UPSC@100: No Plans To Reduce Age Limit Or Number Of Attempts For Civil Services Exams

The most important question, therefore, is this: Will the UPSC resort to its earlier eligibility criteria and reduce the number of attempts and the age limit?

In short, the answer is “no.”

“We do not have any plans to reduce the number of attempts or the age limit,” a senior UPSC official told The Secretariat.

“I know the UPSC has been criticised for expanding the number of attempts and the age limit, but this also allows candidates a fair and equal chance. In case candidates feel, they can opt out. There is no compulsion that they will have to go through the drill,” the official, on condition of anonymity, said.

“As these provisions have been made to provide more safeguards to the underprivileged sections of the country, like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections of society, we have decided to continue with them. We felt that extended eligibility encourages prolonged preparation and allows entry of these groups into the workforce," he pointed out.

Extension Of Upper Age Limit

However, the official admitted that the extension of the upper age limit does have some disadvantages, as officials joining the coveted services after 30 will have little time for adequate grooming. This also clips the officials' career path and promotions in some way.

A few months earlier, after the civil service results of 2024 were declared, former Reserve Bank of India Governor Duvvuri Subbarao, an IAS officer from the Andhra Pradesh Cadre, called for a major overhaul of the existing system.

“Congratulations to the thousand-odd candidates who have got through what is arguably one of the most competitive exams in the world,” he wrote in an article published in the Times of India. However, he underlined the mental and physical anguish that those who were not selected go through. “For every successful candidate, there are at least ten others who have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?”

Subbarao prescribed reducing the number of attempts as well as the age limit. Compared to earlier days, when only two attempts were allowed and the age limit was 24 years, at present, a general candidate can appear for the examination six times, OBCs get nine attempts, while SC/ST categories are given unlimited attempts till 37 years. The upper age limit too has been extended to 32 years.

Other Reforms On The Way

Though the UPSC is not willing to alter the age limit or the eligibility criteria, a host of other reforms are being looked into. These reforms will be aimed at aligning civil service recruitment with the changing needs of governance and have been described as continuous and evolving.

The process for the completion of the Civil Services Examination (CSE) takes about one year, which the UPSC aims to bring down to nine months. The reduction in the tenure of the examination process has been a long-pending demand, as it was felt that a longer process leads to wastage of time. 

The CSE is conducted annually by the Commission in accordance with the civil service examination rules notified by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Integration Of AI

The reforms proposal also includes the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technology tools to make the examination process more efficient. "The implementation and use of AI in the process will be further enhanced to boost transparency and efficiency. This is also aimed at providing fair and equal opportunities to all", the official said.  

The proposal to enable the government to tap into domain expertise from outside traditional bureaucratic recruitment, and allow mid-career entry of experts is also being studied by the Commission in detail.  

Other recommendations include greater transparency in evaluation, early document verification, and a review of the optional subject in the Mains examination. 

The UPSC has held widespread consultations with various stakeholders, including cadre controlling authorities of participating services and other ministries, and senior former and present officials of all India services to gather their opinion about the required reforms to the examination and selection process for the crucial CSE. Examinations conducted by the UPSC are widely regarded as one of the most transparent and competitive in the world.     

Recently Implemented Reforms

Under the guidance of its incumbent Chairman, Ajay Kumar, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1985 batch of the Kerala cadre, the UPSC has embarked upon a series of measures to improve the selection and examination process for the CSE.  

Recently, the UPSC introduced a new four-part online registration portal, replacing the earlier one-time registration system. The new platform requires candidates to freshly register and upload verified identification documents, including Aadhaar.

Sources stated that the move is aimed at streamlining the application process. This would also ensure more transparency and better data management, sources added.

The reforms aim to reshape the examination and selection process of the country's civil services. The attempt is to take in the talent, allow entry of professional experts, and ensure standards of the institution are maintained.

The commission is aiming to adapt its examination and evaluation methods to identify officers who can uphold democratic values and provide efficient governance to meet the nation's development challenges. 

UPSC's Relevance

The UPSC is India’s premier recruiting agency, established under Article 315 of the Constitution, which conducts the annual CSE. The country’s top civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS), are selected through the CSE. These services form the backbone of the nation’s governance system. 

What is CSE 

The CSE is an annual, rigorous three-stage process comprising the Preliminary, Main, and Interview rounds. It aims to assess not just academic knowledge but also analytical ability, decision-making skills, and the integrity of candidates. The aspirants are assessed to ensure that only the best candidates who are capable and committed are selected for public administration and governance.