UPSC Exam Criteria

Can you tell me about eth eligibility requirement/criteria for the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) written examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission?

[Rajkumar Agarwal]

Union Public Service Commission is the authorized body to release the application form and to conduct the IAS (Indian Administrative Service) written examination.

Nationality:
1. For the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, a candidate must be a citizen of India.
2. For other services, a candidate must be either :—
• a citizen of India, or
• a subject of Nepal, or
• a subject of Bhutan, or
• a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
• a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Academic Eligibility

• One must hold a degree from Government recognized Universities or possess an equivalent qualification.
• One who is in their final year or awaiting results is also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination. Such candidates who are eligible to appear for IAS exams must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with the application for the main IAS examination.
• One having professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
• Medical students who have passed final year of MBBS, but are yet to complete their internship also have eligibility for IAS. Although, along with the Main Exam application, a certificate of course completion (including internship) from the concerned authority of the University/Institution has to be submitted.


Age Requirement

• For General category candidates, upper age limit is 32 years with a maximum of 6 attempts.
• For OBC candidates, upper age limit is 35 years with a maximum of 9 attempts.
• For SC/ST candidates, upper age limit is 37 and the number of attempts is up to the age limit.
• For physically disabled candidates, upper age limit is 35, 38 and 40 for General category, OBC and SC/ST respectively with the number of attempts being 9 for General category and OBC candidates; for SC/ST up to age limit.
• Candidates from J&K domicile, upper age limits are 37 years, 40 years, 42 years and 50 years for GC, SC/ST, OBC and physical handicapped respectively and upper age limit is same as stated above for specific categories.
• For disabled servicemen, upper age limit 35 years, 38 years and 40 years respectively for GC, OBC, SC/ST respectively and upper age limit is same as stated above for specific categories.