Niti Aayog has prescribed 27 years as the upper age limit to join the civil services for general category from the present 30 years by 2022-23 in a phased manner and also to have one integrated exam for all civil services.

It 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.

In the 'Strategy for New India @75' document released on Wednesday, the government think-tank also pitched for an integrated exam for all civil services

It also said the existing 60-plus separate civil services at the central and state level need to be reduced through rationalisation and harmonisation of services.

"Recruits should be placed in a central talent pool, which would then allocate candidates by matching their competencies and the job description of the post," the document said.

"The key to reform in the civil services is encouraging officers to cultivate specialisations based on their education and skills early on in their careers. Wherever possible, longer tenure postings need to be made based on the officers' expertise. However, it is also necessary to ensure cross-sector mobility for civil servants from areas where they have become surplus to areas of emerging importance," the document added.

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