Eligibility to Become a Airport Custom Officer

Can you tell me about the eligibility requirement to apply for Airport Customs Officer post recruitment as I want to check if I am eligible for it or not?

[Arvind Kumar]

Airport Customs Officer falls under Group A or Class 1 Officers in Indian Administrative Service. Selection of eligible candidates to this post is carried out through Civil Services Examination (CSAT).

As customs officer, also known as a detection officer, one would work in airports and seaports collecting customs duties and preventing smuggling and illegal trade.


Eligibility Requirement to become Airport Customs Officer

One completed the bachelor degree from a recognized institute is eligible to apply for the post.
The qualifying degree must be obtained in any stream with minimum 55% marks.
One who has completed 21 years of age is only eligible to apply.
Upper age limit is 30 years.
One belonging to backward category can expect relaxation in age.


Selection Procedure of Airport Customs Officer

Selection is carried out through CSAT exam carried out by UPSC.

Applications for the exam can be forwarded through the official website of UPSC through online mode.

One needs to mention their preferred area (like IAS, Revenue Service, etc) under Civil service at the time of application submission itself. There will be separate column for the same in the application form. Therefore, those who wish to become Customs Officer must mention Indian Customs and Central Excise Service (IC&CES), as the most preferred choice.


CSAT Exam


CSAT Exam is conducted in two stages, preliminary and mains. There will be two compulsory papers for preliminary exam. Time allotted for answering each paper is 2 hours.


Paper I may cover questions on general knowledge and day to day affairs across the globe. Paper II comprises questions on reasoning, mental ability, quantitative aptitude and English Language. Aspirants who pass this preliminary level exam can appear for mains exam.


In mains exam there will be a written exam and interview. There will be 9 papers for the written test, out of which 2 are of qualifying nature. One who get through the written exam will be short-listed for interview round.


One who clears the interview round can get short listed for training in Central Excise cadre. Once training is completed successfully, one can join as Customs Officer in international airports. Upon completing probation as Customs Officer one is promoted to the next level i.e. Assistant Commissioner of Customs.