Civil Service entry age to be lowered to 27 from 30: Niti Ayog

December 20: Niti Ayog, the think tank of the Government of India has recommended reducing upper age limit to join the civil services to 27 years from the present 30 years for general category candidates by 2022-23.  It was, however, suggested be rolled out in a phased manner.

At present, there are more than 60 plus separate civil services at central and state levels. As per sources, the current average age of recruits for civil servants is about 25-and-a-half years and the recommendation goes well with the reality that more than one-third of India’s population is below 35 years.  The Niti Aayog has recommended creation of a central talent pool of all recruits, which would subsequently allocate candidates by matching their competencies and the job description of the posts. The said report has further suggested encouraging lateral entry of specialists at higher levels of government, which will provide much needed expertise.

On Wednesday, the Niti Aayog unveiled its much awaited ‘Strategy for New India @ 75′ document with an aim to accelerate growth to 9-10 per cent and make the country a $4-trillion economy by 2022-23. While releasing the Document, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that reforms and entrepreneurship have to be accompanied by social consciousness. He said that the various verticals of NITI Aayog’s Strategy Document gives form to the Indian model which emphasises on faster growth and better resource utilisation to improve the quality of life for all. Mr. jaitley said “Sound policy will always put the economy on track in which it will get perpetually people out of poverty and give them a better quality of life.”

Later on while addressing the media, NITI Ayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said, modernisation of the agriculture sector and creation of entrepreneurs are important to address the problems in the agricultural sector. Commenting on the present trend of loan waivers to the farmers, he expressed the view that farm loan waiver is not a solution to agriculture sector problems but a palliative.