IES / ISS Eligibility
Last verified 31 Jul 2026
UPSC IES / ISS eligibility requires the following. For the Indian Economic Service, a Post-Graduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics or Econometrics. For the Indian Statistical Service, a Bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject, or a Post-Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics. The age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2026 — born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2005.
Educational qualification
For the Indian Economic Service, a Post-Graduate degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Business Economics or Econometrics. For the Indian Statistical Service, a Bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject, or a Post-Graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics or Applied Statistics.
Age limit
21 to 30 years as on 1 August 2026 — born between 2 August 1996 and 1 August 2005.
Age relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 10 years |
| Defence Services personnel disabled in operations | 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen (commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs) | 5 years |
A candidate who belongs to SC, ST or OBC and is also an Ex-serviceman or PwBD candidate is eligible for cumulative relaxation under both heads.
Number of attempts
No limit on attempts within the age window.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or fall within the other categories of nationality set out in the Examination Notice — which for most services include subjects of Nepal and Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1 January 1962, and persons of Indian origin who have migrated from certain countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.