How many attempts are allowed for civil service exam?

Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission of India is one of the most popular and competitive examination in Indian soil. It acts as the platform for various civil services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). This demanding examination is taken by candidates of different profile and field of study, who wish to become civil servants, and thus, contribute to the country’s governing, legislation and administration. Before we delve into the specifics of attempt limits, let’s briefly understand the structure of the UPSC Civil Services Examination:

Preliminary Examination (Prelims):

• Objective in nature
• Consists of CSAT and GS paper.
• Serves as a tool for selecting candidates to sit the Main Examination
• It is an entrance test for the mains doesn’t include in mains.

Main Examination (Mains):

• Descriptive in nature
• Consists of 9 papers all descriptive.
• Mains marks were another component of the final merit list.

Personality Test (Interview):

• It is conducted by a team created by the UPSC.
• Evaluates the candidate’s character, his/her capability to communicate and his/her appropriateness for an administration position.
• Marks from the Interview stage are added to the Mains marks and then total marks are divided in order to decide the final merit.

Attempt Limits

Now, let’s address the crucial question: To how many attempts is the candidate eligible for the UPSC Civil Services Examination?

General Category Candidates:

• Earlier the attempt till 2014 was 4 for the general category candidates.
• Now at present 6 attempts are allowed.
• This change was in a bid to challenge the candidates to prepare more for the examination and be serious about it.

OBC (Other Backward Classes) Candidates:

• The OBC candidates have 9 chances in total.
• This cut in the general category attempts did not lower the attempt that OBC candidates could make.

SC/ST (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe) Candidates:

• Reservation category candidates such as SC/ST can attempt the exam limitless they desire until the fixed upper age limit.
• The logic behind this provision is the social Justice to support equal opportunities.

Physically Disabled Candidates:

• Candidates with physical disability (stipulated disabilities get extra relaxation in age as well as in the number of attempts).
• As regards the nature of these details, it depends on the category of disability.

Given the limited attempts, aspirants adopt various strategies

• Early Start: Some candidates start preparing for these exams while still in college or shortly after leaving college.
• Focused Efforts: These attempts are valuable and results in excessive preparation for Prelims as well as Mains.
• Optional Subject Selection: Selecting the right optional subject is a critical factor that leads to the achievement of desired scores.
• Mock Tests and Revision: Mock tests can be a great way to prepare and consistent revision should also be done.

Are there only 4 attempts in UPSC?

UPSC Civil Services Examination is more than an examination; it is an examination where the candidate has to prove his worth and the kind of person he or she is. It has to be done with passion and that every applicant must know that you have to try over and over again. Whether it is the first shot or the final shot and whether it is the first try or the last try, the goal is to push a Aspirant to the very best they he/she be.That means how many times a candidate is eligible to give the examination depends on the category he/she belongs to. Here’s the breakdown:

• General Category: The General category candidates have the opportunity of only six attempts. This means that they can write the UPSC exam up to six times.
• OBC (Other Backward Classes): OBC candidates can attempt the exam maximum nine times. Therefore, if you belong to this group, you have a few more opportunities to go all out.
• SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes): Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe candidates get as many chances as they require till the prescribed maximum age limit is one.

These attempts are made within the frame of age restrictions allowed by the UPSC. The upper age limit varies based on the category as well:

• General category: Age limit for appearing in exam is 32 years of age.
• OBC: For the exam, the upper age limit is 35 years.
• SC/ST: 37 years.

And there are a few additional considerations

• If you are defence services personnel who became disabled in operation during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and were release as a consequential thereof, your age should not be more than 35 years.
• COs and ECOs/SSCOs who have completed their five years of military service are given the upper age limit of 37 years.
• With upper age limit of 42 years people from general category are allowed in the exam if they fall under the blind and orthopedically handicapped category.
• Please, note that these age limits are set as of August 1 in the year when the given exam is taken.

Can I do IAS at the age of 40?

At 40, life is considerably more routinized, ritualized, and conventional – there is a home, job, children, and perhaps a mortgage. However, what if, under all the working and caring and getting’-done every day, there is an unachievable dream? But what if that dream of serving your country as an IAS officer has not died out yet? Has it become too soon or too late to pursue that dream? Now let’s go further into this question.

The Age Factor

Historically, the IAS exam has its roots with the youth. Prospective candidates are, relatively speaking, in their early twenties. However, times are changing. UPSC is Union Public Service Commission that does set an upper age limit for the general category candidates till the age of 32 years. For OBC candidates, IT IS 35 AND FOR SC/ST candidates IT IS 37. Therefore, at 40, you are not within the legal age limit, and you cannot proceed for the examination.For instance, if your category is OBC and you are an ex- serviceman, then apparently your age limit would be 40 years you can go for an attempt. Let me remind, age is more than just a figure, it’s a state of mind. It helps when preparing to be considerate of your maturity, past experiences and different perspectives of life.

Challenges and Considerations

• Time Commitment: If one has to prepare for the IAS exam, it requires commitment. It will take anywhere between 3- 6 hours of a day for your studies, mock examinations, and essays.
• Adaptability: The syllabus for the exams mainly includes history, geography, polity, and current affairs.
• Resilience: The journey can be gruelling. Lessons learnt, and hurdles and doubt are some of the features that one has to live with.

Advantages of Age

• Wisdom: These arguments will show that everyday experiences shape our behaviours in ways that are not only important, but necessary. You should ensure your experiences whether good or bad will be of added value in the interview stage.
• Stability: So, at 30s, things are probably more stable financially than they were ten years prior. This relieves the stress of passing the exam in a first attempt possible due to reduced chances of acquiring relevant information.
• Motivation: There are a lot of things which make a midlife pushing one to begin to consider many matters. If the IAS dream still excites you, then desire is your call and you should proceed for it.

What is the age limit for IAS?

The Civil services exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission locally known as IAS exam is a door to one of the most cherished services in India. If you’re eyeing that coveted IAS badge, here’s what you need to know about the age limit:

Minimum Age Requirement

• The candidate must be over 21 years of age to take the IAS exam.
• However, the good news is that the eligibility your age of 21 on August 1st of the year when the exam is conducted. For example if your birth day is before the 2024 prelims, you would have been 21+ years before August 1, 2024.

Maximum Age Limit

The upper age limit for IAS aspirants varies based on different categories:

• General Category: It’ll be assumed that you’re not older than 32 years of age as of August 1st. Therefore if you were born after the August 2, 1999 up to and including August 1, 2024 you fall within the prescribed age bracket.
• OBC (Other Backward Classes): The maximum age limit going up to 35 years of age.
• SC/ST (Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes): The maximum age allowed is 37 years old.
• Defence Services Personnel Disabled in Operations: If you fall under this category, you are allow a maximum of 35 years.
• Ex-servicemen (including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs) with 5+ Years of Military Service: Your upper age limit is 37 years.
• Blind, Deaf-mute, and Orthopedically Handicapped (General Category): These candidates have a condition of an extended age limit of 42 years.

Furthermore, the OBC/SC/ST candidates get an age relaxation for the total age. For instance, if your category is OBC and you are an ex- serviceman, then apparently your age limit would be 40 years (which gets 3 & 5 years relaxation).