UPSC is one of the biggest exams conducted in India. This exam is conducted once a year. There are various eligibility criteria given for appearing in the examination. UPSC IAS eligibility criteria 2023 are dependent on the category, nationality, and age of the candidate. Many candidates appear in this examination and get a chance to serve the nation.
The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The exam is conducted for the selection of eligible candidates for various posts of Indian civil services such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other related services. This test is conducted in three phases- The UPSC Prelims, UPSC Main, and the personality test or UPSC Interview.
The UPSC Preliminary Examination is the screening exam and therefore qualifying in character is the first step of the IAS Exam. The UPSC Prelim exam score is not included while preparing the final merit list. However, the grade in GS Paper-I is crucial in determining the UPSC Prelims Exam cutoff. The prelims exam has two objective-type MCQ-based papers.UPSC Mains Exams have nine papers, and they all are descriptive.
The first step in the IAS preparation process is to gain a thorough understanding of the UPSC examination eligibility requirements. This article discusses the UPSC Age Limit and IAS Eligibility for the 2023 Civil Services Exam. This article provides a detailed explanation of the entire UPSC qualifying requirements for the IAS test. The commission published the UPSC notification for 2023 on February 1st. On May 28, 2023, the Prelims are expected to take place.
Table Of Content
What Is The UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria?
- General Category Candidates
- OBC Category Candidates
- SC/ST Category Candidates
- Physically Disabled Candidates
Relaxations Provided By The UPSC
What Is The UPSC IAS Eligibility Criteria?
The minimum age eligibility for UPSC CSE for appearing in the exam is 21. However, the maximum age limit can vary based on the category. Different age relaxations are given for the candidates and depend on the category.
The UPSC CSE is based on data as of August 1, 2023. Hence the candidate’s age as of that day will be taken into consideration. For example, if a candidate was born on August 1, 2002, he or she would be qualified to register for the UPSC CSE 2023 since on August 1, 2023, he or she should attain 21 years of age.
1. General Category Candidates
The candidate must have been born on or before August 1, 2002, as that is when they must have reached the age of 21 on August 1, 2023. Candidates for the General category must be 32 years of age or older, which means they must not have been born earlier than August 2, 1991, or after August 1, 2002.
2. OBC Category Candidates
Candidates who come under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category must be 35 years old, which means that they must not have been born earlier than August 2, 1986, or later than August 1, 2002. However, the minimum age requirement is 21 years for them also.
3. SC/ST Category Candidates
Candidates in the SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes) category are given a 37-year-old maximum age restriction, which means they must have been born earlier than August 2, 1984, or later than August 1, 2002. However, the minimum age requirement, which is still 21 years old, is unaffected.
4. Physically Disabled Candidates
Candidates who are physically disabled are restricted from applying if they are 42 years old or older, which implies they must have been born before August 2, 1979, or after August 1, 2002. However, the minimum age requirement is still 21 years old.
Relaxations Provided By The UPSC
The following are the relaxations provided by the UPSC:
- Candidates from J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) who are permanent residents there are subject to an upper age limit of 42 years for SC/ST candidates and 37 years for General category applicants.
- For those who have served in the Indian Armed Forces as members of the defense services, the maximum age is 35 for general applicants, 38 for OBC applicants, and 40 for SC/ST applicants.
- For ex-service members, the maximum age is 37 for general applicants, 40 for OBC applicants, and 42 for SC/ST applicants.
- For ECOs (Emergency Commissioned Officers) and SSCOs (Short Service Commissioned Officers) who have finished an initial time course of five years of military service, the maximum age is 35 for the General category, 38 for the OBC category, and 40 for SC.
1. No of Attempts
There a total of six attempts are allowed for the general category candidates. The OBC candidates can give nine attempts. For ST/SC candidates, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts they can give the exam till the maximum age is reached. Disabled Ex-services men have no restriction on the no of attempts they can appear in exams till the maximum age.
Physically challenged persons belonging to the general category and OBC category can appear in the exam for nine attempts. Physically challenged persons belonging to the ST/SC can appear in exams till they reach the maximum age.
2. Qualification
There is no such requirement of a minimum qualifying percentage. The UPSC’s requirements for educational eligibility for the UPSC exam are as follows –
- The applicant must be a graduate of a university and should possess official recognition of the university.
- Candidate holding any technical degree or holding a medical degree from any recognized university.
- Final-year candidates or students who are awaiting results are also eligible to appear in the UPSC preliminary examination.
3. Nationality
- The candidate must be an Indian national.
- Candidates who are governed by Tibet, Bhutan, or Nepal can also apply for the exam. Such applicants must, however, show evidence that they hold the papers needed to live permanently in India.
- People originally born in India (PIO) and who have immigrated to India from countries including Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam want to stay there permanently and should have official documents for the same.
Wrapping Up
So, this was all you needed to know about the UPSC IAS eligibility criteria. It is crucial to acknowledge that meeting the eligibility criteria alone cannot ensure success in the UPSC IAS exam.
Aspirants must put in significant effort and remain dedicated to their preparation. Nonetheless, by comprehending and fulfilling the eligibility criteria, candidates can enhance their chances of success and work towards realizing their ambition of becoming an IAS officer.
FAQs
- What is the educational qualification required for the UPSC IAS exam?
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Are there any physical standards for the UPSC IAS exam?
Yes, candidates must meet certain physical standards, such as height and chest measurements, for certain services like the IPS.