ITS Exam

What is ITS Exam?

Indian Trade Service is a group A civil service, which was created in 1965. It was created as a specialised cadre to handle India's international trade & commerce. The ITS is controlled by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Nationality:

   Nationality of a candidate must be either of the following:

   • Citizen of India
   • Subject of Nepal
   • Subject of Bhutan
   • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 for permanent settlement in India.
   • Migrant from any of the following countries for permanently settling in India:
   • Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam

2. Educational Qualification:

   A candidate must have a degree from any of the recognised universities or possess an equivalent qualification.

3. Age Limit :

   • Minimum age 21 years
   • Maximum age 30 years as on 1st of August in the year of examination.

   Relaxable age limit is as follows:

   • For SC/ST candidates: Upto maximum of 5 years 
   • For OBC candidates: Upto maximum of 3 years
   • For candidate from the State of Jammu & Kashmir: Upto maximum of 5 years
   • For Defence Services personnel: Upto maximum of 5 years
   • For Ex-servicemen including Commissioned officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least 5 years Military Service and have been released: Upto maximum 5 years
   • For ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of 5 years of Military Service: Upto maximum of 5 years 
   • For Blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons: Upto maximum of 10 years

4. Number of attempts:

   The maximum number of attempts restriction is as follows:

   For General category candidates: 4 attempts

   For SC/ST candidates: No restriction

   For OBC candidates: 7 attempts