The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) every year, which is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. The CSE is conducted in three stages, namely the Preliminary examination, the Main examination, and the Personality Test (Interview). Every year, lakhs of aspirants from all over India appear for the UPSC CSE, but only a few thousand are able to clear all the stages and get selected for the civil services.
One of the most interesting aspects of the UPSC CSE is the age profile of the selected candidates. In this article, we will explore the average age of UPSC selected candidates, the age limit criteria set by the commission, and the age profile of some of the top UPSC toppers.
Average Age of UPSC Selected Candidates
The average age for clearing UPSC lies under the age range of 26 to 28 years, whereas 26.9 years is the average age of UPSC selected candidates.
It is important to note that the age limit for appearing in the UPSC CSE varies depending on the category of the candidate. The general category candidates can apply until the age of 32 years, while the age limit for OBC candidates is 35 years, and for SC/ST candidates, it is 37 years.
It is also worth mentioning that age is just one of the many factors that the UPSC considers while selecting candidates for the Civil Services. Other factors such as educational qualifications, personality traits, and performance in the exam also play an important role in the final selection.
Age Profile of Some of the Top UPSC Toppers
Tina Dabi
- Tina Dabi, the 2015 UPSC topper, was just 22 years old when she cleared the exam and secured the first rank. She is the youngest ever topper of the UPSC CSE. Tina Dabi is a graduate of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University, and has a degree in Political Science. She hails from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, and is currently an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Anudeep Durishetty
- Anudeep Durishetty, the 2017 UPSC topper, was 29 years old when he cleared the exam and secured the first rank. He is a graduate of BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, and has a degree in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering. Anudeep Durishetty hails from Metpally, Telangana, and is currently an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.
Kanishak Kataria
- Kanishak Kataria, the 2018 UPSC topper, was 26 years old when he cleared the exam and secured the first rank. He is a graduate of IIT Bombay, and has a degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Kanishak Kataria hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and is currently an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Pradeep Singh
- Pradeep Singh, the 2019 UPSC topper, was 29 years old when he cleared the exam and secured the first rank. He is a graduate of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, and has a degree in Engineering. Pradeep Singh hails from Tewri village in Sonipat district, Haryana, and is currently an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is one of the most prestigious recruiting bodies in India, responsible for selecting candidates for the civil services such as Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and various other allied services. Every year, lakhs of aspirants from all over the country appear for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is considered one of the toughest exams in the world. One of the factors that is taken into consideration during the selection process is the age of the candidates. In this article, we will explore the importance of age factor in UPSC and how it affects the selection process.
UPSC Age Limit Criteria
Before we delve deeper into the importance of age factor in UPSC, let us first understand the age limit criteria set by the commission. The age limit for appearing in the UPSC CSE varies depending on the category of the candidate. The general category candidates can apply until the age of 32 years, while the age limit for OBC candidates is 35 years, and for SC/ST candidates, it is 37 years. The commission also provides certain relaxations in the upper age limit for certain categories such as ex-servicemen, disabled candidates, etc.
Importance of Age Factor in UPSC
Now let us understand the importance of age factor in UPSC and how it affects the selection process.
Eligibility Criteria: The age limit criteria set by the commission is an important eligibility criterion for appearing in the UPSC CSE. Candidates who do not fulfill the age limit criteria are not eligible to appear for the exam. This ensures that only candidates who meet the age criteria are allowed to take the exam.
Competition: The UPSC CSE is one of the most competitive exams in the country, with lakhs of aspirants appearing for it every year. The age factor becomes crucial in such a scenario as candidates who are younger have more time to prepare and appear for the exam multiple times, thereby increasing their chances of success. Candidates who are older have lesser opportunities to appear for the exam and may face age-related challenges such as reduced energy levels, declining memory power, etc.
Life Experience: The civil services require candidates to deal with complex and challenging situations that require maturity, wisdom, and experience. Candidates who are older may have an advantage in this regard as they would have more life experience and would be better equipped to handle the challenges of the job.
Physical Fitness: The civil services require candidates to be physically fit as they have to work long hours and travel extensively. Candidates who are older may face physical challenges such as reduced stamina, declining health, etc., which may affect their performance on the job.
Retirement Age: The retirement age for civil servants is 60 years. Candidates who are closer to the retirement age may have lesser opportunities for career growth and development as compared to younger candidates. This may also affect their motivation and commitment towards their job.
Age Relaxation: The UPSC provides certain age relaxations for candidates belonging to certain categories such as ex-servicemen, disabled candidates, etc. This is done to provide equal opportunities to candidates belonging to such categories who may face age-related challenges.
In conclusion, age is an important factor in the selection process for the UPSC civil services. While younger candidates may have an advantage in terms of competition, older candidates may have an advantage in terms of life experience and maturity. The UPSC has set certain age limit criteria to ensure that only eligible candidates are allowed to appear for the exam. Candidates should also keep in mind that age is just one of the many factors that the UPSC considers while selecting candidates for the civil services. Other factors such as educational qualifications, personality traits.
