Make UPSC More Inclusive: Ex-RBI Governor D. Subbarao Proposes Age Cut and Entry for 40+ in IAS

Ex-RBI Governor D. Subbarao

The recently announced UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) results for 2024 have once again highlighted the extraordinary dedication of India's aspirants. From a pool of over 10 lakh aspirants, only a thousand emerged successful, reflecting the exam's formidable difficulty and global reputation.

But behind these success stories lie countless others who, despite years of relentless preparation, fell short.

In a Times of India opinion piece titled "India Needs UPSC 2.0", former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao—himself an IAS officer from the 1972 batch—sparked a crucial debate: Is the current UPSC system optimising talent, or is it inadvertently wasting potential? He proposed two bold reforms—reducing the age limit and attempts for fresh candidates, while introducing a structured mid-career entry for professionals above 40.

Fewer Attempts and a Lower Age Cap

Currently, UPSC aspirants can take the exam up to six times between ages 21 and 32 (with relaxations for reserved categories). Subbarao, in his Times of India article, argues that this extended window does more harm than good. Many candidates, gripped by the "sunk cost fallacy," persist despite diminishing returns, believing that 'one more attempt' might change their fate.

"The civil service results for 2024 are out. Congratulations to the thousand-odd candidates who have got through what is arguably one of the most competitive exams in the world," he wrote. "For every successful candidate, there are at least ten others who have invested years in preparation but have failed to make the grade. They are back at square one. An abysmal waste of productive years?"

Drawing from his own experience—when only 'two attempts were allowed between 21 and 24'—he suggests a more balanced approach: a maximum of three attempts and an upper age limit of 27.

A Mid-Career Gateway: Bringing Real-World Expertise into Bureaucracy

While advocating stricter limits for young aspirants, Subbarao also proposes an "annual, competitive entry for professionals in their early 40s." Unlike the sporadic lateral entries seen in recent years, this would be a "structured, UPSC-conducted recruitment channel"—ensuring transparency and credibility.

"Tier 2 recruits will make up for these lacunae and make the civil service collectively more relevant and useful, and maybe even more caring," he argued