UPSC Age Limit

The table below provides details about the age limit and the number of attempts available for different categories of UPSC candidates.

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Advocates for lowering the age limit argue that many young individuals spend a significant amount of their formative years striving to clear the UPSC civil services exam. If they fail to do so, they end up starting their careers relatively late in life, which can be challenging for some. Additionally, aspirants and their families often incur substantial expenses if the candidate takes longer to clear the exam, causing a significant financial drain. Reducing the age limit could potentially mitigate this issue. Some argue that younger individuals entering the services is beneficial as they are still impressionable and can be shaped into ethical and efficient administrators.

Conversely, there are those who strongly oppose the reduction of the age limit and the number of attempts. This viewpoint is particularly prevalent among rural candidates who lack access to coaching centres and recommended study materials, unlike their urban or semi-urban peers. Those with internet access do seem to have an advantage over those who don’t. Another argument is that older candidates bring more life and career experience to the table. This experience could be invaluable in their roles as future administrators of the country. Moreover, it is the individual's ability and intent that should matter, not their age. No one should be denied the opportunity to serve their country based on their age.

Should the commission decide to implement any changes, it would be advisable to do so gradually over a period of 5 or 6 years to ensure that current aspirants are not adversely affected.

For more related links about the UPSC preparation, refer to the links given in the table below: