Top 20 Indian Competitive Exams: Your Ultimate Guide After 12th & Graduation

Overview

Dreaming of a career as an IAS officer, IIT engineer, or AIIMS doctor? This guide covers India’s top 20 competitive exams, perfect for students after 12th or graduation. From UPSC to JEE, NEET to CAT, we provide everything you need to choose your path and succeed. Start your journey now!

Details of Top 20 Exams

1. UPSC Civil Services Exam: For IAS, IPS, IFS roles. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 21-32 (relaxations apply). Pattern: Prelims (MCQs), Mains (descriptive), Interview. Career: IAS officer (e.g., District Magistrate). Official Site

2. JEE (Joint Entrance Exam): For IITs, NITs admission. Qualification: 12th pass (PCM), max 3 attempts. Pattern: JEE Main (MCQs), JEE Advanced (MCQs, numerical). Career: B.Tech at IIT Delhi. Official Site

3. NEET: For MBBS, BDS courses. Qualification: 12th pass (PCB), 50% marks, age 17+. Pattern: MCQs (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Career: AIIMS admission. Official Site

4. GATE: For M.Tech, PSU jobs. Qualification: B.Tech, no age limit. Pattern: MCQs, numerical questions. Career: M.Tech at IIT or ONGC job. Official Site

5. CAT: For MBA at IIMs. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, 50% marks. Pattern: MCQs (Quantitative, Verbal, DI, LR). Career: IIM Ahmedabad admission. Official Site

6. CLAT: For law courses at NLUs. Qualification: 12th pass, 45% marks. Pattern: MCQs (English, Legal, GK). Career: NLU Bangalore admission. Official Site

7. SSC CGL: For central govt jobs. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 18-32. Pattern: Tier 1-4 (MCQs, descriptive, skill test). Career: Income Tax Officer. Official Site

8. NDA: For Army, Navy, Air Force. Qualification: 12th pass, age 16.5-19.5. Pattern: Written (Math, GAT), SSB Interview. Career: Army officer. Official Site

9. RRB NTPC: For railway jobs. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 18-33. Pattern: CBT 1-2, skill test. Career: Station Master. Official Site

10. UGC NET: For Assistant Professor, JRF. Qualification: Master’s degree, 55% marks, age 30 for JRF. Pattern: Two papers (MCQs). Career: College lecturer. Official Site

11. IBPS PO/Clerk: For bank jobs. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 20-30 (PO), 20-28 (Clerk). Pattern: Prelims, Mains, Interview (PO). Career: Bank of India PO. Official Site

12. SBI PO/Clerk: For SBI jobs. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 21-30 (PO), 20-28 (Clerk). Pattern: Prelims, Mains, Interview (PO). Career: SBI PO. Official Site

13. CDS: For Army, Navy, Air Force. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 19-25. Pattern: Written (English, Math, GK), SSB Interview. Career: Air Force officer. Official Site

14. AIIMS Entrance: For MBBS at AIIMS. Qualification: 12th pass (PCB), 60% marks, age 17+. Pattern: MCQs (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, GK). Career: AIIMS Delhi admission. Official Site

15. IES: For govt engineering roles. Qualification: B.Tech (Civil, Mechanical, etc.), age 21-30. Pattern: Prelims, Mains, Interview. Career: Railways engineer. Official Site

16. NIFT Entrance: For fashion design courses. Qualification: 12th pass, age 24 (UG). Pattern: CAT, GAT, Situation Test. Career: NIFT Delhi admission. Official Site

17. NID Entrance: For design courses. Qualification: 12th pass, age 20 (UG). Pattern: DAT Prelims, Mains, Interview. Career: NID Ahmedabad admission. Official Site

18. TET/CTET: For school teaching. Qualification: D.El.Ed (Primary), B.Ed (Upper Primary). Pattern: Two papers (MCQs). Career: Govt school teacher. Official Site

19. ISRO/DRDO Scientist: For scientist roles. Qualification: B.Tech/M.Tech, age 18-35. Pattern: Written test, Interview. Career: DRDO scientist. Official Site

20. State PSC: For state civil services. Qualification: Bachelor’s degree, age 21-40 (varies). Pattern: Prelims, Mains, Interview. Career: SDM in MP. Official Site

Eligibility Breakdown

These exams cater to different stages of your academic journey. Post-12th exams like JEE, NEET, NDA, CLAT, NIFT, and NID are perfect for school graduates, while UPSC, CAT, GATE, SSC CGL, and others are designed for college graduates. Check each exam’s age and educational requirements to find the right fit.

Preparation Tips

Start Early: Build a strong foundation with NCERT books for JEE/NEET or M. Laxmikanth for UPSC polity.
Practice Mocks: Take regular mock tests for CAT, IBPS, or SSC to boost speed and accuracy.
Stay Updated: Read The Hindu daily for UPSC and State PSC current affairs.
Use Resources: Explore platforms like Unacademy or BYJU’S for expert guidance and study material.

Career Paths

These exams open doors to exciting careers, from IAS officers shaping policies to engineers at IITs or doctors at AIIMS. Whether you’re aiming for government jobs, corporate roles, or creative fields like design, there’s an exam to match your dreams.

Resources

Success starts with the right resources. Use NCERT books for JEE/NEET, Arihant for SSC, or Vision IAS for UPSC. Check official websites for the latest syllabus and practice with mock tests to stay prepared.

Updates

Exam patterns and eligibility can change yearly. For example, NEET’s format was updated in 2024. Always visit official sites like upsc.gov.in or nta.ac.in for the latest notifications and syllabus details.

Aspirant Reactions

Students share their prep stories on Quora and Telegram, praising NCERT for NEET or daily answer writing for UPSC. Joining online communities can keep you motivated and help you learn from others’ experiences.

Conclusion

Your dream career is just an exam away. This guide to India’s top 20 competitive exams equips you with the knowledge to start strong. Pick your path, study smart, and ace your future! Visit our blog for more tips.