A relaxation of ten years in age will be allowed for the visually-challenged, hearing-impaired, and persons suffering from locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in case of direct recruitment to all posts under the central government.

Further, those belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories will get 15 more years and those from Other Backward Class (OBC) will be entitled for 13 years relaxation, as per new rules formed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) today.

However, the relaxation is applicable with the condition that maximum age of the applicant shall not exceed 56 years, the new rules said.

Earlier, there was a provision of five years of concession in upper age limit (10 years for SC/ST, eight years for OBC) for recruitment to Group 'A' and 'B' posts, otherwise than through open competitive examination. There was a provision of ten years of concession in upper age limit for Group 'C' and 'D' posts filled through employment exchanges.

"Age relaxation of 10 years (15 years for SC/ST and 13 years for OBC candidates) in upper age limit shall be allowed to persons suffering from (a) blindness or low vision, (b) hearing impairment and (c) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in case of direct recruitment to all civil posts or services under the Central government identified suitable to be held by persons with such disabilities," it said.

The age concession to the persons with disabilities shall be admissible irrespective of the fact whether the post is reserved for person with disabilities or not, provided the post is identified suitable for the relevant category of disability, it said.

"This provision will not apply to the civil services examination, in respect of which the list of services identified suitable for physically disabled category along with the physical requirements and functional classifications is notified separately," the DoPT said.

The relaxation of age limit would be permissible to such persons who have a minimum of 40 per cent disability, it said.

"If a person with disability is entitled to age concession by virtue of being a central government employee, concession to him or her will be admissible either as a 'person with disability' or as a 'central government employee' whichever may be more beneficial to him or her," the rules said.

The ministries or departments are advised to ensure invariably that while sending the requisition to the Union Public Service Commission and Staff Selection Commission and other recruitment agencies for direct recruitment posts by selection, they should clearly mention in the requisition the category of person with disabilities suitable for the post in question, the DoPT said.