LIST OF GENERAL COMPETITIVE EXAMS IN INDIA

 LIST OF GENERAL COMPETITIVE EXAMS IN INDIA 

Get complete information on Competitive Exams in India after 10th, 12th and Graduation for Government Jobs and Higher Studies. Find how to prepare for upcoming competitive exams, best books and more.

There is competition everywhere in India - be it jobs, schools, or higher education. There is a list of competitive exams that a candidate can appear. Besides, these competitive exams are broken down into categories; competitive exams after 12th, competitive exams after under-graduation, and competitive exams for jobs. There are more than 30 competitive exams for government jobs.

Nevertheless, competitive exams are to test the eligibility of the candidates. The candidates are ranked according to their grades and percentile. The main objective of these competitive exams is to select deserving candidates without any prejudice. Moreover, to find the best career, candidates choose competitive exams for future studies after 12th or after graduation and opt for Government jobs. 

List of Competitive Exams in India

Here is the list of compettive exams conducted in India.

A-Civil Services Examination

B-Indian Economic Service Examination

C-Staff Selection Commission

D-Combined Defence Services Examination

E-National Defence Academy Examination

F-Food Corporation of India Examination

G-IBPS PO Examination

H-State Bank of India - Probationary Officers

I-Joint Entrance Examination

J-NEET

K-GATE 

L-CEED

M-LSAT

N-XAT 

O-CAT

CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

The Civil Services Examination is a national-level competitive examination in India. It is ranked as the top Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service. Besides, it is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). 

The qualified candidates are given various Central and All India Civil Service posts according to their ranks in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), etc.

INDIAN ECONOMIC SERVICE EXAMINATION

It is the top Engineering job in India. Candidates having a bachelor's degree in economics/ statistics can apply for the examination.

IES is a national-level examination and is conducted by the United Public Service Commission (UPSC).

STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION

SSC CGL abbreviated for Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level Examination. Any candidate who has completed their graduation can apply for this examination. 

It is a national-level examination conducted by the Government of India annually. 

COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION

Combined Defence Services (CDS) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Graduates from any field of education are eligible for this examination. 

Besides, the selected candidates will undergo training at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA), and Officers' Trainee Academy (OTA).

NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY EXAMINATION

National Defence Academy (NDA) is conducted for recruiting candidates in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Candidates with Physics/ Chemistry/ Maths as their subjects in their graduation can apply only for this examination.

UPSC conducts the exam. It is held in two stages; one is the written test, and the other is a personal interview. 

FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA EXAMINATION

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) conducts the exam for various posts. It is a national-level exam for various posts under the Government of India. The age limit varies for different groups. 

Additionally, the eligibility criteria also differ for each post. However, few relaxations are given for reserved category candidates. 

IBPS PO EXAMINATION

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Exam for Probationary Officer (IBPS PO) is a self-governing recruitment body. Candidates from all categories can apply for the exam only by holding a graduation degree from a UGC recognized university. 

Besides, the IBPS PO exam is conducted in three stages. 

STATE BANK OF INDIA - PROBATIONARY OFFICERS

SBI PO exam is conducted to select candidates for the post of Probationary Officers. Graduate candidates from the age group of 21 to 30 can apply for the exam.

Besides, the exam is conducted in three stages, preliminary, mains, and personal interview. 

JOINT ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency. It is for admissions to various engineering and architecture courses across India. 

Moreover, the exam is classified into JEE Mains and JEE Advanced. The candidates who qualify for the JEE Main can proceed to apply for JEE Advanced. 

NEET

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted all over India for admissions into various MBBS/BDS Courses. The frequency of the exam is once a year. 

Candidates who have completed their 12th with Biology/ Biotechnology, Physics, Chemistry and English from any recognized board can apply for this exam.

GATE 

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, widely known as GATE, is conducted for admissions into various undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses. It is one of the toughest competitive exams to crack. 

Further, the GATE score is also mandatory to be eligible for the various recruitment processes in many PSUs.

CEED

Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) is conducted to examine the candidate's knowledge about designing. It is arranged by IIT Bombay annually. 

Furthermore, candidates who have secured a graduate degree in BE/ B.Tech/ B.Arch can apply for this exam. The qualified candidates can enrol for admission to the Master of Design (M.Des) and PhD programs for the participating colleges. 

LSAT

The Law School Admission Council conducts Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The exam is arranged for admission into various UG and PG courses offered at more than 80 law colleges in India.

The conducting body sets the eligibility criteria for admission. 

XAT

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is arranged for candidates for admission into management courses. XLRI (Xavier Labour Relations Institute) is the conducting authority. 

Besides, the eligibility criteria are set up by the conduct committee. 

CAT

Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by the Indian Institute Of Management for admissions in top B-schools, including the IIMs. It is a national-level examination conducted annually. 

The candidates must be a graduate from any recognized university to apply for the examination.

Types of Competitive Exams:-

I-Competitive Exams after 12th

II-Competitive Exams after Undergraduation

III-Competitive Exams for Government Jobs

IV-Competitive Exams After 12th

The big question after 12th is whether the candidate should pursue higher studies or look towards a more professional future in the Government sector. There are several roles that candidates can apply for which do not require a bachelor's degree. We've listed them below for your convenience.

Stream List of Exams:-

Science Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)

Engineering 

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main)

JEE Advanced

Birla Institute of Technology & Science Admission Test (BITSAT)

COMEDK UGET

IPU CET (B.Tech)

MU OET(B.Tech)

VITEEE

AMUEEE (B.Tech)

UPSC NDA with PCM (MPC)

A-Law 

1-Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)

2-All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)

B-Medical 

1-National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)

2-AIIMS MBBS

3-JIPMER MBBS

C-Defense Service 

1-Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET)

2-Indian Navy B.Tech Entry Scheme

3-Indian Army Technical Entry Scheme

4-National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination

D-Social Science 

1-Banaras Hindu University Entrance (BHU UET)

2-ITT Madras Humanities and Social Science Entrance Examination

3-TISS Bachelors Admission Test (TISSNET)

E-Fashion & Design 

1-National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

2-National Institute of Design Admissions (NID Exam)

3-Symbiosis Institue of Design Exam (SEED)

4-Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)

5-National Institute of Fashion Design

II-Competitive Exams After Under-Graduation:-

After Under-graduation, there is a lot more pressure on candidates to choose the right exam and head in the right direction. Our list of exams below are detailed and help you gain more clarity on the respective examination. The table below will give you details on how to apply, the best methods to use for preparation, and a detailed list of the best books to refer to for each examination.

List of Exams- Conducting Authority

1-CAT Indian Institute of Management (IIM)

2-GATE Indian Institute of Science/ Indian Institutes of Technology

3-GRE Educational Testing Service (ETS)

4-GMAT Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

5-XAT Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI)

6-CLAT PG National Law University

7-NEET PG National Testing Agency (NTA)

KMAT KUFOS

8-KIITEE Management Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

9-JIPMER PG Medical Entrance Exam 10-Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research

11-IIFT Exam The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

12-NMAT Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

13-CEED IIT- Bombay

14-CMAT National Testing Agency (NTA)

15-LSAT The Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

III-Competitive Exams After Graduation for Jobs

Most of the students are going for a Government job and preparing hard for competitive exams. The reason is the better career opportunities that can lead to a better, more stable lifestyle. Additionally, with the rise in competition, the exam gets harder, more strict, and trickier. Luckily for you, we have a detailed list of competitive exams in India after graduation for jobs and how to tackle them, all listed below.

Name of competitive Exam -Conducting Authority

1-Civil Services Exam Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

2-SSC CGL Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

3-SBI PO State Bank of India

4-IBPS PO Institute of Banking Personnel Selection

5-SSC CHSL Staff Selection Commission (SSC

6-UPSC NDA Union Public Service Commission

7-SBI Clerk State Bank of India

8-IBPS Clerk Institute of Banking Personnel Selection

9-UPSC CDS Union Public Service Commission

10-IBPS RRB Institute of Banking Personnel Selection

11-RBI Assistant Reserve Bank of India

12-SBI PO State Bank of India

13-IBPS SO Institute of Banking Personnel Selection

14-RBI Grade B officer Reserve Bank of India

15-SSC GD Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

16-SSC Stenographer Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

17-CTET Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

18-SSC CPO  Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

19-SSC JE Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

20-SSC JHT Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

21-SSC MTS Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

22-SSC Scientific Assistant Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

23-RRB ALP Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRB)

24-RRB JE Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRB)

25-RRB NTPC Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRB)

26-RRB Group D Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRB)

27-DRDO Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

28-ISRO Recruitment ISRO Centralized Recruitment Board

29-ESIC Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

30-FCI Recruitment Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

31-LIC AAO Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

32-LIC ADO Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)

How to Prepare for Competitive Exams?

Preparation for a competitive exam is arduous. Preparing for essay type and long answers can drain out a candidate. Similarly, most of the competitive exams these days are based on the multiple-choice question pattern. There is also a negative marking for every wrong answer. Hence, candidates need to be aware of these facts well before the examination.

Whether appearing for the engineering entrance exam, medical entrance exam, MBA entrance exam, CA or CS exam, Bank or PSU recruitment exam, preparation needs to be adequately planned. 

To every candidate preparing for competitive exams, here are a few steps that can help clear it with flying colours:

1. Goal Setting: One needs to set a goal and focus all the energy on the achievement of the goal. While setting goals, one needs to consider his ability, availability, and resources. A clear set of goals in advance helps in saving time, which is most important for a candidate. A good strategy would always bring you closer to your goal.

2. Competition Planning: Alongside studying for the exam, one needs to keep an eye on other things also. Analysis of the below-mentioned aspects is critical before the exam preparation:

Deadline for the application submission

Minimum eligibility criteria

The course must have seats available

Percentage score required

Previous year cutoff marks

Age barriers for application

3. Time Management: Managing your time efficiently is the key to success. Only people who make proper use of these 24 hours with the right planning achieve their goals. Preparing a timetable is a routine that has helped several students, toppers, and others. The student should distribute time to each section, and once you have covered all the topics, more time should be allotted to subjects in which you are weak.

4. Mock Tests: Being prepared and ready with the exam format is an advantage. Mock tests aim at providing the candidate with an idea about the exam. Their preparation is analyzed, and it becomes easier to solve problems in the exam. But what is difficult is to answer all of them in limited time duration. For that, students should take sample papers and try to solve them in a given period, which will enhance their performance in the real exam scenario.

5. Clarity On The Topic: Basic thing in a competitive exam is to complete in a given time frame, and the candidate needs to complete their exam in slightly restricted and less time. To solve these questions in relatively less time, one needs to have clarity of fundamentals related to mathematics for faster calculation.

6. Examination Day: Weeks before the exam, make sure you revise all the topics from the past two years for which you are preparing. Keep your cool before and during the exam, and attempt the questions calmly. Double-check your hall ticket and stationery you need to carry. Remember, if you did your best during the last 1.5 - 2 years, you need not fear anything. It is only your effort that would determine your result and leave the rest to your luck.

Competition is rising in every functional field these days. Though opportunities are growing, it is not enough for the growing population, exceptionally skilled individuals. They are hence giving rise to the competitive world. Competition has much to offer in education. There is a need for specific criteria to select candidates for various courses where admissions are limited and students applying are more. Therefore, only with proper preparation, any competitive exam in India can be cracked.