List of Ten Toughest Exams in India

Cracking government exams are challenging enough and demands dedication, and anything worth having comes easy. In India lakhs of students spend years to prepare for these competitive exams, eyeing for the limited number of seats. Due to the cut throat competition and extensive syllabus, only the best gets through.

Three of India’s top sought after competitive exams are among the top 10 toughest exams in the world namely UPSC, IITJEE, and GATE.

Here is a list of toughest competitive exams in India that only the best can crack and get a place.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service Examination

UPSC CSE is undoubtedly one of the toughest competitive exams in India. It serves as the gateway to the prestigious IAS, IRS, IFS, and IPS positions that form the topmost layer of all administrations.

Every year lakhs of students apply for the UPSC exams but only a few thousands gets through to get the jobs.

To pass the test,one needs to understand concepts and have a very good understanding of the syllabus. It is conducted annually and at an offline level.

IIT JEE (Indian Institute of Technology – Joint Entrance Exam)

Ranked second on the toughest exams list, the IIT JEE is a highly competitive exam that is an entrance test to enter the IITs in India, the most prestigious and advanced technological learning institutes in the country.

There are two parts to the exam, JEE mains and JEE advanced.  The exams are conducted twice a year and is a computer based test with a total marks of 300.

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

GATE opens doors for students who want to get into post graduation in engineering. Its a national level exam conducted for students who want to pursue Masters in Engineering, MTech, PhDs and get direct admission to NITs, IITs and other institutions. Exam difficulty is quite high and requires a lot of preparation.

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT is a very advanced and challenging test that is given by students for entering in IIMs. It assesses candidates quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, verbal ability and logical reasoning. It is conducted online annually.

National Defence Academy Exam (NDA)

Those who want to get into the defense, they have to give this exam. Once passed out from this, the cadets can choose which stream they want to pursue, the navy, air force or the army. It is considered as the toughest exam in India and the only best gets through to join the ranks.

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

CLAT is the entrance test to the Law colleges in India. Aspiring lawyers must clear this exam to get entrance to the premier law universities in the Country. It is conducted twice a year over offline mode for a time period of 2 hours.

Also Read | UGC- NET Exam Canceled Due to Paper Leak: Re- Test to be Announced

CA Chartered Accountancy Exam

Conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the exam is divided into three levels, the prelims, intermediate and final. The exam tests candidates on advanced financial accounting, reporting, strategic financial management and other related subjects.

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

For those who aspire to become doctors and medical professionals in India, they have to go through this test. The exam tests candidates on science subjects that are physics, chemistry and biology. The number of seats are very limited and the competition is very high.

UGC NET

Conducted by the National Testing Agency, the UGC NET examination is another challenging exam for those who wish to become teachers. The competition gets cut throat as Lakhs of candidates appear twice a year and the exam’s duration is 180 minutes.