Eligibility Criteria

Q. What is the minimum educational qualification required to apply for the examination?

Any candidate aspiring to apply for the exam must hold a degree from Government recognized Universities or possess an equivalent qualification. Final year students who are awaiting their results are also eligible to apply for the UPSC exam

Q. What are the age limit criteria to apply for the civil services exam?

The applicant must not be more than 32 years of age and not be less than 21 years of age. However, age relaxations are available for specific categories. 

Q. What are the number of attempts available (category-wise) to the candidates of the Civil Services Examination?

There is a fixed number of attempts for candidates applying for the upcoming exam. The details are as follows:

Q. How an ‘attempt’ is counted in the Civil Services Examination?

An attempt at the Preliminary Examination is considered an attempt at the Civil Services Examination:

• If a candidate actually appears in any one paper in the Preliminary Examination.
• Notwithstanding the disqualification/cancellation of candidature, the fact of appearance of the candidate at the examination is counted as an attempt.

Q. I have applied for the exam, but will not be able to appear for the examination. Will that be counted as an attempt?

No, it will only be counted as an attempt if the candidate has applied but not appeared for the examination.

Q. Is an attempt in prelims examination counted as an attempt for the UPSC exam?

Yes, an attempt in prelims examination counted as an attempt for the UPSC exam

Q. How would an aspirant know the  number   of  attempts already availed by him/her in the Civil Services Examination?

It is the primary responsibility of the candidate to keep a record/track of number of attempts availed by him/her.

Q. What is the procedure followed by the Commission in verifying that the candidate has not exceeded the attempts allowed in respective category in the Civil Services Examination?

The number of attempts availed by a candidate in Civil Services Examination is checked/verified from the available data/records with the Commission at appropriate stage of this Examination.

Q. What action the Commission takes against a candidate who has exceeded the permissible number of attempts by concealing or furnishing incorrect information in the application form?

In the relevant provisions under Disqualification, Debarment, Disciplinary Action, Criminal Prosecution of the extant Civil Services Examination Rules, it has been provided that “A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of - (f) making statements which are incorrect or false or suppressing material information; in addition to being liable to criminal prosecution, shall be disqualified by the Commission from the Examination held under these Rules; and/or shall be liable to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period by the Commission, from any examination or selection..” Therefore, in accordance with this Rule, in all such cases of misleading information on number of attempts availed by the candidates, the Commission cancels the candidature of the said erring candidates for that particular Civil Services Examination and also debars them for 10 years in respect of all future Examinations/Selections of the Commission.

Q. What document proof is required to claim reservation or relaxation in the recruitment process?

The list of documents required to claim any kind of reservation or relaxation is mentioned in the official notification. Thus, candidates seeking relaxation under SC/ST/OBC/EWS or any other reservation must make sure that they are in possession of all the required documents.

Q. Can 12th passed students apply for the recruitment?

No, the minimum education qualification to apply for the UPSC recruitment is a bachelor’s degree in any discipline or equivalent education qualification. 12th passed students cannot apply for the recruitment.

Q. What are the eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/ functional classification required for a Service/ Post?

The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates shall also be required to meet eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/functional classifications (abilities/disabilities) consistent with the requirements of the identified Service/Post as may be prescribed by its Cadre Controlling Authorities. The details of physical requirements and functional classifications are given in the Rules/Notice of the Examination.

Q. What information should be given by persons already in Government Service to their Head of Office?

Persons already in Government Service, whether in a permanent or temporary capacity or as work charged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those serving under the Public Sector Enterprises, are required to submit an undertaking that they have informed their Head of Office/Department, in writing, that they have applied for the Examination. Candidates should note that in case a communication is received from their employer, by the Commission, withholding permission to the candidates applying for/appearing at the Examination, their applications will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable to be cancelled.

Q. What are the provisions regarding community reservation and change of community?

A candidate will be eligible to get the benefit of community reservation only in case the particular community/ caste / tribe to which the candidate belongs is included in the list of reserved communities issued by the Central Government. If a candidate indicates in his/her application form for Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination that he/she belongs to General category but subsequently writes to the Commission to change his/her category to a reserved one, such request shall not be entertained by the Commission. Similar principle will also be followed for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates. However, in some exceptional cases where a particular caste/tribe is included in the list of reserved community within 3 months from the date of submission of application, the Commission may consider a request of change of community as a special case.

In case of a candidate unfortunately becoming physically disabled during the course of the examination process, the candidate should produce valid document showing him/her acquiring a disability to the extent of 40% or more as mentioned in the relevant rules to enable him/her to get the benefits of PwBD reservation.

Q. What are the provisions for reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates?

Reservation will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities candidates in respect of vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.