Every year the UPSC conducts the civil services exam to recruit officers into the Indian civil services. The civil service promises an exciting career to youngsters who have a yearning to give back to the country and take an active part in her progress. There are a few eligibility conditions to satisfy before an aspirant can take the IAS exam. Among other things, they have to be graduates. Many final year university students, who nurture the IAS dream, wonder if they are eligible for the exam in their final year itself. This article answers their question.
The UPSC exam pattern
There are three stages to this exam. They are:
- UPSC prelims
- UPSC mains
- UPSC personality test
Eligibility conditions for the exam
Nationality: A candidate must be an Indian citizen for the posts of IAS and IPS. For all other posts, he/she can be:
- 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 in India, 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India.
For the last four categories, the candidate must produce an Eligibility Certificate issued by the Indian government before appointment to the service. It should also be noted that a candidate belonging to categories 2, 3 and 4 are not eligible for the India Foreign Service.
Age limit and number of attempts: The UPSC also has restrictions for the age limit and the number of permitted attempts. Check the following table for the conditions:
|
Category |
Upper Age Limit | Number of Permitted Attempts |
|
General |
32 |
6 |
|
EWS |
32 |
6 |
|
OBC |
35 |
9 |
|
SC/ST |
37 |
Till the upper age limit |
|
Physically Handicapped |
42 |
General & OBC: 9 SC/ST: Till the upper age limit |
|
J&K Domicile |
General: 37 OBC: 40 SC/ST: 42 Physically disabled: 50 |
Till the upper age limit |
|
Servicemen disabled from duty |
General: 37 OBC: 38 SC/ST: 40 |
Till the upper age limit |
Educational Qualification: The UPSC mandates candidates to be graduates from a recognised university.
Can final year students take the IAS exam?
Yes, final year students can also sit for the UPSC prelims exam. But there are conditions attached to this:
- The passing of the said final year exam should render the candidates eligible for the UPSC civil services exam, i.e., it should be a graduation-level degree from a recognised university. It can also be a professional or technical degree.
- All such candidates who are declared as eligible for the UPSC mains by the board (i.e., those who clear the UPSC prelims) should produce the proof of their passing the required university examination along with their mains application. Only then will they be permitted to take the IAS mains exam.
- If they fail to produce the required proof, they will not be admitted to the mains exam. This will result in the loss of a precious attempt because an attempt at the prelims is counted as one attempt.
Also, MBBS graduates who are yet to complete their internship can also take the UPSC mains exam. But such candidates should produce a certificate from their university or institution stating that they have completed all the requirements (including internship) for the medical degree at the time of the personality test/UPSC interview.
Visit BYJU’S Website for strategy and articles on free IAS prep and all the latest on UPSC IAS exam.
Also Read:
| UPSC Calendar 2023 | UPSC Books |
| UPSC 2023 | UPSC Notes |
| How to Start Preparation for UPSC Exam | UPSC Syllabus |
| UPSC Exam Pattern | Eligibility Conditions for UPSC Exams: Minimum Educational Qualification |
My Date Of Birth Is 22/03/2003 Which Year I apply for upsc
Hi Ashutosh
To sit for UPSC IAS Exam, an aspirant has to be a minimum of 21 years of age. Check UPSC Eligibility Criteria page to understand the requirements for civil services examination.
I’m 19 and DOB is 19 July 2000 2nd year btech
Can i apply for upsc in my final year of btech?
Hi Kriti
You can apply for UPSC IAS Exam either when you have cleared your graduation degree or are waiting for your final term results. The graduation certificate has to be submitted as a proof of educational qualification during the IAS Mains Application procedure. Please refer to UPSC Eligibility page for further details.
Sir i am studying btech final year. i will complete my studies in May and I Will get my certificate in June or July 2021.
Can I apply for upsc 2021 and am I eligible for upsc exam and Indian Forest service exam??
Hi Santhu
Yes, you can apply for UPSC 2021. The UPSC exam recruits for the services like IAS, IFS, IPS and more. You can get the full details on the UPSC eligibility criteria in the linked article. Keep up your preparation and for the same you can also check our Free IAS Prep page.
Good Evening Respected Sir/Madam,
Is an IGNOU student qualified for UPSC CSE?
Is it mandatory to fill details of the educational degree certificate in DAF-I?
Kindly guide
Thank you
Yes, IGNOU student csn sit for UPSC Exam. And, it is mandatory to fill all details in DAF.
Hello sir/ma’am
I am a dental student,i will complete my final year in november 2021 (result will be declared around november month)
Can i sit for upsc year 2021?
Hi Shubhangi
You will have to sit for UPSC 2022 as the final results’ mark sheet is required during the Mains Application process.
Sir I am doing my final year of bba and my birth date is 11 Jan 2001 can I give upsc exam for year 2021
As for age, you can sit for UPSC 2021. The final year students can sit for UPSC given they are able to produce their final marksheet during mains stage. Check UPSC Eligibility Criteria in detail.
Sir, I’m a Bsc nursing student, I will complete my finals in September 2022 and result would be declared in November 2022, will I be eligible for Upsc 2022?
You are eligible for UPSC 2023.
My date of birth is 24/07/2000, can I apply upsc civil services exam 2021
Hi
You will meet the age requirements for UPSC 2021. To check the detailed UPSC eligibility criteria, refer to the linked article.
Hello Sir,
This side SHASHANK SHEKHAR, I am pursuing BA. LLB 5 years integrated course and I will graduate in 2023 so can i appear for UPSC CSE exam while I am in my final year that is 9th semester, and can I give the mains exam while I am in my last semester of the college???
You can give UPSC exam in the last semester only when you will be able to get your graduation final mark sheet before the mains application process.
Hello sir. My name is Pujitha. I am 19 year old. I have born in 12-11-2001. I know about eligibility criteria for upsc cse exam. I took ba which is three year graduation program. But now my question is “ In which should I apply for this exam ?” Can you please give me the reply according to my situation!
Thank you.
Once you are a minimum of 21. Hence, you can sit in UPSC 2023.
Respected sir
According to new education policy the ministry of education has declared that after completing 3rd year students will get graduation degree
So Can a 3rd year bams student apply for upsc
(Now I’m in 12 std)
Once you get a graduation degree (or you are a final year student), you may sit for UPSC Examination.
Sir, I graduated this year . I have done internship in my final semester . Am I eligible for UPSC(IAS)?
A minimum of graduation is a must educational qualification. If you meet other UPSC eligibility criteria too, you can sit for UPSC 2021.
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am Kirti ,21, pursuing BALLB (currently 7th sem). My degree will get completed in the year 2022. Can i sit in UPSC CSE in 2022?
You can sit for UPSC 2022 if you have your graduation certificate on/before the UPSC Mains application process gets over. Know the detailed UPSC Eligibility Criteria in the linked article.
Hello sir,
I am student of first year. And my date of birth is 7th oct. 2002.
My graduation will be completed in may 2023.
Which year I can give exam of UPSC?
Hi
You may sit for UPSC 2024:
1. Minimum age limit – 21
2. Minimum education qualification – Graduation
Check detailed UPSC eligibility criteria in the linked article.
sir my date of birth is 22/12/2002 plz tell me in which year i can give upsc exam ?
Hi
You can sit in UPSC 2024. Check the UPSC Eligibility Criteria in the linked article.
Hello!
Please address my query’
I’m in 7th sem Engineering currently and our 8th sem will start according to academic calendar in month of “April”.
Due to Covid academic calendar got pushed few months.
Results may be delayed by few months.
Should I apply?
As per UPSC, the final results should be declared before the Mains application process starts. However, in the wake of COVID, UPSC hasn’t released any such notice announcing any news related to it. It is advisable to wait for UPSC Notification 2021 for further clarity.
I’m doing my Final year of engineering. I’ll complete my Exams by April – May. I’ll get my results by June or July. Will I be able to apply for UPSC 2021
Hi Yokesh
If you will be getting your final results before Mains 2021 (September), you can sit for UPSC 2021.
sir my degree will be completed in april 2023
so when should i apply for upsc exam
Hi
If you will be a minimum of 21 years of age and will be getting your final degree before UPSC Mains 2023 (Usually held in September), you may sit for UPSC 2023.
If a person has supply in his graduation and he cleared all his supply . Is he is eligible for upsc cse
Yes. A graduation degree is a must. If you meet the age limit, and other criteria mentioned in our UPSC Eligibility Criteria page, you can sit for UPSC CSE.
i will be doing my final year last sem during the start 2022,Can I apply for upsc cse 2022
Yes, please keep a track of:
UPSC Eligibility Criteria
UPSC Notification
Hi ,this march I’ll turn 21 years old , and will complete my graduation in 2022 , can I sit in upsc 2022?
Yes, you seem to be eligible for UPSC 2022.
Keep a track of:
UPSC Notification
UPSC Eligibility Criteria
I’ll sit for my final year examinations (graduation) in May 2021, so am I eligible for UPSC 2021?
Hi
As per UPSC, the final year students can sit for UPSC examination given their final results are declared before Mains examination. If you will be able to produce the proof of your passing the required university examination along with your mains application (and also meet age criteria), you can sit for UPSC 2021.
Check UPSC Eligibility Criteria in the linked article.
My graduation result announced on Aug last so sir I fill upsc exam sir plzz reply
Hi
The UPSC Notification will be out on 10th February. If your graduation result is already out, you can sit for the CSE. If your result is yet to be announced, one has to note that the final marks should be out before the starting of the UPSC Mains application process. Check your UPSC Eligibility Criteria in the linked article.
I should have my graduation degree before mains exam or my final year result??
Since we get our graduation degree after one or two month after final year result
Your final results should be declared on/before mains application process beginning.
Hello sir, I have one query regarding the upsc attempt . I want to know that a b tech last year student can give his first attempt last year means that his third year is just completed and he/she just enters in the fourth year of the graduation . Let me know !
Final year student can sit as UPSC requires in a way that the candidates have their graduation result on or before UPSC Mains application process.
Hi, I am 19 years old and will graduate next year in May 2022. When can I appear for UPSC Exam?
Hi, one has to be a minimum of 21 years of age to sit for the UPSC CSE.
Hi, My educational pattern is 10+3+3(Matriculation + diploma+ bachelor) Am I eligible for UPSC CSE?
Hi,
If one has a graduation degree from a government-recognized institute/college/university; he/she is eligible for the exam. Find UPSC eligibility criteria here.
Hi sir, i will be completing my graduation in april, 2022, but i’m born on november 11, 2001, can i give my prelims & mains in 2022?
Hi,
As per UPSC criteria, a final year student can apply for the exam given his/her final results will be declared on/before UPSC Mains exams. As far as age is concerned, you can sit for UPSC 2023. 21 is the minimum age limit.
Sir my dob is 30 aug 2001…am I able to write exam???
Hi,
As per the current eligibility criteria of UPSC examination, the minimum age limit is 21. Therefore, you can sit for the 2023 examination. Please read the detailed IAS eligibility here.