Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and also the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pension Jitendra Singh on Tuesday confirmed that there is no proposal to make a reduction in the maximum entry age for students appearing for UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) civil services examination as suggested by the NITI Aayog in their recent report.
A few days ago NITI Aayog suggested in a report that the maximum age criterion to appear in the civil services examination should be reduced from 32 years to 27 years for general category.
” The upper age limit for the civil services should be brought down to 27 years or the general category in a phased manner by 2022-23. Service conditions for employees of autonomous bodies need to be regulated and harmonized” NITI Aayog had said in the report.
Opposing to that the minister said:
“There is no move on the part of the government to alter the age criteria of eligibility to appear in civil service examination, therefore all the reports and speculation should be put to rest.”
Currently, the lower age limit is 21 years as on August 1, and the maximum age limit for the general category is 32 years, and 35 and 37 years for OBC and Scheduled Tribes/ Scheduled Caste respectively.
NITI Aayog also suggested for an integrated exam for all civil services. In its report, ‘Strategy for New India @75’, it said ‘Concomitantly, the number of exams for civil services should ideally be brought down to one with all-India ranking.’