UPSC CSAT 2024, Exam Date, Syllabus, Exam Pattern and Eligibility Criteria

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India administers the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) as an integral component of the three-stage Civil Services Examination (CSE). The CSE is a rigorous competitive evaluation process aimed at identifying individuals for prestigious roles such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and various other central services. The CSAT examination for the year 2024 is scheduled to take place on May 26, 2024.

What is the CSAT Exam?

The Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) is an exam conducted in India for the selection of candidates for various civil services, such as the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
It is a part of the Civil Services Examination (CSE), which is a three-stage competitive exam.
The CSAT exam is a qualifying exam, and candidates have to score a minimum cutoff to be eligible for the next stage of the CSE.

CSAT Exam Conducting Body

The CSAT exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which is a central agency responsible for recruiting candidates for various civil services in India. The UPSC was established on 1st October 1926 and is headquartered in New Delhi.

• It is an independent constitutional body that operates under the Article 315 of the Constitution of India.
• The UPSC conducts various exams, such as the Civil Services Examination (CSE), Engineering Services Examination (ESE), and Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE), among others.
• The UPSC is responsible for conducting the entire recruitment process, including the publication of notifications, and application forms, conducting exams, and the final selection of candidates.

UPSC CSAT Exam Date 2023

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the CSAT Notification 2023 on February 1, 2023. The notification PDF is available on the official website in both English and Hindi. The application process for the exam has started and interested candidates can apply until February 21, 2023.

The CSAT Exam, along with the CSE prelims, is scheduled to be conducted on May 28, 2023, across various exam centers in India. The aim of the exam is to fill vacancies in the central government under Group A and Group B. Candidates can visit the official UPSC website for more information on the CSAT Exam. It is important for candidates to keep track of the application and exam dates so that they do not miss out on any important deadlines.

CSAT Exam Pattern

The CSAT Exam Pattern consists of two papers – Paper I and Paper II. Paper I is designed to test general knowledge. Paper II, on the other hand, is meant to assess the comprehension, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities of the candidate.

Paper II (Aptitude Test)

1. Total Marks: 200
2. Total Questions: 80
3. Duration: 2 Hours
4. Language: English and Hindi
5. Negative Marking: Yes (1/3rd of marks deducted for every wrong answer)

The following table summarizes the CSAT exam pattern:

CSAT GS Paper II Syllabus

The CSAT Paper II Syllabus also known as GS Paper II covers a wide range of topics that are designed to test the aptitude of the candidates. The syllabus consists of areas such as comprehension, interpersonal skills, logical reasoning, decision-making, problem-solving, analytical ability, basic numeracy, and data interpretation.

UPSC CSAT GS Paper II Syllabus PDF

CSAT Paper II tests the aptitude and reasoning abilities of the candidates. The syllabus for CSAT Paper II includes the following topics:

• Comprehension: This section tests the candidate’s reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, antonyms, and synonyms.
• Interpersonal skills including communication skills: This section tests the candidate’s speaking, listening, and writing skills. It also covers topics like active and passive voice and direct and indirect speech.
• Logical reasoning and analytical ability: This section tests the candidate’s logical reasoning and analytical ability. It includes topics like analogies, number series, letter series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, Venn diagrams, analytical reasoning, and syllogism.
• Decision-making and problem-solving: This section tests the candidate’s ability to make decisions and solve problems. It includes topics like decision-making, problem-solving, decision analysis, and data sufficiency.
• General mental ability: This section tests the candidate’s basic numeracy, data interpretation, logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and mental ability.

UPSC CSAT GS Paper II Syllabus PDF- Download Now

CSAT Marking Scheme

The CSAT Exam Marking Scheme is based on the objective-type questions that are asked in Paper I and Paper II. Each question carries equal marks and there is a penalty for every wrong answer.

• CSAT Paper II is 200 marks and consists of 80 objective-type questions.
• Each question carries 2.5 marks, and there is a negative marking of 1/3rd of the marks allotted for each question.
• For every correct answer, a candidate will be awarded 2.5 marks.
• For every incorrect answer, one-third (0.83) of the marks allotted for the question will be deducted as negative marking.
• If a candidate leaves a question unanswered, there is no negative marking.
• The final score of a candidate is calculated based on the total number of correct answers minus the total number of incorrect answers (after deducting negative marking).
• The cutoff score for CSAT Paper II is determined based on the number of candidates appearing for the exam and the overall performance of the candidates.

CSAT Exam Strategy

The CSAT Exam Strategy is crucial for candidates who wish to crack the exam with a good rank. It is important to have a clear understanding of the CSAT exam pattern and CSAT syllabus and to plan the preparation strategy accordingly.

• Understand the exam pattern and syllabus: Before starting your preparation, it is important to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. This will help you to focus your preparation on the important topics and also prepare a study plan accordingly.
• Focus on time management: CSAT is a time-bound exam, and it is important to manage your time effectively during the exam. Practice solving previous year question papers within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
• Practice mock tests: Take mock tests regularly to assess your preparation and identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will also help you to get used to the exam pattern and build your confidence.
• Develop a strong foundation in basics: To excel in CSAT, it is important to develop a strong foundation in basics such as language skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical concepts. Practice regularly to improve your skills and accuracy.
• Stay updated with current affairs: CSAT includes questions related to current affairs and events. Stay updated with the latest news and events to improve your performance in this section.
• Analyze your performance: After taking mock tests or solving previous year question papers, analyze your performance to identify the areas where you need to improve. Work on your weaknesses and continue practicing until you are confident in all the topics.
• Stay focused and positive: Finally, stay focused and positive throughout your preparation. Don’t let setbacks or failures demotivate you. Stay confident and keep working hard to achieve your goals.

CSAT Exam Admit Card

The CSAT Exam Admit Card is a crucial document that candidates need to carry to the exam center on the day of the exam. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam center, and exam date and time.

• The CSAT Exam is scheduled to be conducted on May 28, 2023.
• The conducting authority is expected to release the admit cards for the exam in the first week of May 2023.
• Candidates who have applied for the exam can download their admit cards from the official website of the conducting authority.
• It is important to keep track of the official website and stay updated with the latest notifications regarding the exam and admit card release.
• The CSAT Exam Admit Card is an important document that candidates must carry to the exam center.
• It contains important information such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam date, exam center, and reporting time.
• The admit card is usually released a few weeks before the exam date and can be downloaded from the official website of the conducting authority.

CSAT Exam Result

The CSAT Exam Result is usually declared a few weeks after the exam date. The conducting authority releases the result on its official website. To check their result, candidates need to enter their roll number and other required details. The result will display the candidate’s score and rank in the exam.

CSAT Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need to adhere to the CSAT eligibility criteria established by the exam conducting authorities, which encompass minimum age, educational qualifications, nationality, and other essential prerequisites that must be met for eligibility to take the exam.

• Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens, citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962.
• Age Limit: The minimum age for the CSAT Exam is 21 years. The maximum age limit varies based on the specific civil service positions. Candidates from certain categories, such as SC/ST, OBC, and PWD, may have age limit relaxations.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a graduation degree from a recognized university or institution. Final-year students can also apply but must provide proof of passing the degree exam before the main exam.
• Number of Attempts: The maximum number of attempts allowed for the CSAT Exam is six for general category candidates, nine for OBC candidates, and unlimited attempts for SC/ST candidates.

CSAT Exam Trend Analysis

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