What are Civil Services and UPSC exam eligibility criteria?

An Understanding about UPSC exam eligibility and Civil Services are core to the preparation of Civil Services exam.

Civil Services:

Civil Services are permanent professional branches of State’s administration other than the Military, the Judiciary and the elected representatives (Legislative). In simple words, Civil Servants are people who are working with the government, helping the government in running everyday affairs of the country. In India, the selections to the Civil Services are conducted through an all India Competitive Exam called UPSC Civil Services Exam. 

The list of services to which the UPSC Civil Services examination is conducted is as follows:

All India Services

• Indian Administrative Service (IAS)
• Indian Police Service (IPS)

Central Civil Services – Group A

• Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS) – Income Tax
• Indian Revenue Service (IRS) – Customs & Central Excise
• Indian Audits & Accounts Service (IA&AS)
• Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS)
• Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
• Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS)
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS)
• Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES)
• Indian Information Service (IIS)
• Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS)
• Railways Protection Force (RPF)

Central Civil Services – Group B

• Union Territories Administrative Service
• Union Territories Police Service
• Central Secretariat Service and Defence Secretariat Service

Who conducts the Civil Services Exam in India? 

The Civil Services Exam in India is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and is conducted only once in a year. The dates of the Civil Services Exam varies every year but will be announced a year prior to the preliminary examination.

What are the eligibility criteria for UPSC exam?

The Government of India (read UPSC) from time to time decides the eligibility of UPSC Exam. Presently, the UPSC notification says so about the eligibility criteria of UPSC exam, 

“Any Indian citizen who is a graduate from any recognized university (recognized by UGC) and in the age group between 21 and 32 is considered eligible to write the UPSC exam”.

However, there are relaxations awarded in the UPSC exam eligibility criteria. 

The age limits mentioned in UPSC exam eligibility are as follows:

1. a) 32 years for general category,
2. b) 35 years for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and
3. c) 37 years for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)

The number of attempts granted to each category as mention in UPSC exam eligibility is as follows: 

1. a) General category candidates are six (6)
2. b) OBC candidates are nine (9) times.
3. c) There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SCs and STs.
4. d) Differently-abled aspirants have been allowed a relaxation of 10 years and nine (9) attempts.

Now, we presume that you are well aware of the eligibility for UPSC exam and have made your mind to prepare for the Civil Services Exam.  We appreciate your choice and wish you success in the journey to be a Civil Servant, for we at SelfLearn believe that the Civil Services Exam is not a tough nut to crack provided you have the right attitude.