Civil Service Examination 2023
Age Limits
| Category | Minimum Age Limit for UPSC | Maximum Age Limit for UPSC |
| General Category | 21 | 32 |
| EWS | 21 | 32 |
| SC/ST | 21 | 37 |
| OBC | 21 | 35 |
| UPSC Exam Age Limit for General, SC/ST, OBC & Other categories | ||
| Category | UPSC Age Limit- Upper Relaxation | Number of Attempts |
| General | 32 | 6 |
| OBC | 35 | 9 |
| SC/ST | 37 | Unlimited (Up to age limit) |
| Disabled Defence Services Personnel | 35 | 9 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 37 | 9 |
| Persons withBenchmark Disability – EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 42 | 9 |
IAS Eligibility- Nationality
For IAS and IPS:
- Candidate must be a citizen of India
All other Services:
- Candidate must be either:-
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A subject of Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently, or
- A person of Indian origin (PIO) who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Zaire and Vietnam intending to settle in India permanently.
- The candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), (4) and (5) should furnish a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may take the exam before getting the said certificate of eligibility, but he/she would get the offer of appointment only after the Government of India has issued the certificate.
- Point to Note: A person belonging to categories (2), (3) and (4) are not eligible for appointment to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Educational Qualification
- Minimum qualification for UPSC exam: The candidate must hold a degree from Government recognised Universities or possess an equivalent qualification.
- Candidates who are in their final year or awaiting results are also eligible to appear for UPSC preliminary Examination. All such candidates who are likely to appear for IAS exams must produce proof of having passed the said examination along with the application for the main IAS examination.
- Candidates having professional and technical qualifications recognised by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical degrees.
- Medical students who have passed the final year of MBBS, but are yet to complete their internship also have eligibility for IAS. Although, along with the Main Examination application, a certificate of course completion (including internship) from the concerned authority of the University/Institution has to be submitted.
Scheme of CS (Preliminary) Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of two papers of objective type (multiple-choice questions) carrying a maximum of 400 marks. The Question Papers (Test Booklets) are set in English & Hindi. There will be negative marking of one-third marks of the question as penalty for answering it wrong.
| General Studies Paper – I | 200 Marks, 100 questions |
| *General Studies Paper – II | 200 Marks, 80 questions |
* General Studies Paper-II is qualifying with having minimum marks as 33% of the total marks i.e. 66 marks.
The Commission will draw a list of candidates to be qualified for Civil Services (Main)
Examination based on the minimum qualifying marks in General Studies Paper- II and total marks in General Studies Paper-1.
Scheme of CS (Main) Examination:
The written examination will consist of the following papers:—
Qualifying Papers:
Paper-A (One of the Indian Language to be selected by the candidate from the Languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution) and Paper –B English (Each of 300 marks)
Papers to be counted for merit
Paper-I – Essay 250 Marks
Paper-II – General Studies-I 250 Marks
Paper-III – General Studies –II 250 Marks
Paper-IV – General Studies –III 250 Marks
Paper-V – General Studies – IV 250 Marks
Paper-VI – Optional Subject – Paper 1 250 Marks
Paper-VII – Optional Subject – Paper 2 250 Marks
Total (Written test) 1750 Marks
Personality Test 275 Marks
Grand Total 2025 Marks