India is known for its rigorous and highly competitive education system, wherein candidates face numerous challenges. Lakhs of students invest their precious years in preparing for the toughest exams, but the success rate is scarce owing to the cutthroat competition, limited seat intake, and extensive syllabus. This blog will answer your question of what is the toughest exam in India.
When we consider how tough an exam is, we usually consider factors like the number of competitors, the number of seats available, the quality of competitors, and the trend of pass rates. The entire process can be very draining and overwhelming, but hard work and consistency can beat the odds. So, hang in there!
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What is the Toughest Exam in India? – List of Exams
The word ‘toughest’ can be subjective. But there are some exams in India that are for sure not everyone’s cup of tea. Here is the list of the toughest exams conducted in India:
- UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)
- JEE Advanced
- NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)
- CAT (Common Admission Test)
- GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
- NDA (National Defence Academy) Entrance Exam
- CA (Chartered Accountant) Exam
- SSC-CGL (Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level)
- UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test)
- NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduates)
All About the Toughest Exams in India in Detail
Herein, we will discuss the above-mentioned toughest exams in India along with their eligibility and other key details:
UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)
The Union Service Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the country’s central agency for recruiting candidates for civil services and other positions under the Government of India like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS) etc.
Eligibility: The candidate must be an Indian citizen and obtained a graduation degree from a recognized university.
The age limit differs by category as follows:
- General/OBC/EWS: 21 to 32 years
- SC/ST: 21 to 37 years
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities: 21 to 42 years
The syllabus for the UPSC exam is quite vast, however, you can still can have a look at the UPSC Exam Syllabus here! The number of attempts that can be taken for this exam are mentioned below:
- General/OBC: 6
- SC/ST: Not Applicable
- EWS: 9
- PwBD: 9
There are three rounds, namely preliminary, main, and interview. The application fee is set as per category:
| CATEGORY | PRELIMS | MAINS | INTERVIEW |
| General/OBC | ₹100 | ₹200 | NA |
| SC/ST/PH/Female | Exempted | Exempted | NA |
Around 1 million aspirants take the UPSC exam every year out of which 0.2% of candidates pass. This is reflective of the extremely low success rate, making the level of competition very evident.
Suggested Read: Career as an IAS Officer
JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination)
For admission into the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the seven zone IITs alternately administer the extremely competitive engineering entrance exam. The JEE Exam is a highly competitive engineering entrance exam in India.
Eligibility requirements include being among the top 2.5 lakh examinees in the JEE Mains Examination and having taken the Class XII (or equivalent) exam for the first time in 2023 or 2024 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as required subjects. One can take the exam for a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
The application fee is as follows:
- Indian Nationals: ₹3,200
- Female Candidates (all categories): ₹1,600
- SC, ST, and PwD Candidates: ₹1,600
The JEE exam pattern and syllabus keep changing and updating every year. However, you can still can have a look at the JEE Exam Pattern & Syllabus here.
In 2024, 1,80,200 candidates appeared for JEE Advanced, out of which 9,045 qualified. In comparison to the JEE Mains Exam, this results in a success percentage of roughly 5%.
National Eligibility and Entrance Test, or NEET Exam
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the NEET (UG) entrance exam to students wishing to enroll in undergraduate medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) programs at both public and private universities nationwide.
Eligibility
- Candidates must have passed or be appearing for class 12 with physics, chemistry, biology, and English.
- General category students need at least 50% with an application fee of ₹1600, while the rest categories need 40% with a fee of ₹800.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts.
You can read about the NEET Exam Pattern and Syllabus here!
The success rate varies each year, but around 15-20% of candidates qualify for medical seats through NEET. The government is keen on increasing the intake by building more medical colleges across the country.
CAT (Common Admission Test)
For entry into graduate management programs, the Common Admission Test is a computer-based (CBT) exam. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability make up the three sections of the test.
Eligibility
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree of any background from a recognized university.
- Marks in Graduation: 50%
You can also refer to the CAT Exam Pattern & Syllabus here! The application fee for the CAT (Common Admission Test) 2024 is as follows:
- General/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes): ₹2,500
- SC (Scheduled Caste)/ST (Scheduled Tribe): ₹1,250
- PwD (Persons with Disability)/DA (Differently Abled): ₹1,250
Approximately 2.88 lakh candidates took the exam in 2023, while only 2-3% of candidates got into the top IIMs of the country reflective of the nerve-bending competition.
Once the CAT exam is over, what are your plans for the next one? Read the blog What After CAT Exam to know about the next steps.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
In order to get admission into master’s programs and employment in public sector companies, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is an exam administered in India that primarily assesses undergraduate engineering and science disciplines.
Eligibility: Any candidate who has already completed any government-approved degree program in Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Science / Commerce / Arts is eligible to appear in the GATE exam. Candidates can attempt the GATE exam up to three times in consecutive years.
Application Fee
| Regular Period (28th Aug to 26th Sept 2024): | Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates: ₹900 per test paper All other candidates: ₹1800 per test paper |
| Extended Period (27th Sept to 7th Oct 2024): | Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates: ₹1400 per test paper All other candidates: ₹2300 per test paper |
In 2024, 1.29 lakh candidates qualified out of 6,53,292 who appeared. This gives us a success rate of 19.78%.
Do you want to get into IIT without the JEE Exam? Well, GATE is one of the best options for it, then!
NDA (National Defence Academy) Entrance Exam
For entry into the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the NDA, UPSC administers the NDA exam.
Eligibility: The applicant must be taking or have passed a class 12 or equivalent exam in mathematics and physics. The candidates must be unmarried and of Indian nationality, subjects of Nepal, or refugees of Tibetan origin who have permanently settled in India.
The application fee is as follows:
- General/OBC Candidates: ₹100 per test paper
- Female candidates and SC/ST candidates are exempted from the same.
The success rate for the NDA Exam 2024 is approximately 0.1%, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the exam.
Suggested Read: A Career in Indian Army
CA (Chartered Accountant) Exam
The Chartered Accountant (CA) exam is a prestigious professional exam in India, conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It consists of three levels (courses): foundation, intermediate, and final.
Eligibility: –
- Have passed the 10+2 examination from a recognized board
- Register with the ICAI for the CA course
- Complete the required period of practical training
The application fee for the CA exam varies depending on the level:
| Foundation Course | ₹1,100 – ₹1,300 |
| Intermediate Course | ₹1,500 – ₹1,800 |
| Final Course | ₹2,000 – ₹2,500 |
The success rate for the CA exam varies each year, but generally, it’s around 10-20%. You can also pursue CA Courses After 12th grade. Read the blog to know more.
SSC-CGL (Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level)
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam is a prestigious government recruitment exam to select candidates for various Group B and Group C posts in the Indian government.
Eligibility:
- Nationality: Indian citizen
- Age: 18-32 years (varies by post)
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
- Qualifying marks: 50% for UR, 45% for OBC, and 40% for SC/ST
Application Fee:
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹100 |
| SC/ST | NA |
| Female candidates (all categories) | NA |
The overall success rate for SSC CGL is around 0.5-2%. However, with dedicated preparation and strategy, students can improve their chances of success.
Recent Update: SSC CGL Tier 1 Answer Key Out!
UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test)
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a national-level exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine eligibility for:
1. Assistant Professorship in Indian universities and colleges
2. Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for pursuing research in various domains
Eligibility:
- Nationality: Indian citizen
- Age: No upper age limit for Assistant Professor; 31 years for JRF
- Education: Master’s degree with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD); PhD degree holders (eligibility relaxed to 50% marks)
Application Fee
- General/OBC-NCL/EWS: ₹1150
- SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender: ₹325
Taking the NTA UGC NET official website and syllabus and exam pattern into consideration, the overall success rate is 4-6% (moderate to challenging level).
NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduates)
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG is a national-level exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for admission to postgraduate medical programs in India.
Eligibility:
- Hold an MBBS degree from a recognized medical college
- Complete internship
- Register with the Medical Council of India (MCI)
Application Fee
- General and OBC: ₹3500
- SC/ST/PWD/Physically Handicapped: ₹2500
The exam level is moderately difficult, and the overall success rate varies, but it’s estimated to be around 20-30% [no specific data available].
Conclusion
Everything in life comes at a cost. Years of smart planning, dedicated study, and consistent practice can yield the best results in the case of preparing for a competitive exam. The efforts we put into achieving a goal are evidence of how badly we want it. Pick your goal, make a plan, and stick to it. Now you must have got an answer to the question of what is the toughest exam in India.
Each exam is known for its own distinct pattern, strict eligibility criteria, varying success rates, and meticulous preparation processes. Gone are those days, when exams were only used to test knowledge. Today, strategy, perseverance, problem-solving, and critical thinking are highly essential skills! Thus, gear up, and all the best.
FAQs
Gaokao Exam (China), IIT-JEE Advanced (India), UPSC Civil Services Examination (India). These exams require years of dedicated preparation and are considered benchmarks of academic and professional excellence
The choice between the two careers depends on personal interests, career goals, and the value one places on public service versus private sector opportunities. In general, IITians often start with higher salaries compared to IAS officers, but the potential for growth in civil services can be significant, especially at higher administrative levels.
The Gaokao, also known as the National College Entrance Examination, is China’s pivotal educational assessment for high school seniors. Held annually, it determines university placements for millions of students. It is considered the most difficult exam in the world.
Exams like RRB Group D (Railway Recruitment Board Group D) are considered easier due to the syllabus and the level of competition. It focuses mainly on basic mathematics, reasoning, general science, and general awareness. It also becomes less demanding compared to UPSC or JEE Advanced.
Prachi, a student pursuing bachelor’s in English and Philosophy from University of Delhi is a knowledge-driven, hardworking individual. Having interest in content writing, research and still exploring other domains, she has a knack for learning.
After all, what a great site and informative post.
Thank you, Sushant, for sharing a valuable article on the toughest exams in India.