IAS Exam Educational Qualification and Number of Attempts

Every year UPSC is conducting Civil Service examination to select appropriate candidates for various administrative services. UPSC has set IAS Exam Educational Qualification and Number of Attempts criteria for candidates according to different categories. For each category, Commission changed UPSC Age limit accordingly over the years.

IAS Exam Educational Qualification

An Indian with any degree from [ For IAS and IPS]

1. Any of the universities incorporated by an act of central or state legislature in India.
2. Other educational institutions established by the act of parliament.
3. Or a deemed university as per section 3 of university grants commission act, 1965.
4. Posses an equivalent qualification.
5. Final year students and candidates awaiting results can also apply. Results need to submit at the time of filing application for mains exam.
6. No percentage bar for any of the services.

For other services :

1. A citizen of India or,
2. A subject of Nepal or,
3. A subject of Bhutan or,
4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India, before January 1, 1962, with an intention to settle permanently in India.
5. A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries [ Kenya, Uganda, the united republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zaire, Malawi, Ethiopia and Vietnam ]with the intention of permanently settle in India.

IAS Exam Eligibility – Lower Age limit

For all categories, the lower age limit for appearing UPSC examination is 21 years. Age limit is calculated according to August 1. For example, if a candidate is appearing for 2018 prelims, he/she should have attained 21 years on August 1, 2018.

IAS Exam Eligibility – Upper Age limit

The upper age limit varies from category to category. For many years, UPSC age limit was 30 for general category candidates, 33 years for OBCs and 35 years for SC and ST candidates. The then UPA government in 2014, increased upsc7 age limit for IAS examination.

Currently, the UPSC  Age limit for General Category candidates is 32 years and 35 and 37 years respectively for OBC and SC & ST candidates as of 1st August 2019. Along with upper age relaxation, the number of attempts has also increased. Due to an uproar over General Studies Paper 2, the then UPA government relaxed the age limit.

Cumulative Age Relaxation

Apart from mentioned upsc age limits for SC/ST and OBC candidates will get cumulative age relaxation. In other words, age limits 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.

UPSC Syllabus for Civil Services Prelims and Mains Exam

IAS Exam – Number of Attempts Allowed

In UPSC Civil Service Exam, General Category candidate has an age limit of 32 years which does not mean he can sit for the exam for any number of times till his maximum age limit attains. There are some certain criteria for various categories in number attempts along with age limit.

• Number of attempts permitted for General Category: 6 attempts up to 32 years
• Number of attempts permitted for OBC: 9 attempts up to 35 years
• The number of attempts for SC/ST: Unlimited attempts till 37 year