The Union Public Service Commission provides various concessions to differently-abled candidates in terms of age limit relaxation for physically handicapped aspirants, reservation of posts and special provisions in exam centres etc. However, not all services through the Civil Services Examination are open for physically handicapped candidates. In this article, we bring you the various UPSC posts available for handicapped candidates. We have also included the physically handicapped criteria for UPSC.
The candidates can apply for the UPSC 2021 examination by filling the IAS Online Application now, details of which are given in the linked article.
UPSC Physically Handicapped Category
The Commission assigns a UPSC category code for different disabilities. The following table lists the various categories of physical handicaps(PH) or disability which are eligible for the IAS exam–
| Code | Physical Requirements | Code | Functional Classification |
| S | Sitting | OH | Orthopaedically Handicapped |
| ST | Standing | MW | Muscular Weakness |
| W | Walking | BL | Both Legs |
| MF | Manipulation by Finger | OL | One Leg |
| PP | Pushing and Pulling | OAL | One Arm One Leg |
| BN | Bending | BLA | Both Legs and Arms |
| L | Lifting | BLOA | Both Legs One Arm |
| KC | Kneeling and Crouching | BL | Both Legs |
| SE | Seeing | VH | Visually Handicapped |
| RW | Reading and Writing | LV | Low Vision |
| B | Blind | ||
| H | Hearing/Speaking | HH | Hearing Handicapped |
| C | Communication | PD | Partially Deaf |
| FD | Fully Deaf |
The UPSC defines disability as the presence of any one or more of the conditions listed above. The commission updates this list based on advancements in medical technology and new PH categories may be added in the future. Aspirants should check the latest IAS notification for the same.
Aspirants can refer to the UPSC notification PDF given below:
UPSC Notification 2021:-Download PDF Here
Civil Service Posts for Physically Handicapped Persons
The requirements of physical standards for UPSC Civil Services are different for every post. We have compiled the physical requirements of each service in the following table:
| Service | Categories for which identified | Functional Classification | Physical Requirements |
| Indian Administrative Service | Locomotor disability | BA, OA, OL, BH, BL, MW, BLOA, BLA, OAL | C, S, W, ST, SE, RW, H |
| Visual impairment | B, LV | C, MF, RW, PP, KC, L, BN, ST, W, H | |
| Hearing impairment | FD, PD | C, PP, KC, MF, L, BN, ST, RW, W | |
| Indian Foreign Service | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, OAL | RW, ST, S, W, C, SE, MF |
| Visual impairment | LV | SE, RW | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | H | |
| Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Central Excise, Gr. A) | Locomotor disability | OL, OA | C, S, BN, L, SE, RW, H, MF, W, ST |
| Hearing impairment | HH | C, H, S, L, ST, W, BN, SE, RW, MF | |
| Indian P&T Accounts & Finance Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | BH, BA, BL, OA, OL, MW, OAL | BN, KC, S, PP, SE, W, RW, C, ST, H, L, MF |
| Visual impairment | LV (PB), B | BN, C, W, PP, S,RW,ST,H,L,KC,MF | |
| Hearing impairment | PD, FD | BN, C, S, SE, W, RW, ST, KC, L, MF, PP | |
| Indian Audit & Accounts Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OL, OA | BN, S, SE, C, W, RW, ST |
| Hearing impairment | PD | S, ST,W,SE,RW, BN, C | |
| Indian Defence Accounts Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OL, OA | S, ST, W, BN, SE, RW, C |
| Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, OAL, BL | S,ST,SE,RW,C, W |
| Visual impairment | LV, B | MF, L, KC, BN, | |
| ST, W, H, RW, C, PP | |||
| Hearing impairment | PD, FD | MF,PP,L,KC,BN, | |
| ST, W,RW,C, H | |||
| Indian Ordnance | Locomotor disability | OA, OL | S,ST,W,BN,RW, SE,H,C |
| Factories Service, Gr. A | Visual impairment | LV (PB) | S, ST, W, RW, SE, H, C, BN |
| Hearing impairment | PD | S, ST, W, BN, RW, SE, H(Speaking), C | |
| Indian Postal Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL | S, ST, W, RW, SE, H, C, BN |
| Visual impairment | LV | S, ST, W, BN, SE, H, C, RW | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | S, ST, W, BN, RW, SE, H, C | |
| Indian Civil Accounts Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, OAL, BL | S,ST,W,RW,H,C, SE |
| Visual impairment | LV | S,ST,W,SE, RW,H,C | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | S,ST,W,SE, RW,H,C | |
| Indian Railway Accounts Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, OAL, BL | S,ST,W,RW,C,H, SE |
| Visual impairment | LV | S, ST, W, RW, SE, C, H | |
| Hearing impairment | PD | S, ST, W, RW, SE, C, H | |
| Indian Railway Personnel Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL | S,ST,BN,SE,C,W,H,RW |
| Visual impairment | LV | S, ST, BN, SE, C, W, H, RW | |
| Hearing impairment | PD | S, ST, BN, SE, C, W, H, RW | |
| Indian Railway Traffic Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL | S, ST, W, SE, RW, |
| H, C | |||
| Indian Defence Estates Services, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, BL | S,ST,W,BN,MF,PP,KC,SE,RW,H,C |
| Visual impairment | LV | S, ST, W, BN, MF, PP, KC, SE, RW, H, C | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | S, ST, W, BN, MF, PP, KC, SE, RW, H, C | |
| Indian Information Service, Gr. A | Locomotor disability | BA, OL, OA, BH, MW, BL, OAL, BLA, BLOA | S,ST,W,RW,SE,H,C |
| Visual impairment | LV, B | MF,PP,L,KC,BN, | |
| ST,W,H,RW,C | |||
| Hearing impairment | PD, FD | MF, PP, L, KC, BN, | |
| ST, W, H, RW, C | |||
| Indian Trade Service, Gr. A (Gr. III) | Locomotor disability | BA, OL, OA, BH, MW, BL, OAL, BLOA, BLA | S,ST,W,SE, H, RW,C |
| Visual impairment | LV, B | MF, PP, L, KC, BN, | |
| ST, W, H, RW, C | |||
| Hearing impairment | PD, FD | MF, PP, L, KC, BN, | |
| ST, W, H, RW, C | |||
| Indian Corporate Law Service | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, OAL, BL | ST, RW, SE, S,BN,H |
| Visual impairment | LV | ST, RW, SE, S, BN, H | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | ST, RW, SE, S, BN, H | |
| Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service, Gr. B (Section Officers’ Grade) | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, BL | S,ST,W,BN,MF,SE,RW,H, C |
| Visual impairment | LV, B | S,ST,W,BN,MF,RW,H,C | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | S,ST,W,BN,MF,SE,RW,C | |
| Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Civil Service, Gr. B | Locomotor disability | BA, OL, OA, BH, | S,ST,W,H,SE,RW,C |
| MW, BL, OAL, | |||
| BLA, BLOA | |||
| Visual impairment | LV, B | MF,PP,L,KC,BN, | |
| ST,W,H,RW,C | |||
| Hearing impairment | PD, FD | MF, PP, L, KC, BN, | |
| ST, W, H, RW, C | |||
| Pondicherry Civil Service, Gr. B | Locomotor disability | OA, OL, BL, OAL | S,ST,W,SE, |
| S, ST, W, SE, RW, HC | |||
| Visual impairment | LV | S, ST, W, SE, RW, HC | |
| Hearing impairment | HH | HC, W, S, ST, SE, RW |
Disability is not an obstacle for ambitious candidates in becoming a Civil Servant. Aspirants can inspire themselves with many examples of successful candidates like Ira Singhal who cleared the IAS exam in spite of disability. There are many such examples of physically handicapped IAS officers which aspirants can look up to.
To know more about UPSC preparation, check out:
I am a physically challenged(OH) person with 60% disability.
Can I become an IAS officer?
Yes. You can.
Any candidate having a disability of 40 percent or more is considered for PwD reservation in the IAS Exam. The physical requirement for the IAS Exam is given on this page.
can a candidate with multiple disability get age relaxation
Hi
Persons with Disability (PwD) candidates are given age relaxation. The upper age limit is 42 for PwD (General) candidates, 45 (OBC) candidates and 47 (SC/ST) candidates. Know more in UPSC Eligibility Criteria post.
I am a physically challenged(OL) person with 48% disability.
Can I become an IAS officer?
Physical fitness is examined by the medical board during the interview process. PwD candidates are eligible to sit for the examination and that is an explanation that you can become an IAS officer.
can a candidate with mental illness disability be selected for IAS or IFS
Hi
The candidates’ mental and physical standards are governed by the PwD Act’s notifications by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. If you hold a disability certificate issued by a competent authority, you can sit for the exam. Later (mostly during the interview process), you will undergo a medical examination as and when DoPT communicates the same. As regards to the fitness of the candidates, the decision of the Chairman of Central Standing Medical Boards (CSMB) will be final except in ‘Appeal Cases’, where the decision of the Chairman of Appellate Medical Board will be treated ‘final’.
I have hearing loss completely in one ear
Am I eligible under ph category
Hi,
Candidates under categories, ‘Hearing Handicapped, Partially Deaf or Fully Deaf’; are eligible under PH category.
Is Rheumatoid Arthritis considered as Physically Handicapped for UPSC!?
Hi
For clarity on physical eligibility for IAS; reach out to +919243500460.
i do not have PH certificate for now when should i submitt the certficate
Hi, the documents are to submitted online during Mains application process.
I have 90% deafness in my left ear , with a normal right ear , Am I a PH3 candidate? Should I take PH3 category on this basis?
Hi
For clarity on physical eligibility for IAS; reach out to +919243500460.
Hi I am stutter in some quantity. So can I am eligible for upsc ias exam
Yes, you are eligible.
Please explain PwBD1, PwBD2, PwBD3, and PwBD5 in civil services
Dear Aspirant, these are types of categories under Persons with Benchmark Disability status:
1. PwBD-1 is the category for candidates with Locomotory disability
2. PwBD-2 is the category for candidates with Blindness or low vision
3. PwBD-3 is the category for candidates with hearing impairment
4. PwBD-5 is the category for candidates with multiple disabilities
All the best!