UPSC Age Limit 2024 for Civil Services Exam
UPSC Age limit is 21 to 32 years for General Category including females and 35 and 37 years respectively for OBC and SC&ST as of 1 August every year. Along with upper-age relaxation, the number of attempts has also increased.
UPSC Age Limit for Different Categories
Every year UPSC conducts Civil Service Examination to select appropriate candidates for various administrative services. UPSC has set Age Limits for candidates according to different categories. For each category, the Commission changed the UPSC Age limit accordingly over the years. Recently, the Baswan committee submitted its suggestion to reduce the Upper Age Limit for candidates appearing for the IAS Exam. However, the Baswan committee’s recommendations are yet to be made public.
For many years, the Age limit was 30 for General Category candidates, 33 for OBCs, and 35 for SC and ST candidates. Finally, the UPA government increased the UPSC Age limit to 32, 35, and 37 for the general, OBC, and SC/ST Categories respectively in the Civil Service Examination 2014. Due to an uproar over General Studies Paper 2, the UPA government relaxed the age limit to 32.
Furthermore, there is no age relaxation or attempt for UPSC as per EWS Reservation as per the UPSC 2024 Civil Services Exam Notification Government announced.
Also read: IAS/ IPS Cadre Allocation New Proposal
Cumulative Age Relaxation for UPSC
Apart from the mentioned UPSC Age limits for SC/ST and OBC candidates will get cumulative age relaxation. In other words, age limits are added in special cases. For example, if a person is OBC and ex-serviceman, he will get 5+7= 12 years of relaxation. Hence, his upper age limit will be 42 years.
Lower Age Limit for UPSC
For all categories, the lower age limit for appearing UPSC Examination is 21 years. The Age Limit is calculated according to August 1. For example, if a candidate is appearing for 2025 prelims, they should have attained 21 years on August 1, 2025.
UPSC Age Limit for OBC Category
The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) provides a relaxation in the age limit for OBC (Other Backward Classes) category candidates. Typically, the age limit for OBC candidates is 3 years higher than the upper age limit for the unreserved category candidates, ie 35 years.
However, it’s important to note that the specific age limit for OBC candidates may vary depending on the UPSC exam and notification. Aspiring OBC candidates should carefully review the latest UPSC guidelines and notifications to determine the exact age limit for their desired exam.
IAS Age Limit 2025 for SC/ST Category
The age limit for IAS (Indian Administrative Service) exams is generally relaxed for SC/ST category candidates. Typically, SC/ST candidates are granted a maximum age relaxation of 5 years compared to the upper age limit for unreserved category candidates, ie 37 years. However, it’s important to note that the specific age limit for SC/ST candidates may vary depending on the examination and notification. Aspiring SC/ST candidates should thoroughly review the latest guidelines and notifications issued by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) to determine the exact age limit for their desired IAS exam.
UPSC Age limit for females
The age limit for females aspiring to take the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination aligns with general criteria applied to all candidates, with a few beneficial relaxations. Female candidates in the General category can apply between the ages of 21 and 32 years, with the age calculated as of August 1 in the examination year.
UPSC Age limit for EWS Category
Also, there are speculations regarding relaxation in the UPSC Age Limit and Attempts as per the recent introduction of EWS Reservation. However, the central government did not provide such provisions yet. age relaxation but also attempts. There is no Upper Age relaxation for the EWS Category.
Also read: UPSC Syllabus for Prelims and Mains Examination
Baswan Committee Recommendations on UPSC Age Limit
The Baswan committee has recently submitted its recommendations regarding changes in IAS exams. Consequently, the significant recommendation among these is to reduce the upper age limit of the candidates. Although the recommendations are yet to be published, it’s heard from the sources that the upper age limit will be fixed at 26 years for the General Category.
In fact, the government will implement the recommendations only after extending a significant window to the existing candidates as per recent news. As a matter of fact, we expect the upper age limit will not change for existing candidates, and also for the Civil Service 2025 Exam.
Reference: UPSC Official Website
FAQs regarding UPSC Age Limit
A1: The age limit for the UPSC exam varies depending on the category of the candidate. For general category candidates, the age limit is 32 years, while for OBC candidates, it is 35 years. The age limit for SC/ST candidates is 37 years.
A2: Yes, candidates who have served in the armed forces and been released from service can relax within the age limit. Armed Forces General category candidates can apply up to the age of 35 years, 38 years for OBC candidates, and 40 years for SC/ST candidates.
A3: Yes, there is a limit on the number of attempts a candidate can make for the UPSC exam. For general category candidates, the limit is six attempts, while for OBC candidates, it is nine attempts. The limit for SC/ST candidates is unlimited.
A4: Yes, candidates with certain disabilities can avail of relaxation in the age limit. The extent of relaxation depends on the category of disability and can range from one to ten years.
A5: Yes, candidates from the Northeastern states of India can avail of relaxation in the age limit. The extent of relaxation depends on the category of the candidate and can range from one to five years.
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