This government exams list puts the main central competitive exams in one place, grouped by who conducts them: SSC, UPSC, banks, railways, defence, police and teaching boards. For each one you will see the minimum qualification, the kind of post it leads to and a link to a detailed page. When students come to me confused by dozens of govt exams, I ask them two things first: what is your highest qualification, and how old are you? Those two answers cut this list down to five or six exams that are right for you.
No single page can be an all government exam list, because every state also runs dozens of its own exams. So this guide covers the central exams that most students write, and points you to state options at the end. Use it to shortlist, then read the detailed page and the official notice for each exam on your list before you fill the form.
Government exams list by qualification
Start here. Find your qualification, then look at the exams in that row.
| Your qualification | Main central government exams | Typical post level |
|---|---|---|
| 10th pass | SSC GD, SSC MTS, RRB Group D (Level 1), Agniveer, India Post GDS (merit, no exam) | Level 1 to Level 3 |
| 10th plus ITI | RRB technician and assistant loco pilot posts, apprenticeships | Level 2 and above |
| 12th pass | SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC (undergraduate), NDA, state police constable | Level 2 to Level 4; NDA leads to officer rank |
| Graduate | SSC CGL, UPSC Civil Services, IBPS PO, SBI PO, clerk exams, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF AC, state PCS | Level 4 to Level 10 |
| Engineering degree or diploma | UPSC ESE, GATE for PSUs, SSC JE, RRB JE | Level 6 to Level 10 |
| Teaching degree | CTET and state TET, UGC NET | Teacher and lecturer posts |
SSC exams
The Staff Selection Commission fills Group B and Group C posts in central ministries, departments and forces. All its exams are computer based. See all SSC exams for a full comparison.
| Exam | Qualification | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL | Graduate | Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Auditor, Assistant Audit Officer and more, Level 4 to Level 8 |
| SSC CHSL | 12th | Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Data Entry Operator |
| SSC MTS | 10th | Multi Tasking Staff and Havaldar |
| SSC GD | 10th | Constable (GD) in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, SSF and Rifleman in Assam Rifles, Level 3 |
| SSC CPO | Graduate | Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs |
| SSC JE | Engineering diploma or degree | Junior Engineer |
| SSC Stenographer | 12th | Stenographer Grade C and D |
SSC CGL, for example, has a Tier 1 with four sections (reasoning, general awareness, quantitative aptitude and English) and a Tier 2 with maths, reasoning, English, general awareness and computer sections, as per the latest notice.
UPSC exams
The Union Public Service Commission conducts exams for Group A and Group B posts. These are the toughest central exams and lead to the highest posts.
- Civil Services: IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A services. Graduate, 21 to 32 years (General).
- Indian Forest Service: shares the civil services prelims, with a separate mains.
- Engineering Services: Group A engineering posts. Engineering degree, 21 to 30 years (General).
- NDA and NA: after 12th, for Army, Navy and Air Force officer training.
- CDS: for graduates who want to become defence officers.
- CAPF Assistant Commandant: officer posts in central armed police forces.
- Combined Medical Services: for MBBS doctors in central health services and railways.
- Indian Economic Service and Indian Statistical Service: for economics and statistics postgraduates.
- EPFO and other posts: filled through recruitment tests and interviews.
Bank exams
Public sector bank jobs come through IBPS and SBI exams. The Reserve Bank and LIC hold their own exams. Read bank jobs for the full picture.
- IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS SO and IBPS RRB: one common process for many public sector and regional rural banks.
- SBI PO: graduate, 21 to 30 years. Three phases: prelims, mains (objective plus descriptive), then psychometric test, group exercise and interview.
- SBI Clerk: junior associate posts in SBI branches.
- RBI Grade B and RBI Assistant: officer and assistant posts at the Reserve Bank.
- LIC AAO: officer posts in the Life Insurance Corporation.
Railway exams
Railway Recruitment Boards publish Centralised Employment Notices (CEN) for posts across zones. See railway jobs for details.
| Exam | Qualification | Posts and level |
|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC (undergraduate) | 12th | Commercial cum Ticket Clerk (Level 3), Accounts Clerk cum Typist, Junior Clerk cum Typist, Trains Clerk (Level 2) |
| RRB NTPC (graduate) | Graduate | Station Master, Goods Train Manager and other posts |
| RRB Group D (Level 1) | 10th or ITI as per notice | Track maintainer, assistant and helper posts |
| RRB ALP and Technician | 10th plus ITI, or diploma | Assistant Loco Pilot and technician grades |
| RRB JE | Engineering diploma or degree | Junior Engineer and related posts |
| RPF | 10th (constable), graduate (SI) | Railway Protection Force |
The undergraduate NTPC notice has two computer based tests, a typing test for typist posts, document verification and a medical exam.
Defence, police and other central exams
- Defence: NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer, plus direct entries in the Navy and Air Force.
- Police: SSC GD, SSC CPO, IB ACIO, Delhi Police constable and state police constable exams.
- Teaching: CTET and state TETs for school teachers, UGC NET for lecturers and research fellowships.
- Others: ISRO and DRDO scientist recruitment, nursing officer exams, and PSU jobs through GATE.
- State exams: each state has a PSC for state PCS and a staff selection board for clerk, patwari and similar posts.
Easy government exams to start with
No govt exam is truly easy, because lakhs apply. But some have a shorter syllabus and more seats. If you are just starting, consider:
- SSC MTS and RRB Group D: 10th level syllabus, very large intake.
- SSC CHSL and RRB NTPC (undergraduate): 12th level maths, reasoning, English and GK.
- Bank clerk exams: a shorter syllabus than officer exams, and many vacancies every year.
Students who are weak in maths sometimes ask about govt exams without maths. Most central exams have some arithmetic, but teaching eligibility tests and some state exams carry less. Build basic maths anyway, because it opens more doors.
Syllabus basics: maths for competitive exams, GK and English
Most SSC, bank and railway exams test the same four areas. If you prepare these well, you can write many exams with one preparation.
| Subject | Main topics |
|---|---|
| Maths (quantitative aptitude) | Percentage, ratio, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, speed, averages, algebra, geometry, data interpretation |
| Reasoning | Series, coding, blood relations, direction, puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism |
| English | Grammar, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, one word substitution, reading comprehension |
| General awareness | History, polity, geography, economy, science, current affairs, computer basics |
For maths for competitive exams, finish the basics like percentage and ratio first, because many questions build on them. For GK questions for competitive exams, read one newspaper daily and revise static GK from class 6 to 10 NCERT books. Hindi medium candidates can take most central exams in Hindi; check the language option in each notice.
How to track upcoming government exams
Exam schedules change every cycle, so do not rely on forwarded messages. To follow upcoming government exams:
- Check the official calendars on ssc.gov.in, upsc.gov.in and your RRB website.
- Watch ibps.in and the SBI careers page for bank notices.
- Read the Employment News published by the Government of India.
- Check your age on the cut-off date with our age limit guide before you apply.
Not sure where to begin? Compare the toughest exams, the highest paying govt jobs and jobs without exam on our other guides.
Questions students ask
What are competitive exams?
Competitive exams are tests where candidates compete for a limited number of seats or jobs, and selection is on rank, not just pass marks. Govt exams by SSC, UPSC, IBPS and RRBs, and entrance exams like JEE and NEET, are all competitive exams.
Which are the main central government exams?
The main ones are SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD, UPSC Civil Services, NDA and CDS, IBPS and SBI bank exams, and RRB NTPC, Group D and JE. Together they fill most central government posts each year.
How do I check the today government exam schedule?
Open the official website of the exam body, such as ssc.gov.in, upsc.gov.in or your RRB website, and look at the exam calendar and admit card notices. Your admit card shows your exact exam date, shift and centre.
What are the easy government exams for beginners?
SSC MTS, RRB Group D, SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC (undergraduate) and bank clerk exams have a shorter syllabus and many posts. They still need a few months of regular practice in maths, reasoning, English and GK.
Which subjects are common in all government exams?
Most exams test quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English and general awareness. Some add computer knowledge, and higher exams like UPSC add essay, ethics and optional subjects.
What is the top 10 government exam list for graduates?
A good list is UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, SBI PO, IBPS PO, RBI Grade B, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF AC, state PCS and SSC CPO. Pick based on your age, interest and the post you want.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination notice
- SSC Constable (GD) notice
- UPSC official website (examinations)
- UPSC Civil Services Examination notice
- UPSC Engineering Services Examination notice
- RRB NTPC Undergraduate CEN
- SBI Probationary Officers advertisement
- India Post GDS Online Engagement notification
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.