CSAT Full Form

The full form of CSAT is Civil Service Aptitude Test and it is organized by UPSC as part of the preliminary examination. You can call this test the first stepping stone to the civil service exam. Candidates qualifying for CSAT can get great career scope in the fields of medical science, law and engineering. Basically, the Union Public Service Commission conducts civil service exams in three stages that include prelims, mains and personal interviews. Aspirants need to qualify in all three stages to finally get selected for any civil service post in India like IAS, IPS, etc. 

What is CSAT Full Form?

The full form of CSAT is the Civil Services Aptitude Test. UPSC assesses a candidate’s emotional intelligence, reasoning and competence through this screening test. As civil service exams lead candidates to hold some of the most important positions in public service hence, candidates will be evaluated on different aspects. This exam requires candidates to thoroughly gather knowledge on the latest updates in current affairs. To qualify for the exam, you need to sharpen your general ability skills. 

If you are determined to appear in UPSC CSAT next year, then read our article as we have offered a brief overview of the CSAT exam pattern, syllabus, and preparation tips.

Overview of CSAT

Who Can Apply for CSAT?

Do you dream of working in any of the prestigious civil services in India? Then you have to sit for the UPSC exam, only after clearing CSAT which is considered to be the screening test, can you move ahead to the next stage of the exam. Well, before you apply for UPSC, it is crucial to learn about the eligibility requirements of CSAT. 

Here is the eligibility for CSAT, full form of which is Civil Service Aptitude Test, on meeting which a candidate can join the services.

• Age Requirement

Age criteria vary as per a candidate’s category. Generally, to appear in the UPSC CSAT candidates must be at least 21 years old. The upper age limit for those belonging to the reserved category is relaxed by 3 to 5 years. 

• Nationality

If a candidate has applied in CSAT for IFS, IPS or IAS, they must be a citizen of India. For other services, candidates can belong from other countries like Nepal, Bhutan or Tibet who have migrated to India.

• Educational Background

Candidates have to qualify in a graduate degree program from a recognized university to appear in CSAT. Those who hold a professional degree granted by the government of India can also apply.

• Number of Attempts

Candidates can apply at least 6 times while those hailing from OBC can get 9 chances. Well, if you are an SC/ST then you can apply as many times as you want. 

What is the Application Procedure for CSAT?

To apply for CSAT, the aspirants need to get updates from the official website of the Union Public Service. UPSC releases exam notifications and application forms at upsc.gov.in every year. Below we have mentioned the basic steps to apply for the UPSC prelims exam, well before applying make sure you fulfill the eligibility criteria.

Steps to apply for the UPSC CSAT Exam:

1. Browse the official site of UPSC i.e. upsc.gov.in.
2. Find the examination option and click on it.
3. You can find notifications on the civil service exam.
4. Click on the exam link and begin the registration process.
5. First, enter your details father’s name, mother’s name, your name, date of birth and contact details in the form part A.
6. Next, move ahead to form part B where you need to offer details on your educational qualification.
7. You are required to upload the required document after the form fill-up process.
8. After completing the process, pay the fee.
9. Download and take a printout of the form for future reference.

Selection Process in CSAT

As CSAT, the full form of which is Civil Service Aptitude Test, acts as a gateway for further selection process, it becomes essential for aspirants to gain insight into the selection process in UPSC.

Stage 1: Prelims

UPSC Prelims is the stepping stone to the civil service examination. There are two papers that include general studies 1 and CSAT (general studies paper II). It is mandatory to qualify this exam to further proceed in the UPSC selection process.

Stage 2: Mains

Those qualifying UPSC prelims can further appear for the mains exam. In UPSC Mains exam, there are qualifying and merit ranking paper. 

Stage 3: Interview

The last and final stage that can open new opportunities for aspirants to work as a proud IAS or IPS officer is an interview. It carries around 275 marks. The candidates are evaluated based on mental ability, analytical thinking and leadership qualities.

How to Prepare for the CSAT Exam?

To appear for the civil service interview round, aspirants need to score well in CSAT, the full form of which is the Civil Service Aptitude Test. The general studies paper in UPSC prelims is challenging yet important. Given below are some of the preparation hacks adopted by top performers in UPSC. Let’s check out the following tips to crack the CSAT on the first attempt.

• Understand the Syllabus: UPSC CSAT aspirants should begin their preparation journey by understanding the complete syllabus. Aspirants need to pay close attention to section-wise topics and cover the ones that are easy as well as scoring.

• Practice Previous Year CSAT Paper: Previous year question papers of the Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT full form) act as a blueprint enabling candidates to familiarize themselves with question patterns, marking schemes and important topics. Besides gauging exam difficulty level, practicing question papers help in increasing time management efficiency.

• Prioritize Each Section: CSAT paper 1 and 2 comprises topics from varied fields including history, economics, geography, current affairs, logical reasoning, English language etc. To ace your preparation and enhance your chances of higher marks, it's vital to prioritize equal time for each topic.

Top CSAT Books You Must Read

UPSC Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT full form) is a crucial examination that will help aspirants open avenues to civil service jobs. To ensure you qualify the first stepping stone of civil service exam, don’t forget to refer to the below mentioned books. 

• Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
• A Modern Approach to Verbal and non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
• The Mantra of CSAT Paper II by Gautam Puri
• Cracking the Civil Services Aptitude Test Paper II by Arihant
• High School English Grammar and Composition: Wren and Martin

Overview of the CSAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

CSAT is a part of the UPSC preliminary exam that evaluates candidates on general abilities. As far as the exam pattern is concerned, candidates have to appear in two papers of the prelims, and questions will be MCQ based. There will be two compulsory papers, each carrying 200 marks. In paper 1, examinees have to answer 1000 questions, each carrying 2 marks, and paper 2 will comprise 80 questions, each carrying 2.5 marks. 

Question papers are available in both Hindi and English language, well for English comprehension, no translation will be provided in the paper. Candidates need to be cautious because there will be negative marking in CSAT. For each wrong answer, one-third of the mark will get deducted and in case a candidate gives two answers to one question, it will be marked as wrong and the negative marking will apply. 

Syllabus for CSAT

CSAT, full form of which is Civil Service Aptitude Test is perhaps the most vital examination as it will allow you to move ahead with the next stages of the UPSC exam and pave the path to a fruitful career. The best way to enhance their chances of fetching higher marks in the prelims is by covering the prescribed syllabus, to check the complete syllabus aspirants are advised to visit the official website of UPSC. 

We have listed down some of the common topics asked in CSAT for Paper 1 and paper 2.

Highlights on CSAT Marking Scheme

To crack a challenging yet opportunistic exam like UPSC CSAT, it is crucial to get a clear understanding of marking distribution. Find the marking scheme below.

• CSAT paper consists of a total of 80 questions which are to be completed within 2 hours. Candidates have to attempt 200 marks paper.
• 2.5 marks will be allocated for each question.
• Candidates will be awarded 2.5 marks for correct answers, whereas 0.83 marks will be deducted for incorrect responses.
• In case candidates leave any question unattempted, no mark will be deducted.

Updates in CSAT Exam Pattern Over the years

Since the introduction of UPSC Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT full form), a wave of changes has been registered in the exam pattern. Let's study different timelines vividly below.

• Before 2011: Before 2011, the UPSC CSAT pattern was set based on the recommendation of the Kothari Committee. The two papers comprised GS (150 marks) and paper II(300 marks).
• 2010-2011: During this period, though the paper pattern remained the same, updates were made to the mark distribution. Both the papers now carried 200 marks each.CSAT paper began holding great significance and was used to test the candidate's analytical skills.
• 2014-2015: With the CSAT paper deciding the candidate's fate, a mass outrage led to controversies. In 2014, the government came up with a new plan whereby CSAT will be considered just a qualifying paper.
• 2015 till present: After the government's major decision in 2015, no new updates have come to the fore. 

Top Job Posts To Pursue After UPSC CSAT

UPSC conducts civil service examinations to recruit candidates across a wide array of profiles that are of national importance. Some of the popular posts one can aspire to join after clearing UPSC civil services include IPS officer, IAS officer and IFS posts. Below is a list of posts and groups which can be pursued by the candidates.

IAS: It is perhaps the most important wing in Indian administration. An IAS officer is responsible for the implementation and swift function of government policies. Prior to joining services, aspirants are required to undergo training sessions at LBSNAA, Mussoorie.

IPS: It falls under All India Services and is an important post. An IPS officer oversees security, law & order in the place they are appointed to. They investigate cases involving criminal offenders and occupy senior roles in the police. 

RPF: Railway Protection Force is regarded as a paramilitary force and comes under the Ministry of Railways. They assist the railways department in safeguarding the security of passengers. RPFs ensure that proper security measures are taken in the railway premises so that passengers don’t face any trouble.

IIS: Indian Information Service officers function in various broadcasting departments that include AIR, DD and PIB. Thye form part of UPSC group A services and are administered by the press information bureau. One of the prime functions of IIS officers is to act as a connective force between the public and the government.

We suggest you thoroughly check the UPSC prescribed syllabus for the prelims to enhance chances of fetching qualifying marks. Aspirants can unlock the next stages of UPSC with Civil Service Aptitude Test (CSAT full form) marks so start sharpening skills on general aptitude.