Eligibility Criteria

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a highly competitive exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India to recruit candidates for various prestigious civil services positions, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), among others. To be eligible for the UPSC CSE, candidates must meet certain eligibility criteria, which are as follows:

1. Nationality:

• • The candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India.

2. Age Limit:

• • The candidate's age must be between 21 and 32 years as of August 1 of the examination year.

  • There are age relaxations for certain categories:

• • • For candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, the maximum age limit is relaxed by 3 years (i.e., up to 35 years).

    • For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories, the maximum age limit is relaxed by 5 years (i.e., up to 37 years).

    • For candidates who are eligible for age relaxation due to their service in the defense services or as ex-servicemen, the relaxation can vary.

    • For disabled candidates (Physically Handicapped), there are additional age relaxations.

3. Educational Qualifications:

• • The candidate must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution. There are no specific subject requirements, so candidates from diverse educational backgrounds are eligible.

  • Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply, but they must provide proof of passing the examination at the time of the main examination.

4. Number of Attempts:

• • The number of attempts allowed for the UPSC CSE varies based on category:

• • • General category candidates: 6 attempts.

    • OBC category candidates: 9 attempts.

    • SC/ST category candidates: No limit on the number of attempts.

5. Physical Standards:

• • Candidates applying for the IPS or other services that require physical fitness must meet the prescribed physical standards.

6. Other Conditions:

• • Candidates must be in good mental and physical health and free from any communicable diseases.

  • Candidates should comply with all the conditions of eligibility on the date of submission of the application and at the time of the main examination.

Please note that these eligibility criteria are subject to change, and candidates are advised to refer to the official UPSC website or notification for the most up-to-date information before applying for the exam. Additionally, candidates should also check for any changes in the eligibility criteria and examination pattern that may have occurred after my last knowledge update in September 2021.