Top 10 Toughest Exams in India: Exams in India might be descriptive, multiple-choice, or interview-based. In order to be eligible for the toughest exam in India, candidates must possess a strong study schedule, an achievable exam plan, persistence, and a desire to pass the examination.
In this article, we will be giving information about the top 10 toughest exams in India. The UPSC CSE or IAS Exam is considered the most difficult exam in India. Less than 1 per cent of candidates who appear for the exam qualify.
Achieving success in life requires us to overcome obstacles and remain committed to our objectives. This is also true for certain competitive careers, where a high score on the entrance exam determines our eligibility or ability for a particular field. Competitive exams are designed to assess candidates' abilities.
Several tough examinations in India lead to different career paths. Major colleges, universities, and business schools use these tests to identify the top applicants. By examining their competitive tests, they pursue the candidate who will be an ideal fit for a professional role. Here is a list of top 10 toughest exams in India to crack in 2024.
List Of Top 10 Toughest Exams In India To Crack In 2024 Rank Wise
| SN | Exam Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) |
| 2 | IIT JEE (Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Entrance Examination) |
| 3 | NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) |
| 4 | NDA (National Defence Academy) |
| 5 | Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam |
| 6 | UGC-NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test) |
| 7 | CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) |
| 8 | CAT (Common Admission Test) |
| 9 | GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) |
| 10 | Indian Engineering Services (IES) |
Top 10 Toughest Exams in India
UPSC Civil Services Exam
The most competitive and challenging exam in India is the UPSC Exam, which is held in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview Round. The exam prepares candidates for entry-level positions in the Central Government's Group A and B services, including the IRS, IPS, IAS, and many more. It is regarded as the toughest exam in the country.
After the UPSC notification, about 10–12 lakh candidates fill out the online form each year; only a handful of people are chosen for the final list. The UPSC test selection process is quite strict.
Full form | Union Public Service Commission Civil Service Examination |
Exam Frequency | Yearly |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Medium of exam | English and Hindi |
Exam Duration | Preliminary: 2 Hours and Mains: 3 Hours |
Type of questions | Prelims: Objective type questions; Mains: Descriptive type questions |
Official website | https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
IIT JEE
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the IIT JEE exams, which are administered at the national level. The exam is divided into two parts: JEE Mains and JEE Advanced. The entrance test provides admissions to a variety of government and private colleges.
Full form | Joint Entrance Examination |
Conducted By | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Official Website | jeemain.nta.nic.in |
Exam Type | Undergraduate |
Exam duration | 3 hours |
Exam Level | All India Level |
Total marks | 300 |
NEET
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the National Eligibility Admission Test (NEET). It is the toughest admission exam in India for students wishing to pursue BDS and MBBS programs at dental and medical academies in India.
Conducted By | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Full form | National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test |
Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
Exam Type | Under Graduate |
Eligibility | 12th or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology. |
Exam Level | All India Level |
NDA
The National Defense Academy (NDA), the Joint Services College of the Indian Armed Forces, is where young trainees from the Army, Navy, and Air Force prepare together. There are a lot of candidates who take this toughest exam, which is highly competitive.
Conducted By | UPSC |
Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Exam Type | Under Graduate |
Eligibility | All India Level |
Exam Level | Offline |
UGC NET
The UGC NET exam is dedicated to postgraduate students and is the toughest exam in India. Lakhs of candidates took this exam and a few shortlists candidates for Assistant Professor positions at the school and university levels, as well as chances for Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs).
Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Exam Name | UGC NET December 2023 |
Full-Form | University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test |
Exam Level | National |
Exam Frequency | Twice a year |
Mode of Exam | Online - CBT (Computer-Based Test) |
Exam Duration | 180 minutes |
Language/Medium of Exam | English and Hindi |
No. of Subjects | 83 subjects |
Exam Purpose | Determine the eligibility of candidates for posts of only Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges |
Official Website | www.ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
CAT (Common Admission Test)
The most well-known MBA entrance exam in India for admission to the top IIMs is the CAT exam, which is a computer-based entrance exam for MBA programs offered by IIMs and other prestigious MBA colleges.
CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
Exam Level | National |
Exam Frequency | Once a year |
CAT Exam Fees | INR 2,400 (General category) and INR 1,200 (Reserved category) |
Number of Test Takers | 3.30 lakh (in 2023) |
CAT exam mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
CAT exam website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
Exam helpdesk no. | 1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free) |
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is administered at the national level for both UG and PG courses, is organised by the Consortium of NLUs and has its headquarters at NLSIU Bangalore.
Name of Examination | Common Law Admission Test |
Popularly known as | CLAT |
Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities |
Level | National level |
Purpose | Admission to 5-year integrated LLB and LLM programmes Recruitment in various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) |
Colleges | 24 national law universities + over 60 affiliated law schools |
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
The GATE exam, which is the toughest exam in India, is jointly administered by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, and Roorkee. The exam is a national-level engineering entrance exam for admission to Master's Programs and recruitment at PSUs. The GATE score is valid for three years from the results announcement date.
Examination Name | Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering |
Commonly Known As | GATE |
GATE 2024 Organising Institute | IISc Bangalore |
GATE Official website | gate2024.iisc.ac.in |
Administered By | Jointly by IISc Bangalore and Seven IITs |
Purpose of Examination | Qualifying Examination for M.E./ M.Tech/ Ph.D admissions and PSU Recruitment |
Application Mode | Online |
Mode of Examination | Computer-Based Mode |
Examination Duration | 180 Minutes (3 Hours) |
Frequency of Examination | Annual |
Number of GATE Papers | 30 |
Validity of GATE Score/Grade | 3 Years |
Indian Engineering Services (IES)
The UPSC administers the Indian Engineering Services (IES) examination, which consists of three phases: a General Aptitude Test, an Objective Technical Paper, a Technical Paper, and an Interview. One of the toughest exams in India, the IES offers civil services posts for the mechanical and management branches of the Government of India. Candidates who pass the exam can expect to work in highly paid-positions.
