(Image source from: })

The Centre intends to reduce the upper age limit and number of attempts of applicants with effect from 2015.

Going by the new norm, the upper age limit will be 29 years for SC/ST candidates, 28 years for OBC and 26 for the unreserved category. There will be an additional two years for physically challenged candidates in each category.

The number of attempts allowed for candidates appearing for the Civil Services Examination would also be reduced to six for SC/ST candidates, five for OBC and three for unreserved candidates.

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) has recommended lowering of age limit along with the reduced number of attempts.

The Centre has decided to retain August 1 in the examination year as the cut-off date for eligibility and not to review the structure of the examination (both preliminary and main) since this was only recently changed.

There was strong opposition in social network twitter against the decision made by the govt.

The measures, recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) and almost entirely accepted by the government, were put up on the website a few months ago.

MDMK leader Vaiko urged the Centre to withdraw its plan to bring down the upper age limit.

(AW: Arun Kumar)