Anticipated to be conducted on the 24th of November this year, the eligibility criteria for the CAT Exam 2024 exam are crucial for each of the two lakh candidates to fulfil and be fully aware of. While the official notification is yet to be released, it is customary for one of the top 6 IIMs to conduct it on the last Sunday of November, accompanied by a predefined set of eligibility criteria, which will be discussed in this article.
Eligibility Criteria for CAT Exam
The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% of the possible points or an equivalent CGPA (45% for candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories). The degree must have been awarded by any university or educational institution that has been declared to be deemed a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or by any other university or educational institution that has been incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State legislature in India.
Students in their last year of Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, as well as those who have fulfilled degree requirements but are awaiting results, are eligible to apply. However, if admitted, such candidates must provide a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution (issued on or before the specified date by the respective IIM) confirming completion of all requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the certificate’s date of issue, to join the program provisionally.
Applicants for CAT 2023 must meet one of the following criteria:
- Have obtained a Bachelor’s degree with the specified percentage of marks.
- Hold a professional degree (such as CA/CS/ICWA/FIAI) with the required percentage.
- Be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree program with the required percentage.
- For SC/ST/PwD candidates, a minimum of 45% is required, while General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates must have a minimum of 50%.
The candidate’s percentage of marks will be determined according to the methodology employed by their respective University/Institution. If grades/CGPA are used, the conversion to percentage will be based on the procedure endorsed by the University/Institution. In cases where a University/Institution does not provide a specific method for converting CGPA to equivalent marks, the equivalence will be calculated by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the highest achievable CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.
The eligibility of candidates may be confirmed by IIMs at different stages of the selection procedure, with specific information available on the website www.iimcat.ac.in. Applicants need to understand that merely meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee consideration for shortlisting by IIMs. Candidates must ensure the provision and upkeep of an active and distinct email address and mobile phone number throughout the selection process.
Age Limit of CAT Exam
As of now, the conducting authority of CAT has not stipulated any age limit. The eligibility criteria outlined above emphasize the possession of a university degree from a recognized institution and the attainment of specific marks. Specifically, candidates must meet a minimum of 50% marks for General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories, and 45% marks for SC/ST/PwD categories. It’s important to note that there is no upper age limit requirement for candidates.
Reservation Criteria for CAT 2024
Scheduled Caste (SC) Candidates:
| Reservation Percentage | 15% |
| Eligibility | Candidates must belong to the SC category as per the Government of India schedule. |
| Document Requirement | SC certificate issued by the appropriate authority in the Government of India-approved format. |
| Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must meet the minimum eligibility criteria specified for their respective category. |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) Candidates:
| Reservation Percentage | 7.5% |
| Eligibility | Candidates must belong to the ST category as per the Government of India schedule. |
| Document Requirement | ST certificate issued by the appropriate authority in the Government of India-approved format. |
| Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must meet the minimum eligibility criteria specified for their respective category. |
Other Backward Classes (OBC) Candidates (Non-Creamy Layer):
| Reservation Percentage | 27% |
| Eligibility | Candidates must belong to the NC-OBC category as per the Government of India schedule. |
| Document Requirement | NC-OBC certificate issued by the appropriate authority in the Government of India-approved format. |
| Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must meet the minimum eligibility criteria specified for their respective category. |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Candidates:
| Reservation Percentage | Up to 10% |
| Eligibility | Candidates must belong to the EWS category as per the Government of India schedule. |
| Document Requirement | EWS certificate issued by the appropriate authority in the Government of India-approved format. |
| Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must meet the minimum eligibility criteria specified for their respective category. |
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) Candidates:
| Reservation Percentage | 5% |
| Eligibility | Candidates must have a benchmark disability as per the RPwD Act 2016. |
| Document Requirement | PwD certificate issued by the certifying authority. |
| Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must meet the minimum eligibility criteria specified for their respective category. |
It is essential for candidates belonging to reserved categories to carefully review the eligibility requirements before applying. Additionally, candidates must ensure that they provide the necessary documents, such as caste certificates, during the application process and selection interviews. Failure to do so may result in their application not being considered under the reserved category.
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FAQs On Eligibility For CAT Exam 2024
Who can apply for CAT 2024?
Candidates who possess a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized university or educational institution can apply for CAT 2024. Additionally, candidates in their final year of Bachelor’s degree or those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results are also eligible.
Is there any age limit for CAT 2024?
\No, there is no upper age limit specified by the conducting authority for CAT 2024. What is the minimum percentage required for eligibility? For General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates, a minimum of 50% marks or its equivalent CGPA is required. For candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories, the minimum percentage is 45%.
Are candidates with backlogs eligible to apply for CAT 2024?
Yes, candidates with backlogs in their graduation are eligible to apply for CAT 2024. However, they must ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria by the time of admission.