Comprehensive Competitive Exam List Of Indian Government Exams
Are you planning to take competitive exam but unsure which exam to take and what benefits do you get like post, pay, service, and others. Are you a confused like I used to be about Indian exams system because of how many they are? Don’t worry rest easy because after reading the article, you will understand the most of it.
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission)
UPSC includes Civil Services Prelims, NDA/NA, CDS, CAPF AC, Engineering Services Prelims, Geo-Scientist Prelims, IES/ISS screening, and other UPSC objective tests. The syllabus usually blends current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, science, reasoning, and subject-specific engineering / science content depending on the exam.
UPSC’s Civil Services Prelims has two 200-mark objective papers, with GS Paper II qualifying at 33% and 1/3 negative marking; NDA/NA, CDS, CAPF, and Engineering Services notices also use objective papers with negative marking.
The best official paper bank is UPSC’s own Previous Question Papers page, plus the Exam List page where older papers are linked by exam and year.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (m = marks) | Stages (Exam Pattern) | Post(s) & Service (Group) | Pay Scale (approx.) | Syllabus / Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Services (IAS/IPS etc.) | Prelims: Objective (200m); Mains: Written (1750m); Interview (275m) | 3: (1) Prelims (2 papers objective);<br>(2) Mains (9 papers written);<br>(3) Interview | All India Services and Central Services (Group A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+ allowances) starting | GS Paper I: History, Polity, Economy, Geography, Environment, Science; CSAT (Paper II): Aptitude & reasoning |
| Indian Forest Service (IFS) (via CSE) | Same as Civil Services | 3: Prelims, Mains, Interview | Indian Forest Service officers (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | Same GS subjects as Civil Services + Forestry Optional |
| Engineering Services (ESE) | Prelims: Objective (200m); Mains: Objective (600m); Personality Test | 3: Prelims; Mains; Interview | Group A engineers (IRSE, IRSEE, etc.) | Level 11 (₹67,700+) | Mathematics, General Studies, and Engineering discipline papers |
| National Defence Academy (NDA) | 2 Papers Objective (Math + GAT, total 900m) | 1: Single exam (off-line); SSB interview** | Commissioned Officer (Army/Navy/Air) (A) | Cadet-level stipends (pre-commission) | Mathematics (10+2 level); General Ability (English, GK, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography) |
| Combined Defence Services (CDS) | 3 Papers Objective (English, GK, Mathematics; 300m each) | 1: Written (off-line); SSB interview | Commissioned Officer (Army/Navy/Air) (A) | Commission pay ~₹56,100 onwards (Lieutenant) | English, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics |
| Central Armed Police Forces (ACs) | Prelim: Objective (Paper I) + Interview; Mains: Written (GS + Essay + Comprehension) | 2: (1) Written (Prelim objective + Mains descriptive);<br>(2) Interview | Asst. Commandant in CAPFs (BSF, CRPF, etc.) (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | GS & Intelligence (Paper I); GS + Essay (Paper II); plus comprehension |
| CISF Assistant Commandant (Exe.) | Single exam: Objective (OMR) | 1: Written test + Interview | Asst. Commandant (CISF) (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | English language, Current Affairs, General Science, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning |
| Combined Medical Services (CMS) | Prelim: 2 Papers Objective; Mains: 2 Papers Objective (Descriptive-type interpretation) + Interview | 3: Prelims; Mains; Interview | Medical Officers in various services (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | Prelims: General Medicine & Surgery (MCQs); Mains: same subjects (descriptive) |
| Combined Geo-Scientist (Prelim) | Prelim: 2 Papers Objective (GS + Geology/Chem/Physics) | 2: (1) Prelim; (2) Mains (Conventional) | Scientist B (Geological Survey of India) (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | GS (Paper I); Paper II: Geology/Chemistry/Physics (subject-related) |
| Indian Economic & Statistical Services | Prelim: 2 Papers Objective; Mains: 4 Papers Written; Interview | 3: Prelims; Mains; Interview | Economists/Statisticians (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | Prelim: GS I & GS II; Mains: Economics, Statistics, Mathematics & English |
| Combined Section Officers (LDCE) | Paper I & II: Objective (OMR) | 1: Written test (two objective papers) | Section Officers (Css, etc.) (B/C) | Level 7–8 (₹44,900 approx.) | Paper I: General Intelligence & English; Paper II: CS & Finance, General Studies |
| Stenographers (Grp B & C) | 1: Skill Test (shorthand/typing) | 1: Computer-Based Test + shorthand/typing test | Stenographer Gr B/C | Level 4–6 (₹25,500+) | English language (Basic skills); Computer (for some posts) |
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SSC (Staff Selection Commission)
The big SSC set is CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD Constable, CPO, Stenographer, JE, JSA, ASO, and similar CBT recruitments. The syllabus is usually built around reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English, general awareness, and sometimes computer knowledge, typing, or post-specific modules.
The marking scheme varies by exam: CGL/CHSL use negative marking, MTS has no negative in Session I and 1-mark negative in Session II, GD has 0.25 negative with 80 objective questions, Stenographer/CPO/JSA/ASO/JE also have exam-specific objective CBT patterns and penalties.
SSC’s site itself exposes Previous Year Question Paper entries on exam pages, along with answer keys and public disclosure pages, so it is one of the better official sources for older papers.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question, m = marks) | Stages (Exam Pattern) | Post(s) (Group) | Pay Scale (approx.) | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGL (Combined Graduate Level) | Tier-I: Objective (100Q,200m); Tier-II: Written (Objective/Descriptive) | 2: Tier I (CBT objective); Tier II (3 papers, various) | Clerical/Accounts/Analyst roles (Group B/C) | Level 6-7 (₹35,400+) | Tier I: Quantitative Aptitude, English, Reasoning, General Awareness |
| CHSL (10+2 level) | Tier-I: Objective (100Q,200m); Tier-II: Descriptive (50m) | 2: Tier I (CBT); Tier II (Essay/Letter) | LDC/JSA, DEO (Grp B/C) | Level 4 (₹25,500+) | Tier I: Quant, Reasoning, English, GA |
| GD Constable (SSC GD) | CBT: Objective (80Q,80m) | 1: Written (CBT) + PET/PST | Constables in CAPFs (CISF/BSF etc.) (C) | Level 3 (₹21,700+) | Elementary Math, GK, English, Reasoning |
| JE (Junior Engineer) | Tier-I: Objective (100Q,200m); Tier-II: Objective (150Q,450m) | 2: CBT Tier I; CBT Tier II | Junior Engineers (Railways/CPWD) (C) | Level 6 (₹35,400+) | Paper I: Gen Int, Eng, GA, Math; Paper II: Discipline (Civil/Elec/Mech) |
| CPO (SI in CAPF & ASI in CISF) | Paper I: Objective (200Q,200m); Paper II: Objective (200Q,200m) | 2: Paper I (CBT); Paper II (English Comprehension) | Sub-Inspectors in CAPFs (CISF etc.) (B) | Level 6 (₹35,400+) | Paper I: Reasoning, GA, Quant; Paper II: English language comprehension |
| Stenographer (Gr B/C) | Tier-I: Objective (200Q,200m); Tier-II: Skill test | 2: CBT; Stenography/Typing Test | Stenographers (Gr B/C) | Level 4–6 (₹25,500+) | Reasoning, Math, English, GK |
| Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) | 1: Objective (100Q,150m) | 1: Written (CBT) | MTS (Group C) | Level 1 (₹18,000+) | Numerical Ability, Reasoning, GK, English |
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Banking & Insurance
The core set here is SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, LIC AAO, and NABARD Grade A / Development Assistant. SBI PO has a 100-mark prelim and a 200-mark objective main plus a 50-mark descriptive test; SBI Junior Associate has a 100-mark prelim and a 200-mark main, with final merit based on the main exam.
LIC AAO prelim has no negative marking, and the main is 300 objective marks plus a 25-mark descriptive test, again with no negative. IBPS and RRB notifications/handouts show the same broad online prelim + main objective structure with negative marking in objective tests; NABARD’s official notices similarly split the exam into phases and describe the syllabus year by year.
The important point is that these exams are heavily centered on reasoning, quant, English, data interpretation, banking awareness, finance/economy, and descriptive English in mains.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question, m = marks) | Stages | Post(s) (Organisation) | Pay Scale (approx.) | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBI PO (Probationary Officer) | Prelims: Obj (100Q,100m); Mains: Obj (200Q,200m) + Descriptive (2 Q) | 2: Prelim (CBT); Mains (CBT+Descriptive) + Interview | Probationary Officers (SBI) (Scale I Officer, A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | Prelim: English, Quantitative, Reasoning; Mains adds GA/Banking, DI, advanced reasoning, descriptive English |
| SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) | Prelims: Obj (100Q,100m); Mains: Obj (190Q,190m) + Descriptive (50m) | 2: Prelim; Mains + Language test | Junior Associates (SBI) (Clerk, B) | Level 4 (₹25,500+) | Similar to SBI PO (less emphasis on Banking Awareness) |
| IBPS PO / Clerk | Prelim: Obj (100Q); Mains: Obj + Descriptive | 2: Prelim; Mains (+ Interview for PO) | Probationary Officers / Clerks (IBPS banks) | Level 10 (PO); Level 4 (Clerk) | Subjects: English, Reasoning, Quant, GA (Banking) |
| IBPS RRB Officer / Clerk | Prelim + Mains (Objective) | 2: Prelim; Mains (+ Interview for Officer) | Officers (RRB) / Clerks in Regional Rural Banks | Level 6-7 (Officer); Level 4 (Clerk) | English, Reasoning, Quant, GA, Computer (Officer scale-II/III) |
| RBI Grade B Officer (DR) | Phase I: Obj (200Q); Phase II: Obj + Descriptive + Interview | 3: Phase I; Phase II; Interview | Managers in RBI (Grade B Officer) (A) | Level 11 (₹67,700+) | Phase I: Economics, Finance, English, Quant; Phase II: Economics/Banking, Finance+Mgmt, English (Essay) |
| NABARD Grade A (Officer) | Prelim: Objective; Mains: Objective + Descriptive | 3: Prelim; Mains; Interview | Asst. Managers (NABARD) (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | Quant, Reasoning, English, GA (Banking), Economic & Social Issues |
| LIC AAO (Asst. Administrative Officer) | Prelim: Obj (200m); Mains: Obj (300m) + Descriptive (60m) | 2: Prelim; Mains + Interview | AAO (LIC) (A) | Level 7 (₹44,900+) | Quant, Reasoning, English, GA (insurance/risk + current affairs) |
| Insurance PSU (NICL AO, UIIC AO, etc.) | Prelim: Obj; Mains: Obj + Interview | 2: Prelim; Mains (+ Interview for AO) | Assistants / Administrative Officers (Insurance) (B/A) | Level 7-8 (₹44,900+) | Quant, Reasoning, English, GA (Insurance & Economy) |
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Railways Exam
RRB NTPC, ALP, Technician, JE, Paramedical, and similar Centralised Employment Notices are another huge government job source. The official notices show CBT syllabi built around reasoning, math, general awareness, and post-specific technical subjects, and the standard CBT penalty is 1/3 mark for each wrong answer. RRB regional sites now publish CBT question-paper / responses / keys / objection-tracker notices, which is the closest official route to rebuilding recent papers.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question, m = marks) | Stages | Post(s) / Organisation | Pay Scale (approx.) | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC (Graduate Level) | CBT-1: Objective (100Q,100m); CBT-2: Objective (120Q,120m) | 2: CBT-1; CBT-2; (then Typing/Interview for some posts) | Non-Technical Popular Categories (Clerk, Clerk cum Typist, Goods Guard, etc.) (B/C) | Level 5-6 (₹29,200+) | Maths, Reasoning, General Awareness (Indian history, Polity, Geography, Economy, Environment, Science) |
| RRB ALP & Technician | CBT-1: Obj (100Q,100m); CBT-2: Obj (150Q,150m); Technician Test; Final | Multi-stage (CBT1; CBT2; Computer-based Aptitude; Document) | Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians (B/C) | Level 2-3 (₹19,900+) | Engineering trade subjects (Tech posts) + Maths, Reasoning, GA for ALP |
| RRB JE (Junior Engineer) | CBT-1: Obj (100Q); CBT-2: Obj (150Q) | 2: CBT-1; CBT-2 | JE (Civil/Electrical/Mech) (B) | Level 6 (₹35,400+) | Maths, General Intelligence, Basics of relevant Engineering discipline |
| RRB Paramedical Staff | CBT: Objective | 1: CBT | Paramedical Staff (Nursing, Lab Technician) (B) | Level 4 (₹25,500+) | Objective: Mathematics, General Awareness, General Science, English, Related Trade |
| RRB Group D (NTPC Grade D) | CBT: Objective | 1: CBT; Physical Test | Track Maintainance, Helpers, etc. (C) | Level 2 (₹19,900+) | General Intelligence, Reasoning, Math, General Science, Social Science |
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NTA / Entrance Exams
The main NTA families have JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET UG, UGC NET, and CTET.
- JEE Main has an official syllabus page and archive/public-notice pages with answer keys and recorded responses;
- NEET UG has the updated 2026 syllabus issued by the National Medical Commission and official final answer-key releases;
- CUET UG has official syllabus and archive pages;
- UGC NET’s bulletin says the test is 3 hours, all questions are compulsory, and Paper II is based on the chosen subject;
- CTET has a strong official archive of older question papers and information bulletins going back several cycles.
For paper sourcing, NTA is good on notices, answer keys, and response sheets, while CTET is especially good on full archived papers.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written | Stages | Post(s) / Outcome | Eligibility / Group | Pay Scale / Remarks | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main (Paper-1) | MCQs (Physics, Chemistry, Maths) | 1: Offline (CBT) | Admission to IIT/NIT/IIIT/Other Engg colleges | Undergraduate (Engineering) | N/A (student exam) | PCM curriculum (12th-level: algebra, calculus, mechanics, etc.) |
| NEET UG | MCQs (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 1: Offline (Paper) | Admission to MBBS/BDS/Ayush colleges | Undergraduate (Medicine) | N/A (student exam) | PCB curriculum (11th-12th NCERT; Biology highest weight) |
| CUET UG (Central Universities) | MCQs (Language, Domain, General) | 1: Online (CBT) | Admission to Central Universities | UG Entrance | N/A | Domain-specific + English + GK/Reasoning |
| UGC NET (JRF/Assistant Prof) | MCQs (2 papers) | 1: Offline (CBT) | Eligibility for Lectureship/JRF in Universities | Lectureships (State) (Group A/B) | Pay Band Level 10 (Asst Prof) | Paper I: Teaching Aptitude, Reasoning, Research<br>Paper II: Subject chosen by candidate (Science, Humanities, etc.) |
| CSIR NET (JRF) | MCQs (General Aptitude + Subject) | 1: Offline | JRF in CSIR labs / Lecturership | Research (Group A) | N/A (award) | Paper I: Aptitude; Paper II: selected subject (Sciences) |
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Law Entrance
CLAT: UG CLAT has 120 MCQs in 2 hours, 1 mark each, and 0.25 negative for wrong answers; the syllabus is English, Current Affairs/GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. The exam is for national level top Law university admission.
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question, m = marks) | Stages | Outcome (Course / Service) | Eligibility / Group | Pay Scale / Remarks | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT UG | MCQs (120Q,120m) | 1: Offline; No interview | Admission to 5-year LLB (NLUs) | Law colleges | N/A | English Comprehension, Current Affairs/GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
| CLAT PG | MCQs (150Q,150m) | 1: Offline | Admission to LLM (NLUs) | Law colleges | N/A | Constitutional Law, International Law, Jurisprudence, IPR, Corporate Law, etc. |
| AILET (NLU Delhi) | MCQs + Legal Writing | 1: Written (LSAT-like + essay) | Admission to NLU Delhi (UG/PG) | Law colleges | N/A | Similar to CLAT + English + GK |
| LSAT India | MCQs (60Q) | 1: Online | Admissions (various private law colleges) | Law colleges | N/A | Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension |
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Teaching Exams
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question) | Stages | Post / Outcome | Eligibility / Group | Pay Scale / Remarks | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTET (Central TET) | MCQs (150Q) | 1: Offline (Paper I/II) | Eligibility to teach (primary/upper primary) | Teachers (Group B/C) | ₹29,200 (Level 5, TGT) | Paper I: Child Dev.&Pedagogy, Language I, Language II, Maths, EVS |
| State TETs (e.g. UPTET, TET) | MCQs (varies) | 1: Written | State school teaching eligibility | Teachers (B/C) | ~₹29,200 (TGT level) | Similar to CTET per state syllabus |
| KVS/TGT/PGT (Kendriya Vidyalaya) | Objective & Descriptive | 2: Written (CBT) + Interview | Teachers (TGT/PGT) (Central Schools) | Teachers (B/C) | Level 6-7 (₹35,400+) | Specific to subject (English, Math, etc.), plus Pedagogy |
| UGC NET (various subjects) | See NTA above | See NTA above | Lecturership/JRF (Universities) | Academics | Level 10 (Asst Prof) | See NTA above |
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Defense & Police
| Exam Name | Objective / Written (Q = question) | Stages | Post(s) / Outcome | Group / Rank | Pay Scale (approx.) | Subjects / Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT (Air Force Common) | MCQs (100Q) | 1: Online CBT + Interview (AFCAT Y+SSB) | Short Service Commission in IAF (Flying/Ground) | Officers (A) | Level 10 (₹56,100+) | English, Reasoning, Numerical Ability, General Awareness (current affairs, science) |
| NCC Special Entry (Wing Cdr) | MCQs (English, GK, Service matters) + Interview | 1: Written + Interview | Permanent Commission (IAF) | Wing Commander (A) | Level 12 (₹78,800+) | Air Force knowledge, reasoning, English, GK |
| CAPF (AC/Exe) (done above) | (See UPSC/CAPF above) | (See UPSC above) | (See UPSC above) | (See UPSC above) | (See UPSC above) | (See UPSC above) |
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