IAS IPS: New age limit to be applicable from 2015

Recently announced, two-year increase in the age limit of 54 years for all-India services including Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) will be made applicable, this year onwards.

Job vacancies to be notified this year onwards will follow the new age. According to DoPT, "For example, for the select list of 2015, the upper age limit for consideration will be 56 years with crucial date for determination of age as January 1, 2015". However, these rules will not be applicable for selected list of previous year candidates. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) looks after the selection of candidates to IAS, IPS and IFS from state services.

The move to increase the age limit had come following a representation from some state services officers to Supreme Court challenging the 54 years age criterion. They had put forward the notion to increase the maximum age bar as the retirement age in the central government has been increased from 58 years to 60 years. The Centre had thereupon sought views from the state governments, cadre controlling authorities, i.e. Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate, state civil services, non-state civil services, state police and forest service officers and their associations on the issue.

As per the official data provided by the Government, there are 4,619 IAS, 3,798 IPS and 2,668 IFS officers working against the sanctioned strength of 6,270, 4,728 and 3,131 respectively.