
- He holds a minimum 33% of marks in his graduation.
Candidates should note one major fact w.r.t educational qualification. Final year students of under-graduate courses can apply for the UPSC Exam. However, things to be considered are:
- They can apply for the UPSC Exam and sit for Prelims.
- If they clear prelims, while filling Mains application, they should have their provisional results with them. That means, they should have cleared the final exams by UPSC Mains application last submission date.
- If a candidate is unable to provide the final result original document during the interview procedure; his/her candidature is liable to be cancelled. The final decision lies with the UPSC.
Is there a cap in UPSC attempts?
Yes, there is a cap on the number of attempts that a candidate can take while sitting for Civil Service Examination. The data is provided in the table below:
| Category of UPSC Candidates | Number of Attempts |
| General Category | 6 |
| EWS Category | 6 |
| SC/ST Category | Unlimited |
| OBC Category | 9 |
| Ex-servicemen | Disabled Ex-servicemen have no cap (Until they reach their maximum age)Commissioned Officers (ECOs/SSCOs) who have been released on their own accord are not eligible to take the concessionEx-servicemen candidates who also fall under the SC/ST/OBC category are eligible for grant of cumulative age relaxation under both the categories (community and ex-servicemen) |
| Persons with Disability | 9 for PwD candidates under general category |
Having understood the IAS eligibility Criteria, aspirants should start preparing for the exam. The Syllabus of UPSCis one of the most important documents to carry all along while you prepare. It contains detailed topic-wise syllabus under various papers asked in the IAS Exam. Hence, it is of utmost importance that candidates learn the syllabus by-heart before they start this journey.
UPSC Prelims 2021 is scheduled for 10th October, therefore, candidates should know the above-mentioned facts thoroughly.