Physically Handicapped Criteria For UPSC

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 2022 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:

Related Links:
UPSC 2022 UPSC Eligibility
Physically Handicapped IAS Officers: Ira Singhal Medical Test Procedures for Civil Services Examination
Physically Handicapped IAS Officers: Saumya Sharma IPS Physical Standards
EWS Certificate Criteria Physical Standards for IAS

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  1. 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.

  2. can a candidate with multiple disability get age relaxation

  3. 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.

  4. 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’.

  5. I have hearing loss completely in one ear
    Am I eligible under ph category

  6. Is Rheumatoid Arthritis considered as Physically Handicapped for UPSC!?

  7. i do not have PH certificate for now when should i submitt the certficate

  8. 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?

  9. Hi I am stutter in some quantity. So can I am eligible for upsc ias exam

  10. 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!

  11. I have 40% disability Low vision. I don’t have ph certificate for now but is in process. but i wont get it any time sooner while Prelims form application. Is it required at Prelims application form ?