What is IFS Eligibility?

IFS eligibility criteria include age limit, nationality, educational qualification, and the number of attempts allowed for the exam . A candidate must be between 21 to 32 years of age, possess Indian nationality or other prescribed nationalities, and must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university to be eligible to become an IFS officer .

What is the age limit to apply for the IFS exam?

As per IFS Eligibility, the minimum age limit to apply for the IFS exam is 21 years , and the maximum age limit is 32 years. However, there are age relaxations for certain categories such as SC/ST, OBC, and government servants. UPSC IFS Age Limit for SC and ST Candidates How to Prepare for UPSC? UPSC PWD Category

What is the prescribed IFS Qualification?

As per IFS Eligibility, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university to become an IFS officer. The degree can be in any subject, but it should be completed before the date of submitting the application. Candidates who are in the final year of their degree program can also apply but they will have to provide proof of passing the degree examination at the time of the Interview.

What are the nationality criteria as per IFS Eligibility?

The candidate must be a citizen of India. In the case of candidates who are from Bhutan or Nepal or a refugee of Tibetan, who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intent of settling in India, are also allowed to apply as per IFS Eligibility. Candidates from other countries are not eligible to apply for the Indian Foreign Service.

How many attempts can a candidate make for the IFS exam?

The number of attempts allowed for the IFS exam varies depending on the candidate’s category. The IFS eligibility criteria state that candidates belonging to the General category can attempt the exam a maximum of six times, while candidates from the OBC category can attempt it up to nine times. However, SC/ST candidates have no limit on the number of attempts.

Is there any relaxation in IFS Age limit for candidates from reserved categories?

Yes, there is age relaxation for the reserved category candidates applying for the Indian Foreign Service exam. As per the IFS eligibility criteria, candidates belonging to the SC/ST category are eligible for a maximum of 5 years of age relaxation, while those belonging to the OBC category are eligible for a maximum of 3 years of age relaxation. This relaxation is applicable to the upper age limit for the exam.

Can a candidate who has completed education from a foreign university apply for the IFS exam?

Yes, a candidate who has completed education from a foreign university can apply for the IFS exam if the degree is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.

Is there any minimum percentage required to apply for the Indian Foreign Service?

No, there is no minimum percentage required to apply for the Indian Foreign Service. However, as per IFS Qualification, the candidate must have passed the bachelor’s degree examination with good academic records.

Can a candidate apply for the Indian Foreign Service while in the final year of graduation?

Yes, candidates in the final year of graduation can apply for the Indian Foreign Service, provided they can submit proof of passing the bachelor’s degree examination by a specified date.

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IFS Eligibility – Qualification, Age Limit, Indian Foreign Service Eligibility Criteria

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

IFS Eligibility criteria are the set of requirements that a candidate must meet to become an Indian Foreign Service Officer. It is a prestigious and challenging career option that requires a high level of commitment, dedication, and passion for serving the country. These criteria include various aspects, such as educational qualifications, age limit, citizenship, and the number of attempts, etc. The IFS exam is a highly prestigious service, and meeting these IFS Eligibility criteria is an essential step towards becoming an Indian Foreign Service officer.

To be eligible for the IFS, a candidate must be an Indian citizen with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. Candidates from any stream can apply for the exam because there is no specific IFS Qualification required. Additionally, there is no minimum percentage requirement for a bachelor’s degree. It is important to meet the IFS eligibility as it ensures that the selected candidates are well-qualified, capable, and meet the required standards. Candidates can check the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and the number of attempts in detail below.

Table of content

1. IFS Eligibility 2023
2. IFS Age Limit
3. IFS Qualification
4. Indian Foreign Service Eligibility: Nationality Criteria
5. Number of Attempts for the IFS Exam

IFS Eligibility 2023

The Indian Foreign Service is a highly respected and sought-after career option for individuals who wish to represent India as a diplomat in foreign countries. IFS Eligibility criteria have been released along with the official notification of the IFS exam. It includes various factors, such as IFS Qualification, nationality, age limit, and the number of attempts. Meeting these criteria also ensures that the candidates have the necessary academic background to perform the duties of a diplomat. Candidates can check the detailed IFS Eligibility Criteria below.

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IFS Age Limit

The age limit for the IFS exam is an important criterion that a candidate must fulfill to be eligible for the exam. The age limit and age relaxation for the IFS exam are released by the Union Public Service Commission. As per the IFS Eligibility Criteria, candidates who aspire to appear for the exam must adhere to the age limit prescribed for General and other categories. To ascertain the category-wise age limit criteria, candidates can check the detailed information below.

Candidates must be between 21 to 32 years of age as on August 1 of the year of examination to be eligible for the IFS exam.
SC/ST candidates are eligible for a maximum age relaxation of up to 5 years, making the maximum age limit to be 37 years.
OBC candidates can avail a maximum relaxation of up to 3 years, making the maximum age limit for them to be 35 years.
The upper age limit for General category candidates is 32 years as of August 1 of the year of examination.

IFS Age Relaxation

IFS has a defined age limit for candidates aspiring to join the service. The age limit for the IFS exam is between 21 to 32 years as on August 1 of the year of the exam. The table below provides the age relaxation available for different categories:

Category	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC	3 years
Ex-servicemen	5 years
PwBD	10 years

IFS Qualification

Candidates who wish to apply for the exam must fulfill certain IFS Qualification requirements, which include possessing a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. However, it is important to note that there is no minimum percentage requirement for the candidate’s bachelor’s degree. Candidates can check some more details about the IFS Qualification required for the Indian Foreign Service:

The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
According to the IFS eligibility, candidates from any educational background can apply for the CSE exam as there is no minimum percentage requirement.
Candidates who have pursued their education abroad must have their degree recognized by a competent authority, as specified by the Government of India.
Candidates who are appearing for their final year of graduation can also apply for the exam, but they must submit proof of their educational qualification before the specified date.
Candidates with a professional or technical degree that is recognized by the Government of India as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree can also apply.
The Indian Foreign Service eligibility does not have any specific subject requirements, which means that candidates from any stream can apply for the exam.

Indian Foreign Service Eligibility: Nationality Criteria

It is important to note that the nationality requirements for the IFS exam are strict, and any candidate who does not fulfill IFS eligibility will not be allowed to apply for the exam. Candidates can check the following nationality criteria for the exam:

The candidate must be a citizen of India.
Candidates who are of Bhutan or Nepal, refugees of Tibetan, or Indian origin person migrated from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, Zaire, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Vietnam, and the United Republic of Tanzania with the intent to settle in India permanently settling in India are also eligible to apply for the IFS exam.
However, these candidates must provide the Government of India with a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Number of Attempts for the IFS Exam

The Indian Foreign Service is a highly competitive service under the Government of India, and to maintain the quality of candidates appearing for the exam, the government has set certain IFS eligibility criteria, including a limit on the number of attempts allowed. Here are the details regarding the number of attempts for the IFS exam:

For candidates from the General category, the maximum number of attempts allowed is six.
For candidates from the Other Backward Classes category, the maximum number of attempts allowed is nine.
For candidates from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories, there is no limit on the number of attempts.

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