The age limit for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) varies based on the candidate’s category. Generally, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old as of August 1 of the examination year.
However, certain age relaxations apply: up to 5 years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST), up to 3 years for Other Backward Classes (OBC), up to 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), up to 5 years for ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service, and for others as per government norms.
Candidates must ensure they meet the specified age criteria as of the prescribed cutoff date to be eligible to appear for the IAS exam.