IAS Exam Age Limit is the most important criteria. Therefore, the candidates have to achieve the age limit criteria set by the respective authorities for the exam. There are conditions of nationality, age, number of attempts, and educational qualifications. However, for the general category aspirants, citizenship is a must for a candidate, must be between the ages of 21 and 32, and also must not have attempted the IAS exam more than 6 times.
| Category | IAS Exam Age Limit- Upper Age Relaxation | No. of Attempts |
| General/EWS | 21years-32 years | 6 |
| OBC | 21years -35 years | 9 |
| SC/ST | 21years -37 years | Unlimited |
| Disabled Defence Personnel | 21 years-35 years | 9 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 37 | 9 |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability & Economically weaker section | 42 | 9 |
However, for Defence Servicemen, the persons Disabled in operations during hostilities or any consequences have special Civil Services age limit relaxation. The IAS Eligibility declares that a person, who has completed a primary time of assignment of minimum 5 years Military Service must get five years of age relaxation, and also provided whose assignment has been extended beyond five years provided with a certificate.
IAS Educational Qualification Requirements
Minimum Educational Qualification: A candidate must hold a Graduate degree of any of the Universities incorporated by an Act of the central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification.
Read also: Why is CSAT More Important in IAS Prelims?
Note:1
Candidates who have appearing in third year of their graduation can also apply for Civil Service Examination but there results of Passing of Graduation must be published before Main Examination (Detail Application Form-1) last date, failing which such candidates will not be admitted to the Main Examination. Such proof of passing the requisite qualifying examination should be dated earlier than the due date (closing date) of Detailed Application Form-I of the Main Examination.
Note: II
In some of the cases candidates who does not have any forgoing qualification as a candidate and candidate has already passed where he has done their course, the standard of which in the opinion of the commission justifies the admission to the Civil Service Examination.
Note-III :
Professional and technical qualifications which are recognised by government of India as equivalent to IAS Exam Age Limit criteria would also apply to the Civil Service Examination. Note-IV : Candidates who have passed the final professional M.B.B.S or any other equivalent professional examination leading to a medical degree or certificate but have not completed their internship by the time of submission of their applications for the Civil Services (Main) Examination, will be provisionally admitted to the Civil Services Examination, provided they submit along with their application a copy of certificate from the concerned authority of the University/Institution that they had passed the requisite final professional examination. In such cases, the candidates will be required to produce at the time of their interview the original degree or a certificate from the concerned competent authority of the University/Institution that they had completed all requirements (including completion of internship) for the award of the Degree.
