Before applying for the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination, it’s essential to ensure that you meet all the required conditions.

 

Eligibility is based on five main parameters:

  • Age Limit & Relaxation
  • Educational Qualification
  • Number of Attempts
  • Nationality
  • Physical & Medical Standards

Here’s a complete and easy-to-understand overview of UPSC eligibility rules for 2025.

1. Quick Snapshot: UPSC Eligibility Criteria

Criteria General Category Other Categories
Minimum Age 21 years Same across all categories
Maximum Age 32 years OBC: 35 yrs SC/ST: 37 yrs PwBD: Up to 42 yrs
Educational Qualification Graduate in any stream Final-year students can also apply
No. of Attempts 6 OBC: 9 SC/ST: Unlimited PwBD (Gen/OBC): 9
Nationality Indian citizens Specific non-Indian citizens may apply (see below)
Physical Fitness Required Based on service-specific criteria

2. Age Criteria for UPSC IAS Exam (As of 1st August 2025)

Category Minimum Age Maximum Age
General 21 years 32 years
OBC 21 years 35 years
SC/ST 21 years 37 years
PwBD 21 years 42 years

Candidates must be born between 2nd August 1993 and 1st August 2004 (for general category).

3. Educational Qualification Requirement To be eligible, a candidate must:

  • Hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university (Central/State/Deemed/Private).
  • Final-year students can appear for Prelims but must present proof of qualification before Main
  • Technical/professional degrees recognized by the government are acceptable.
  • MBBS graduates who have completed the final year but not the internship can also apply with relevant certification.

4. Number of Attempts Allowed

Category Attempts Permitted
General 6
OBC 9
SC/ST Unlimited
PwBD (General/OBC) 9
PwBD (SC/ST) Unlimited

Note: Each appearance at the Prelims counts as an attempt, even if the candidate doesn’t appear for both papers.

5. Nationality Requirements

Service Nationality Required
IAS, IPS, IFS Only Indian Citizens
All Other Civil Services Indian Citizen or: - Citizen of Nepal or Bhutan - Tibetan refugee (before 1st Jan 1962) - Indian-origin migrant from select countries intending permanent settlement in India

Foreign nationals must furnish an eligibility certificate from the Government of India.

6. Physical & Medical Fitness for UPSC
Candidates must meet the prescribed physical standards as per the rules published in the official notification:

  • Physical fitness is mandatory for all, especially for IPS, IRS, IFS, and Railway Services.
  • The Appendix-III of the official UPSC notification outlines exact medical requirements.
  • Categories like height, chest expansion, vision, and hearing are evaluated for technical services.
  • Non-technical roles do not require stringent physical measurements, but candidates must be medically fit.

7. Special Provisions for PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities)

PwBD Category Min Age Max Age Attempts
PwBD – General 21 42 9
PwBD – OBC 21 45 9
PwBD – SC/ST 21 47 Unlimited

PwBD categories include: low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, cerebral palsy, acid attack survivors, autism, intellectual disability, and mental illness.

8. Service Restriction Clause

  • If a candidate is already serving in the IAS or IFS, they are not eligible to apply again for the same service.
  • If serving as IPS, you cannot opt for IPS again in your new application year.

Final Word

Understanding the UPSC eligibility criteria is your first step toward India’s most prestigious competitive exam. Make sure you:

  • Check your age and attempts
  • Ensure your degree and citizenship status
  • Read the official UPSC notification for full medical/physical details

Stay informed, stay prepared — and let your dream of becoming a civil servant take flight!

Prelims Test Series 2026