If you are one of those who is looking for top exams for Government jobs in India, then you have made the right decision. Government jobs are considered to be the most prestigious jobs in our country and offer a number of benefits. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the top exams conducted by various government organizations for recruiting eligible candidates into their departments. So, read on to find out more!
Top 15 Exams for Government Jobs in India
1. Union Public Service Commission examination (UPSC)
The first exam on our list is the Union Public Service Commission examination (UPSC). This is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and is considered one of the toughest exams in India.
Many candidates appear for this exam every year with the hope of getting selected into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), or other prestigious government services.
Every year, the UPSC releases a notification in the month of February inviting applications for the CSE. The written examination is conducted in May and consists of two objective-type papers followed by two subjective-type papers. Candidates who qualify for the written exam are called for an interview held in September-October.
The final merit list is released in December, and the successful candidates are allotted their respective services in January.
2. Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination (SSC CGL)
The next exam is the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination (SSC CGL). This is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruiting eligible candidates into various government departments and ministries.
The SSC CGL is held in two tiers – Tier I and Tier II. The written examination (Tier I) is held in the month of June and consists of four objective-type papers – General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General Intelligence & Reasoning. Candidates who qualify for Tier I are eligible to appear for Tier II, which is held in the month of October-November.
The final merit list is released in December, and the successful candidates are allotted their respective posts in January.
3. IBPS PO Examination (IBPS PO)
This is one of the most popular exams for government jobs in India. IBPS PO is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit candidates for various participating banks. The selection process comprises of an online examination followed by an interview.
The IBPS PO online examination consists of objective type multiple choice questions from the following sections:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
- General Awareness
- Computer Knowledge
Candidates who qualify for the online examination are shortlisted for the interview. The final selection is made on the basis of marks obtained in both the online assessment and interview.
The IBPS PO examination is held once a year in the month of October. The notification for the same is released in the month of August. Candidates who wish to apply for the IBPS PO examination can do so through the official website of IBPS.
IBPS PO is one of India’s most sought-after exams for government jobs. The job of a PO is very challenging and comes with a lot of responsibility. POs are responsible for various tasks such as customer service, marketing, human resources, etc.
4. State Bank of India PO Examination (SBI PO)
The State Bank of India PO Examination is conducted for the selection of Probationary Officers in various branches of SBI. The selection process contains three rounds- preliminary examination, mains examination, and interview.
To be eligible to apply for the SBI PO Examination, candidates must have a Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university. The age limit for the SBI PO Examination is 21 to 30 years.
The preliminary examination contains 100 objective-type questions from sections like English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning Ability, and General Awareness. Candidates have to score a minimum of 60 marks out of 100 to qualify for the mains examination.
The mains examination contains 155 objective-type questions from sections like Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, and English Language.
Candidates who qualify the mains examination are called for an interview. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in the mains examination and interview.
5. Banking Services Recruitment Boards examination (BSRB)
This is a competitive examination conducted by the Banking Services Recruitment Boards for the recruitment of officers and clerks in banks. Every year, the examination is conducted by different boards, namely, Allahabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
The selection process for this examination comprises of written test followed by an interview. The written test consists of objective type questions from the following sections:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
- Banking Awareness and General Awareness
The interview is conducted to test the communication skills of the candidate. This examination is considered one of the most difficult examinations to crack. However, it provides an opportunity to serve in some of the biggest banks in India, such as the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, etc.
6. Railway Recruitment Boards examination (RRB)
This is an entrance examination for various posts in the Indian Railways. The posts include assistant loco pilots, group ‘D’ employees, and various other ministerial posts. It is conducted by 21 Railway Recruitment Boards across India.
Candidates who have completed their class 12th or any equivalent exam from a recognized board or university are eligible to apply for this exam. The minimum age limit is 18 years, and the maximum age limit is 30 years. The selection process includes a written test, trade test/skill test (for some posts), and interview (for some positions).
The written test has two parts – Part A and Part B. Part A has questions from Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Science, and General Awareness. Part B has questions from the trade or discipline in which the candidate is applying for the post.
The syllabus for the written test is available on the official website of RRB. Candidates can start preparing for the exam by going through the syllabus and practicing mock tests.
This exam is conducted every year, and candidates who clear this exam are appointed as employees of Indian Railways. It is one of the most popular exams for government jobs in India.
7. Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE)
This is an examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the posts of Medical Officer in Indian Ordnance Factories Health Services and Junior Scale Posts in Central Health Services. The examination comprises two written papers followed by a personality test.
The minimum age limit for appearing in this exam is 21 years, and the maximum age limit is 32 years.
The educational qualification required for appearing in this exam is that the candidate must have passed MBBS or an equivalent degree from a recognized university.
The selection process comprises two written papers followed by a personality test/interview. The total marks allotted for Written Examination are 1200, and 600 marks are allotted for Personality Test / Interview, respectively.
8. Reserve Bank of India Examination (RBI)
The RBI Examination is conducted for the posts of ‘Grade B’ officers. The selection process comprises of three stages –
Preliminary examination, Main examination, and an Interview.
The Preliminary examination is qualifying in nature, and marks obtained in this stage are not included while preparing the final merit list. Candidates who clear the Preliminary examination are eligible to sit for the Main examination. The pattern for both these examinations is objective type multiple choice questions only.
Candidates who finally make it to the Grade B officer rank are placed under a two-year probationary period during which they undergo training at various branches of RBI located across India. After completing their probationary period, they are confirmed as ‘Grade B’ officers of RBI.
Since the number of vacancies every year is very limited, the competition to get through this examination is also very tough.
Only those candidates who have a genuine interest in the Banking sector and are ready to work anywhere in India should opt for this examination.
You can find more information about the RBI Examination on the official website of the Reserve Bank of India – (rbi.org.in) under the heading ‘Recruitment-related announcements.’ The notification for this examination is usually released in the month of May/June every year, and the examination is conducted in the month of August/September.
The age limit for appearing in this examination is 21-30 years.
9. Indian Forest Service Examination (IFS)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Indian Forest Service Examination for recruitment to the Indian Forest Service. The examination is held in three stages, namely, (i) Preliminary, (ii) Main, and (iii) Interview.
The Preliminary Examination is common for both IFS and IAS. It consists of two objective-type papers of 200 marks each. The candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination are eligible to appear for the Main Examination and Interview.
The IFS Main Examination is a written examination consisting of nine papers of conventional essay type, two qualifying, and seven papers for merit ranking. The interview carries 300 marks. A candidate has to secure minimum marks separately in each paper and in the aggregate to be eligible for ranking. The Indian Forest Service Examination is held annually.
The main aim of the IFS examination is to assess the overall intellectual traits and depth of understanding of candidates rather than merely the range of their information and memory.
10. National Defence Academy Examination (NDA)
The NDA is held twice a year by the UPSC for candidates who wish to join the Indian Armed Forces. To be eligible, candidates must have completed Class 12 or be appearing in their final year of schooling.
The examination comprises written and service selection board (SSB) interviews. Candidates who clear the written examination are eligible to appear for the SSB interviews. Successful candidates are then placed in one of the three services – Army, Navy, or Air Force.
11. Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS)
The CDS Exam is conducted two times in a year by the UPSC for recruitment into the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy, and Indian Air Force Academy.
The exam is held for unmarried male candidates who have completed their degree from a recognized university with Physics and Mathematics at the 12th level.
12. Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
The AFCAT entrance examination is conducted by the Indian Air Force for the selection of officers in all branches. The exam is held twice a year, usually in the months of February and September.
Eligibility criteria for appearing in this exam are that the candidate must be between 20 and 24 years of age and must have completed their Graduation with minimum 60% marks.
The exam consists of objective-type questions on topics like General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test. Candidates who clear the written exam are called for further testing rounds, including a Pilot Aptitude Battery Test, an Interview, and a Medical Examination.
13. National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)
This is a medical entrance exam that is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is required for students who wish to study MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, and BUMS courses. NEET UG is a single entrance examination that includes all medical colleges across India.
The selection process for NEET-UG is based on marks scored on the entrance test. Candidates who score the minimum qualifying percentile marks will be considered for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, and BUMS courses.
14. UGC NET Entrance Exam (UGC NET)
THE UGC NET entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor only or both in Indian universities and colleges. The UGC NET score is valid for a period of three years from the date of the announcement of its results.
If you want to apply for the post of Assistant Professor, you need to have at least 55% marks in a Master’s degree or equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognized by UGC in NET subjects.
For JRF, you must have secured at least 50% marks in your Master’s degree or equivalent examination and are required to appear for both Paper-I and Paper-II of UGC NET. UGC NET is held twice a year, in June and December.
15. TET Examination (TET)
Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is conducted by both Central government and State governments in India. The candidates must qualify TET examination to get teaching jobs in schools run by the government.
As per the latest updates, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Odisha Punjab Rajasthan Sikkim Tripura Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have released their TET notification.
TET will have two papers, Paper I and Paper-II. Candidates who intend to be teachers for classes I to V have to appear for Paper I, and the ones who want to teach classes VI to VIII have to attempt Paper-II.
Candidates who wish to teach for both levels (I-VIII) have to appear for both papers.
So these were some of the top exams for Government jobs in India that you can appear for to get a government job. Apart from these, there are many other exams, such as SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination, SSC Multi Tasking (Non-Technical) Examination, etc. Just do your research and choose the exam that is best suited for you!