CAT 2020 Registration: NC OBC and EWS

CAT 2020 Registrations have opened since August 5th and will go on till September 16th. As part of a series of posts regarding CAT 2020 Registration, in this post, we will cover the details regarding the Caste Certificate, NC OBC, and EWS.

You can catch Part 1 of this series that highlighted some Do’s and Don’ts during CAT 2020 registration, here.

If you are unable to decide between CAT 2020 and CAT 2021, we recommend you read this article to gain some clarity.

SC/ST Certificate

If you belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, your Caste Certificate is required. You do not require a separate form usually. 

If you belong to any one of the SC/ST recognized under The Constitution of India, apply for the Caste Certificate now.

NC OBC Form

The NC OBC Form expands to “Non-Creamy Layer – Other Backward Classes“.

Sometimes, your district officers may give you the impression that the whole procedure is very bureaucratic. So, you have got to get it now. The key point to remember here is that you have got to get it signed for this year. 

Both NC OBC and EWS depend on 3-years of IT Filing. So have these ready before going to get it signed. 

Another key point to remember is that sometimes your district officer may have a different format for NC OBC and insist that they will sign and approve only that format of the form. If this is the case, remember that IIMs will have no contention regarding that so go for it.

All the IIM’s require is a specific green sign from the authorities that you belong to this caste or category. 

EWS Form

The EWS Form is for Economically Weaker Sections. Your family income needs to be lesser than 8 lakhs per annum. As we mentioned before, this financial case needs to be around the same for the last 3 years or so. This is done to prevent falsification or fudging. So have the last 3 years of IT-Returns on hand. 

Usually, both NC OBC and EWS forms are valid for 1 financial year, that is, from April to March.

Sometimes, after admission into a B-School, you may be required to procure a signature for another NC OBC Form or EWS for that financial year (most B-Schools start from July or August). Don’t worry, it is not going to be the end of the world. 

One thing I have noticed is that when you already have an NC OBC Certificate and you submit that as a part of your proof while getting signatures for a new NC OBC Certificate for that financial year, it becomes that much simpler and easier to procure the new one. 

Links for the Certificates

These links have been taken from the CAT 2020 website. Click on them and download the required certificates:

Caste Certificate: https://cdn.digialm.com//per/g01/pub/756/ASM/WebPortal/17/PDF/SC-ST_Certificate.pdf

NC OBC Form:- https://cdn.digialm.com//per/g01/pub/756/ASM/WebPortal/17/PDF/NC-OBC_Certificate.pdf

EWSForm:- https://cdn.digialm.com//per/g01/pub/756/ASM/WebPortal/17/PDF/EWS_Certificate.pdf

A Final Note

These are uncertain and unsafe times due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you are stepping out to obtain these forms, remember to wear a mask at all times. Carry a small bottle of sanitizer and follow these safety guidelines by the WHO.

Any queries or problems that you are facing regarding CAT 2020 Registration can be answered by the CAT Help Desk.

Check out this session where most form filling doubts have been clarified!

Part 3 of the series explains some of the mistakes that cannot be overlooked during the CAT 2020 registration process.

Part 4 addresses some of the common questions, and Part 5 continues to answer more of them.

Stay Safe, Best Wishes for CAT 2020!