In a major relief for aspirants, the Karnataka government has announced a one-time relaxation of three years in the maximum age limit for candidates applying for direct recruitment to state civil service posts. The decision was officially announced on Monday through an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).
One-Time 3-Year Age Relaxation for All Categories
According to the official statement from the DPAR, the Karnataka government has approved a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit for all categories of candidates appearing for direct recruitment into the state civil services. This special relaxation will apply to recruitment notifications issued after the date of the order and will remain valid up to December 31, 2027.
The government clarified that the decision was taken after several public representatives, civil service aspirants, and social organisations made formal representations to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging an increase in the age limit. Responding to these appeals, the government conducted a detailed review and decided to expand the earlier relaxation to benefit a wider group of candidates.
Previous Order Withdrawn and Revised
Earlier, as per the government order dated September 6, 2025, candidates were granted a one-time relaxation of two years. However, after additional requests and further evaluation, the Karnataka government decided to withdraw the previous notification and replace it with the new three-year relaxation policy.
A senior official from the DPAR said, “The government, after examining multiple representations and understanding the genuine concerns of aspirants, has decided to grant a one-time relaxation of three years in the maximum age limit for all categories.”
Applicability and Duration
The revised age relaxation order applies to all direct recruitment notifications issued after October 6, 2025, and will continue to remain in effect until December 31, 2027. This means that all candidates applying for Karnataka state civil service posts within this period will be eligible for the extended age limit, regardless of their category.
The relaxation will benefit a large number of candidates who had crossed the earlier upper age limit due to delays in recruitment exams or the pandemic’s impact on career timelines.
Recruitment Notifications and Backlog Vacancies
The government also reiterated that recruitment authorities had been instructed not to issue new notifications for direct recruitment or fill backlog vacancies in certain reserved categories until the implementation of internal reservation within Scheduled Castes (SCs). The DPAR noted that this temporary suspension remains in place, ensuring that reservation reforms are properly incorporated before future recruitment drives.
A One-Time Measure for Wider Benefit
Emphasizing that the move is a one-time measure, the DPAR stated that the policy aims to benefit a larger pool of aspirants across Karnataka. The government hopes that this step will provide fair opportunities for those who have been preparing for years but were previously ineligible due to the age criteria.
The Karnataka Civil Service age limit relaxation 2025 marks a significant step towards promoting inclusive governance and equal opportunity. With the three-year extension valid until December 31, 2027, thousands of candidates now have renewed hope of entering public service. The decision reflects the state’s commitment to addressing public concerns and ensuring transparency and fairness in recruitment processes.
