UPSC Civil Services Eligibility Criteria 2024

Updated By Subhashri Roy on 08 Jan, 2024 14:25

Get UPSC Civil Services Sample Papers For Free

UPSC Civil Services Eligibility Criteria 2024

UPSC IAS Eligibility 2024: The eligibility criteria of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services 2024 include the conditions and specific requirements that applicants have to fulfill to become eligible for the exam. The conditions may include requirements related to academic qualification, age, and number of attempts. A candidate's eligibility will be cross-checked by the Commission through document verification once he/she has qualified for the Interview/ Personality Test.

A Civil Services aspirant can qualify for all the stages of the examination provided he/she meets the prescribed eligibility conditions of UPSC CSE 2024. The UPSC Civil Services examination consists of a Preliminary exam, followed by the Mains examination, and finally an Interview-cum-Personality Test. Candidates who qualify for the Preliminary exam become eligible for the Mains examination. The UPSC CSE Mains Exam is subjective in nature and comprises General Studies, Essays, English, and optional subject papers. The final stage of the examination is the Interview-cum-Personality Test.

The UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a competitive examination that is conducted at the national level by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruiting candidates to various Civil offices under the Government of India. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has set eligibility criteria for candidates in terms of academic qualification, age limit, and other factors. Candidates appearing for the exam can check complete details about UPSC CSE 2024 eligibility criteria provided on this page.

Upcoming Exams :

UPSC Civil Services Eligibility 2024: Highlights

Check the major highlights of UPSC Civil Services eligibility criteria 2024 provided in the table below.

Particulars

Details

IAS Exam Age Limit

21 to 32 Years

Age Relaxation

As per the Category (Mentioned Below)

Educational Qualification for IAS

Graduation

Nationality

Indian Citizens Only

UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria - Educational Qualifications

To be eligible for UPSC Civil Services 2024 exam, candidates need to have the following educational requirements.

  • Candidates must hold a degree from Government recognized Universities or possess an equivalent qualification.
  • Candidates who are in their final year of graduation or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC 2024 preliminary examination. However, they must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with the application for the UPSC main exam 2024.
  • Candidates having professional and technical qualifications recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
  • Medical students who have completed the final year of MBBS, but are yet to do their internship are also eligible. However, they must submit a certificate of course completion (including internship) from the concerned authority of the University/Institution and the main examination application.

UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria - Age Limit

Applicant must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the 1st August 2024 i.e., he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1988 and not later than 1st August 2000. Check the UPSC 2024 age limit for various categories provided in the table below.

Category

Minimum Age Limit for UPSC 2023

Maximum Age Limit for UPSC 2023

IAS exam Age Limit for General Category

21

32

EWS

21

32

SC/ST

21

37

IAS OBC Age Limit

21

35

UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria - Age Relaxation and No. of Attempts

Check the age relaxations and the number of attempts provided for candidates belonging to various categories in the table below.

Category

UPSC Age Limit- Upper Relaxation

Number of Attempts

General

32

6

OBC

35

9

SC/ST

37

Unlimited (Up to Age Limit)

Disabled Defence Services Personnel

35

9

Ex-Servicemen

37

9

Persons with Benchmark Disability – EWS (Economically Weaker Section)

42

9

UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria - Reservation

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the reservation norms for the candidates enrolling in UPSC Civil Services examination.

  • According to the released norms, a 10% reservation will be provided to the candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

  • The EWS category candidates must collect their EWS Certificate latest by 1st August 2024.

  • It is important for the candidates to opt for the Reservation Quota as the same shall only be applied to the ones who successfully apply for it.

  • Other reservations for the SC and ST candidates shall remain the same as per the norms prescribed by UPSC. 

  • Up to a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of J&K during the period from the 1st January 1981 to the 31st day of December 1990;

  • Up to a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services Personnel, disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof;

  • Up to a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years of Military Service as of 1st August 2020 and have been released;

  • Up to a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Service as on 1st August 2024 and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on three months’ notice on selection from the date of receipt of an offer of appointment.

  • Up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, Hearing Impaired, and Orthopaedically handicapped persons.

UPSC 2024 Eligibility Criteria - Nationality

Check the nationality for IAS and IPS posts offered through UPSC Civil Services 2024 exam:

  • Candidate must be a citizen of India

Here are the nationality requirements for other services offered through UPSC Civil Services 2024 exam:

  • Candidate must be either:-
    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 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently, or
    5. A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire, and Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently.
  • The candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), (4), and (5) should furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may take the exam before getting the said certificate of eligibility, but he/she would get the offer of appointment only after the Government of India has issued the certificate.
  • Point to Note: A person belonging to categories (2), (3), and (4) is not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Want to know more about UPSC Civil Services

Related Questions

What are the best books to prepare for UPSC CDS? What are the best coaching centers for UPSC CDS?

-SairamgorantlaUpdated on June 04, 2021 11:39 PM
  • 2 Answers
Jayita Ekka, CollegeDekho Expert

Dear Student,

Here are some of the best books to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission Combined Defence Services (UPSC CDS) exam:

  • NCERT Books - For History and Geography
  • High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin and Word Power Made Easy - For English
  • Pathfinder for CDS by Arihant
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Agarwal

Apart from that, keep yourself updated with the latest GK and current affairs by regularly reading the newspaper. Reading the Pratiyogita Darpan magazine is also highly recommended for UPSC CDS aspirants.

You can also refer to our UPSC CDS exam preparation …

READ MORE...

How Can I be a CID officer?

-Manjeet kumarUpdated on August 17, 2020 08:05 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Student / Alumni

Dear Student,

To become a CID officer, it is of utmost importance to fulfil the basic eligibility criteria or the career path. 

Mentioned below are ways that you can adopt to be a successful CID officer.

  • Join the police force as assistant police or a Hawaldar as per the qualification. Qualify the internal exams as it can help in joining the department of CID.

  • Pass the UPSC exam, after graduation (in any stream) and join the team of CID as an Assistant sub-inspector.

  • Clear the Graduation in criminology and qualify the UPSC exam. It also helps in joining the CID …

READ MORE...

Still have questions about UPSC Civil Services Eligibility ? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Never miss an exam update !!

Top