UPSC eligibility refers to the conditions a candidate must meet to apply for the Civil Services Exam (CSE). These conditions include age, nationality, and education. For the CSE exam, an Indian citizen must be at least 21 years old and have completed a graduation degree, or be in the final year of their degree.

Candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria to appear for the UPSC Prelims and Mains. The goal of the exam is to select only the most qualified individuals for India’s civil services, which help in the country’s governance and development.

UPSC Eligibility Criteria 2025

For UPSC 2025, candidates should refer to the official notification, which will be released on 22 January 2025 to confirm their eligibility.

UPSC CSE Eligibility

UPSC Eligibility Age Limit

The age limit for the General category is 21 to 32 years. Candidates must be born between August 2, 1992, and August 1, 2003, to be eligible for the exam. This age limit applies as of August 1, 2025.

UPSC Age Relaxation

Certain categories of candidates are allowed to avail of an age relaxation:

• SC/ST candidates: 5 years relaxation.
• OBC candidates: 3 years relaxation.
• Disabled Defence Personnel: 3 years relaxation.
• Ex-Servicemen: 5 years relaxation.
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 years relaxation.

What is the Maximum Age Limit for UPSC?

The maximum age limit depends on the candidate’s category:

UPSC Eligibility Educational Qualification

Candidates must have a degree from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification. Candidates who are in the final year of their degree can also apply for the Prelims but must provide proof of their qualification when applying for the Mains.

• Candidates with professional or technical degrees approved by the government are also eligible.
• Medical students who have finished their MBBS final year but not their internship can apply, but they need to submit proof of completion from their university.

UPSC Eligibility Nationality Criteria

• For IAS, IPS, and IFS posts, the candidate must be an Indian citizen.
• For other services, the candidate can also be a citizen of Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1962, or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) from certain countries.

Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibet need a certificate from the Indian Government to confirm their eligibility.

UPSC Eligibility Number of Attempts

The number of attempts for the UPSC exam depends on the candidate’s category:

Restrictions on Applying

Candidates already appointed to IAS, IPS, or IFS positions are not eligible to appear for the exam. If you are already serving in these positions, you cannot take the exam again for that particular year.

UPSC Physical Eligibility

Candidates must meet physical fitness requirements as part of the UPSC exam.

• Candidates passing the UPSC CSE will go through a medical test.
• There are basic physical standards for certain posts like IPS officers, but non-technical positions may not require strict physical standards, though physical fitness and mental stability are necessary.

These medical and physical standards are listed in Appendix-III of the Examination Rules published in the Gazette of India on February 02, 2023.

UPSC Eligibility FAQs