The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test (CBT) for admission to post-graduate management programs in India. It is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools in India. The exam is a gateway to some of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country. Here is an article on cat exam eligibility.
General Eligibility Criteria
The CAT exam eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: The candidate must have been born on or after October 2, 1993.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
Relaxations in Eligibility Criteria
There are certain relaxations in the eligibility criteria for certain categories of candidates. These are as follows:
- SC/ST/OBC candidates: There is a 5-year relaxation in the upper age limit for SC/ST/OBC candidates.
- PWD candidates: PWD candidates are eligible to take the CAT exam without any upper age limit. They are also eligible for certain concessions, such as extra time and a scribe.
Detailed Explanation of the Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national. This is to ensure that the exam is only open to candidates who are eligible to work in India after completing their MBA.
- Age: The candidate must have been born on or after October 2, 1993. This is to ensure that the candidate has completed their bachelor’s degree before taking the CAT exam.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent. This is to ensure that the candidate has the necessary academic background to succeed in an MBA program.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam. This is to allow candidates from all backgrounds to have an equal opportunity to apply for MBA programs.
How to Check Your Eligibility for the CAT Exam
You can check your eligibility for the CAT exam by visiting the official website of the CAT exam. The website will have a list of the eligibility criteria, and you can verify that you meet all of the requirements.
Category-Wise Eligibility Criteria
General Category:
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: The candidate must have been born on or after October 2, 1993.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: The minimum qualifying marks for the CAT exam are 50% for the general category.
SC/ST/OBC Category:
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: The candidate must have been born on or after October 2, 1993.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: The minimum qualifying marks for the CAT exam are 45% for the SC/ST/OBC category.
PWD Category:
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: There is no upper age limit for the PWD category.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: There is no minimum qualifying marks for the CAT exam for the PWD category.
Ex-servicemen Category:
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: There is no upper age limit for the ex-servicemen category.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks: The minimum qualifying marks for the CAT exam are 50% for the ex-servicemen category.
The CAT exam also has some additional eligibility criteria for certain categories of candidates. These are as follows:
- Candidates with Disabilities: Candidates with disabilities are eligible to take the CAT exam with certain concessions, such as extra time and a scribe.
- Candidates from Remote Areas: Candidates from remote areas are eligible for a relaxation of 5% in the minimum qualifying marks.
- Candidates from Foreign Universities: Candidates who have graduated from a foreign university are eligible to take the CAT exam, but they must have their degrees evaluated by an approved agency.
Cat Exam Eligibility FAQ
- Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India or a Nepali national.
- Age: The candidate must have been born on or after October 2, 1993.
- Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Work Experience: There is no work experience requirement for the CAT exam.
The minimum qualifying marks for the CAT exam are 50% for the general category and 45% for the SC/ST/OBC category.
Candidates from remote areas are eligible for a relaxation of 5% in the minimum qualifying marks.
