UPSC Prelims Eligibility Criteria 2025: Check Here

UPSC Civil Services Prelims Examination Notification 2025 was Released on 22nd JAnuary 2025! The commission has invited 979 vacancies for various posts in the UPSC CSE 2025 Examination. The UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on 25th May 2025. The candidates are required to undergo a 3 stage selection process- UPSC IAS Prelims Exam, UPSC IAS Mains Exam, and UPSC IAS Interview.

UPSC physical eligibility includes minimum height, chest, and eyesight requirements for posts like IPS. According to the Union Public Service Commission, a candidate applying for the exam must be in good mental and bodily health.

Also, the candidate must be free from any physical defect interfering with discharging his duties as a civil servant. Any candidate called for the Physical or the Personality test may be required to undergo through a medical examination.

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UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2025 – Eligibility Criteria

1. Nationality:

• For Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS):
  • Candidate must be a citizen of India.
• For other services, the 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 with the intention of permanently settling, or
  • A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries such as Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East African countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

(Candidates under the last four categories must possess an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.)​

2. Age Limits (as of 1st August 2025):

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 32 years
  • Candidate must be born between 2nd August 1993 and 1st August 2004.

Age Relaxation:

• SC/ST: Up to 5 years (37 years max)
• OBC: Up to 3 years (35 years max)
• Defense Services Personnel disabled during hostilities: Up to 3 years
• Ex-Servicemen (ECOs/SSCOs): Up to 5 years
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Up to 10 years​

3. Educational Qualification:

• A candidate must hold a graduate degree from:
  • A recognized university incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature,
  • Any other recognized equivalent qualification.

Note:

• Candidates appearing for their final year of graduation can apply, but they must provide proof of passing the examination before the deadline set by UPSC.
• Professional and technical qualifications recognized by the government are also accepted​.

4. Number of Attempts:

• General Category (UR/EWS): 6 attempts
• OBC: 9 attempts
• SC/ST: Unlimited attempts (until the maximum age limit)
• PwBD: 9 attempts for General/OBC and unlimited for SC/ST

(An attempt is counted if the candidate appears for any paper of the Preliminary Examination.)​

5. Physical Standards:

• Candidates must be physically fit according to the prescribed physical standards outlined in Appendix-III of the UPSC notification

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UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025 – Physical Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for the Civil Services Examination must meet the physical and medical standards as prescribed in the Appendix-III of the official examination rules published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 22nd January 2025.

Key Points:

1. General Requirements:
   • Candidates must be physically fit according to the physical standards set for different services, especially for technical services such as the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Railway Protection Force (IRPFS), and others.
2. Medical Examination:
   • All qualified candidates will undergo a mandatory medical examination at designated government hospitals.
   • The medical test will assess vision standards, hearing ability, general health, and specific fitness criteria for different services.
3. Special Criteria for Certain Services:
   • Candidates applying for the Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS), and other uniformed services must meet additional physical standards, including:
     • Height Requirements:
       • Male: Minimum 165 cm (relaxation for certain categories)
       • Female: Minimum 150 cm
     • Chest Expansion:
       • Minimum expansion of 5 cm required
     • Vision Standards:
       • Corrected vision should meet the required standards without color blindness or night blindness.
4. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD):
   • Eligible under specific categories mentioned in the notification, provided they meet the required functional abilities for the service/post.

Candidates are advised to carefully review Appendix-III of the notification for specific details related to their desired service​.

UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Notification: Important Dates