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UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024, Age Limit, Qualification, Number of Attempts

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 includes age limit, qualification, attempts, and nationality. The updated UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 is provided here as per the official notification. 
authorImageDeeksha Dixit12 Jun, 2024
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UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 is the minimum requirement set by the Union Public Service Commission for candidates. Those who meet the eligibility requirements set by UPSC for the Civil Services Examination can apply for the exam. UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 details the educational qualifications, age limit, physical fitness, and many other requirements based on the services.

Candidates must go through the UPSC 2024 notification to check the eligibility criteria for the IAS, IPS, IRS, and other posts. UPSC is authorized to reject any candidate who does not meet the eligibility criteria for the CSE exam at any stage. Read on to find out the latest UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024

The UPSC notification was released on 14 February 2024 inviting applications from eligible candidates. In the same notification, the commission mentioned the UPSC age limit, UPSC exam eligibility educational qualification, attempt limit, etc. that must be checked before applying. During document verification, UPSC will verify candidates' eligibility, and anyone who fails to meet UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 will be disqualified.
UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 Overview
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Graduation or equivalent
Age Limit 21 - 32 years
Age Relaxation Applicable
Total Attempts 6
Relaxation in Attempts Allowed
Nationality Indian

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 Nationality

The first criteria that should be checked by aspirants before applying for the UPSC CSE exam are that they meet the following Nationality requirements:
  1. Only a citizen of India is eligible to apply for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
  2. To apply for the other services candidates should be either:
    • Indian Citizen
    • Subject of Nepal
    • A subject of Bhutan
    • A Tibetan refugee who came over to permanently settle in India before 1st January 1962.
    • A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia), and Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India.
Category 2 candidates other than Indians are required to be issued a certificate of eligibility by the Government of India.

Also Read: UPSC Syllabus 2024

UPSC Age Limit 2024

The next criterion to be checked is the age limit for the UPSC exam. The UPSC exam age limit is a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 32 years as of 1 August 2024 . There are some relaxations in the maximum age limit for certain categories according to government regulations. For instance, in UPSC eligibility criteria for OBC, a relaxation of 3 years has been granted. The UPSC age limit including relaxation for all categories is as follows:
UPSC Age Limit 2024
Category Relaxation Maximum Age
General/EWS No 32 Years
OBC 3 Years 35 Years
SC/ST 5 Years 37 Years
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) 10 Years 42 Years
Ex-Defence Services Personnel (Disabled in operations) 3 Years
  • Gen - 35 Years
  • OBC - 38 Years
  • SC/ST - 40 Years
Ex-servicemen/ECOs/(SSCOs (completed 5 years of service under certain conditions) 5 Years
  • Gen - 37 Years
  • OBC - 40 Years
  • SC/ST - 42 Years

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 Educational Qualification

To apply for the UPSC Civil Services exam candidates must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Candidates should be graduates from any of the Universities incorporated by an act of the central or State government or any other institutions established by an act of Parliament. Candidates appearing for final year examinations or waiting for final year results may also apply but they will need to submit proof of passing the graduation exam as of the closing date of DAF 1 at the time of Document verification. Until document verification is completed the candidature of such candidates is provisional.

UPSC Attempts Limit 2024

UPSC has set a cap on the number of attempts that a candidate can make in the Civil Services Exam. The UPSC attempt limit varies according to the category of candidates. Generally, eligible candidates are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts in the UPSC CSE exam. However, a relaxation in the maximum number of attempts is provided to certain categories which are as follows:
UPSC Attempts Limit 2024
Category Maximum Age Number of Attempts till Max. Age Limit
General/EWS 32 Years 6
OBC 35 Years 9
SC/ST 37 Years Unlimited
Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) 42 Years GL/EWS/OBC - 09 SC/ST - Unlimited
Note: The attempt will be counted if candidates appear in any one paper of the UPSC Prelim exam stage.

Important Points Related to UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024

Candidates should note two important points regarding eligibility criteria for the UPSC 2024 exam. First regarding restrictions on applying for the exam again after selection and the second is about physical fitness criteria. These crucial points are described below:

Restrictions on Applying:

While candidates are allowed to attempt UPSC CSE again to improve their rank or change their allocated service, any candidate who is appointed as IAS/IFS based on the previous exam will not be eligible to appear again. Such candidates must resign first to apply again for the UPSC exam. Further, a candidate who is allocated IPS in a previous exam and serving as an IPS officer will not be eligible to opt for this service again in the UPSC 2024 exam.

Medical and Physical Criteria:

Candidates should be physically fit based on the standards provided in Appendix-III of Rules for Examination published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary (UPSC Notification 2024) to be allocated a service based on the results of the Civil Services Examination 2024. These physical fitness tests will be conducted following the interview and candidates applying for the technical services such as IPS must be declared physically fit by the board. Get ready to ace the upcoming UPSC 2024 exam with the best online coaching at Physics Wallah!
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UPSC Exam Analysis 2024 UPSC Prelims Cut Off UPSC CSAT 2024
UPSC Answer Key 2024 UPSC Scholarship Test 2024 UPSC Result 2024

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2024 FAQs

Who is eligible for the UPSC CSE 2024 exam?

Candidates who are not less than 21 years of age and have completed graduation can apply if they are not more than 32 years of age. To apply for IAS, IFS, and IPS candidates must be Indian citizens.

Can any 12th-pass candidates apply for UPSC?

No, candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree equivalent to 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 system to apply for the UPSC exam.

Who cannot apply for the UPSC 2024 exam as per eligibility criteria?

Any candidate who is not eligible as per notification of UPSC 2024 or who is already appointed as an IAS/IFS officer cannot apply for UPSC 2024 exam.

What is the minimum age limit for the UPSC 2024 exam?

Candidates should not be less than 21 years of age as of August 1st, 2024 to apply for UPSC 2024 exam.

What are the 3 eligibility criteria for attempting UPSC exam?

Candidates should be between 21 and 32 years old, have completed graduation, and fulfil the nationality criteria as per official notification.

Are 3rd year students eligible for UPSC IAS?

Yes. If candidates are appearing for the final year exam, then they may take the UPSC IAS exam.
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