UPSC Eligibility for the Civil Services Exam: Age, Attempts, Degree and Physical Standards

UPSC eligibility in one view

If you clear all five, you can apply. This is the same set of rules people mean by UPSC CSE eligibility or CSE exam eligibility. Your eligibility is checked again in detail when you fill the Detailed Application Form after Prelims, and again at the interview stage, so any wrong claim can end your candidature late in the process.

Nationality rules by service

Only Indian citizens can be appointed to the IAS, the IPS and the Indian Foreign Service. The remaining services take a slightly wider pool. Besides citizens, it covers subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetans who arrived before 1 January 1962 intending to stay for good, and those of Indian origin who migrated permanently from the countries the notification names. Such candidates are appointed only once the Union Government grants them a certificate confirming eligibility.

Most aspirants are Indian citizens, so for them this rule simply confirms that every service is open.

Age limit and relaxation

For the general category, the band runs from 21 to 32, and your age is fixed as on 1 August of the year you sit Prelims. The notification prints the exact birth date window for each cycle. Upper age relaxation is allowed as follows:

Relaxations can add up: an OBC candidate with a benchmark disability gets both. There is no relaxation for EWS. Special conditions apply to ex-servicemen still in service, so read that clause carefully.

Number of attempts by category

An attempt is counted the moment you sit even one paper of Prelims. Applying and then skipping the exam does not count, and being disqualified or having your candidature cancelled after appearing still uses that attempt.

UPSC qualification eligibility: which degrees count

• A degree from any university created by a central or state law, a deemed university, or an institution recognised by the University Grants Commission. Degrees through distance or open learning count if the university is recognised.
• Final year students and those waiting for results can apply for Prelims. They must show proof of passing with the Detailed Application Form for Mains.
• Professional and technical degrees recognised as equivalent to a degree are accepted.
• Candidates who have passed the final MBBS or another medical exam but not finished the internship may apply provisionally, with proof due at the interview.

No minimum percentage is required, and your stream does not limit your optional subject.

New conditions for candidates already in a service

The latest notification tightened the rules for people selected in earlier cycles:

• An officer already appointed to the IAS or the IFS through an earlier exam cannot sit the Civil Services Examination again.
• An IPS officer from an earlier exam can appear but cannot choose IPS again.
• A candidate allotted IPS or a Group A service gets a one time chance to try again in the next cycle with an exemption from training. To appear after that, the candidate must resign.
• Those allotted a service in an earlier cycle may use their remaining attempts in the next one or two cycles without resigning, as set out in the notice.

UPSC physical eligibility for IPS and other services

There is no height rule for IAS, but every recommended candidate must pass a medical examination. For IPS and some police and forest services, minimum standards apply. For IPS, the commonly cited minimum height is 165 cm (male) and 150 cm (female), relaxed to 160 cm and 145 cm for some groups listed in the notification, while the chest must measure at least 84 cm (male) or 79 cm (female) with 5 cm expansion. Vision norms, colour vision and freedom from defects such as flat feet are also checked.

The full standards for every service are in an appendix to the notification. Check them if you plan to list IPS high in your preferences.

Documents you will need

Keep these ready before Prelims, because the Detailed Application Form follows soon after the result: Class 10 certificate as age proof, degree or final year proof, category certificate in the prescribed format (OBC non creamy layer and EWS certificates must be valid for the relevant financial year), PwBD certificate if applicable, and a photo ID. Then read about the UPSC cut off trend and practise with past papers. For other central services exams with different age bands, see the CAPF eligibility page or run your details through our eligibility checker tool.