The upper age limit of the Civil Services aspirants might be reduced if a panel set up by the Union Public Service Commission to review the process has its way, reported the Hindustan Times. Right now, the upper age limit for appearing for the qualifying test for the Indian Administrative Services and the Indian Police services, among other civil services, is 32 for a candidate from the general category, 37 for those from the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, 35 for the other backward classes and 42 for "disabled" candidates. It was 24 in the 1960s.

“We feel that the entry age is on the higher side. At the same time, we realise that candidates should not be put to any unforeseen hardship. Therefore, we will prepare a road map that will give all candidates sufficient time to adapt to the new system,” former education secretary BS Baswan, who heads the panel, said. The committee will submit its report in August.

The recommendation is reportedly based on the observation that older candidates found it more difficult to adapt to the values and demands of the civil services.

However, the panel intends to chart out a reasonable transition process for the changes so that aspirants are not hassled in any way. “I can only say that the government is very clear in its mind that it will not spring a surprise on the candidates,” an official told the English daily. In 2015, around 460,000 candidates took the three-stage examination.

Previous governments have also agreed to the need to lower the age limit for the test, but widespread outcry and strong opposition from politicians have kept the plan on hold. The United Progressive Alliance wanted reduce the upper age limit as well, but instead ended up increasing it by two years, just before the 2014 general elections.