NEW DELHI: The recent two-year increase in the age limit of 54 years for induction into IAS and IPS from state civil services will be applicable from this year onwards, the Centre has said.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had on Tuesday notified new rules raising the age limit for the three all-India services -- Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS).
Now, DoPT has clarified in an order that the amendments are applicable for select lists of 2015, that is vacancies arising between January and December this year, and onwards. "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," it said. The new rules will not be applicable for select list of previous years. For select lists up to 2014, the upper age limit for induction into IAS, IPS and IFS from state civil services and non-state civil services would be 54 years, the DoPT has clarified.
As per the rules, a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) committee is responsible for making selection to IAS, IPS and IFS from state services. "The committee shall not consider the cases of the members of the state civil service, who have attained the age of 56 years on the first day of January of the year for which the select list is prepared," says the recently notified rules for the three all-India services.
Earlier, the maximum age limit for consideration of officers from state services for induction into IAS, IPS and IFS was 54 years as on January 1 of the year for which the select list was prepared. DoPT has asked the states not to recommend names of officers for selection who are over 56 years of age. The move to increase the age limit had come following a representation from some state services officers to Supreme Court challenging the threshold of 54 years.
They had contended that the maximum age bar should be increased as 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.
The increase in age limit is likely to help Centre fill the vacancies in the three all-India services, DoPT officials said. As per the latest government data, 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.
