CSAT exam is done for recruiting relevant candidates for Civil services cadre. Educational qualification required to apply for CSAT exam is a graduation or equivalent qualification recognized by UGC or Government of India. Age limit specified for this All India Level competitive examination is between 21 and 30 years. Only Indian citizens can join IAS/IPS while citizens of Nepal/Bhutan can enter into other civil services.

Educational Requirements

Graduation in any stream from any Central, State, Open or Deemed University is the minimum educational qualification required to apply for CSAT exam. The concerned University should be approved by University Grants Commission (UGC). Those who have completed their graduation through Correspondence or Distance Education are also eligible to appear for this exam. It is possible to write this exam, if the candidates possess any educational qualification equivalent to graduation and approved by Government of India.

Those who have appeared for the final examination of graduation/equivalent qualification can also apply for this competitive exam. But they have to obtain eligibility proof from the competent authority of their Institute/University and submit it at the time of main examination. If the candidates fail to produce this proof, then they will not be allowed to appear for the main examination.

Age Requirements

Minimum age limit specified for this exam is 21 years where as maximum age limit is 30 years. However upper age relaxation is given for SC/ST/OBC/PWD candidates, Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SCOs) in Indian Military Services. Details of relaxation are given as follows.

Maximum of 3 years relaxation will be given for OBC candidates and Defense Personnel who have disabled during warfare.

Maximum of 5 years relaxation will be given for SC/ST candidates and Ex-Servicemen (including ECOs and SCOs). Those who have domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir can also get a maximum of 5 years relaxation. Emergency Commissioned Officers)/Short Service Commissioned Officers can get a maximum of 5 years relaxation only if they have completed five years in Military Services and has the consent for civil employment from Ministry of Defense.

Physically Handicapped candidates can get a maximum of 10 years relaxation in upper age limit.

Nationality

Indian Administrative Services/Indian Police Services

• Only Indian citizens can enter into these civil services

Indian Foreign Services

To enter into this service, one should be Indian Citizen. Otherwise they should be of Indian origin and should have migrated from any of the following countries to settle in India permanently.

• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zaire
• Vietnam
• Myanmar
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Malawi
• Ethiopia

Other civil services

Those who enter into these services should be a citizen of India, Nepal or Bhutan. If this is not the case, then the candidates should have migrated to India for permanent settlement from any of the following countries.

• Pakistan
• Uganda
• Zaire
• Myanmar
• Tanzania
• Ethiopia
• Sri Lanka
• Zambia
• Vietnam
• Kenya
• Malawi

These migrated candidates should be of Indian origin.

Candidates from General category/OBC category (under creamy layer) can attempt this exam for maximum four times where as OBC category candidates (not under creamy layer) can make maximum seven attempts. SC/ST candidates can attempt this exam for more number of times as there is no limit specified for number of attempts.