Indian Economic Service Eligibility & Age Limit | Nishant Mehra Classes
Recruitment Process
Indian Economic Service Eligibility is a crucial aspect for aspirants preparing for the UPSC IES exam. The Indian Economic Service (IES) is a prestigious Group ‘A’ Central Service that offers an excellent career path for economics graduates and postgraduates.
The Indian Economic Service (IES) is a prestigious Group ‘A’ Central Service.
Recruitment is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) through a nationwide competitive examination held once a year.
- The exam is held at various centers across India.
- The official notification in Employment News mentions the number of vacancies, including those reserved for SC, ST, OBC, and PwD categories, as per government rules.
- UPSC conducts the entire process — from written examination to interview — before recommending candidates to the Government of India for appointment
Age limit
The age criteria for the exam are clearly specified in the annual UPSC notification.
Relaxation in the upper age limit is available for reserved categories as per government rules.
Educational Qualification
To be eligible for IES, a candidate must have a postgraduate degree in one of the following subjects from a recognized university:
- Economics
- Applied Economics
- Business Economics
- Econometrics
- Candidates who are awaiting their final result but have completed their exams can also apply.
- Proof of passing the qualifying examination must be submitted before final selection.
Scheme of Examination
The IES examination is conducted in two stages:
| Written Examination | 800 Marks |
| General English | 100 Marks |
| General Studies | 100 Marks |
| Paper I (Micro, Maths & Statistics) | 200 Marks |
| Paper II (Macro, Development) | 200 Marks |
| Paper III (Public Finance, Environment) | 200 Marks |
| Paper IV ( Indian Economics) | 200 Marks |
| Interview | 200 Marks |
Medical Examination
Before final selection, candidates must undergo a two-part medical examination conducted by the Central Standing Medical Board:
- Part I – General medical check-up (excluding X-ray) before the interview.
- Part II – X-ray and other checks after final recommendation by UPSC.
Final Appointment Process
- UPSC recommends the list of successful candidates to the Government of India.
- Appointments are made only after medical fitness and background verification reports are cleared.
- Selected candidates join the service as probationers and undergo training before being posted.