Eligibility criteria in the UPSC include age limit, nationality, educational qualification, and attempts. To appear in the UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains exams, one has to satisfy these factors.

The official notification for the UPSC 2025 examination was published on January 22, 2025. Yet, candidates may use the following general eligibility criteria.

UPSC Age Limit 2025

The minimum and maximum age limits for UPSC CSE 2025 are as follows:

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 32 years (for General category candidates)
• Candidates must have been born between August 2, 1992, and August 1, 2003, to be eligible.

UPSC Age Relaxation

Age relaxations are provided for reserved categories as follows:

• OBC candidates: 3 years (up to 35 years)
• SC/ST candidates: 5 years (up to 37 years)
• PwBD candidates: 10 years (up to 42 years)
• Ex-servicemen and certain defence personnel: 5 years of relaxation

UPSC Qualification

To be qualified for UPSC CSE 2025, candidates should fulfil the following academic requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognised government university.
• Final-year students may apply for Prelims but need to submit proof of graduation before Mains.
• Applicants with professional or technical qualifications approved by the government are also qualified.
• Medical students who have passed their final MBBS examination but have not completed their internship can apply, provided they submit a certificate from their university.

Nationality Criteria for UPSC

For IAS, IPS, and IFS services, the applicant should be an Indian citizen. For other services, Nepali, Bhutanese, and Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, are also eligible.