Career Trends 2018: List Of Competitive Examinations In India

By Divya

Updated: Monday, July 13, 2026, 0:55 [IST]

Competitive exams are hard, with lakhs of aspirants appearing for a limited number of seats. Numerous competitive exams are conducted in India for professional courses as well as for securing services in the government.

Most of the exams are objective tests based, followed by a personality test, and are conducted in various venues at centers across the country. Here is the list of some of the competitive exams in India:

Defence Examinations:

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the management of armed forces in India. A career in Defence forces is one of the most prestigious and respected positions in the country. The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of India which consist of four professional uniformed services: The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The Union Public Service Commission recruits the Commissioned Officers in the Armed Forces by conducting Competitive Examinations.

List of exams conducted in defence:

Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
Combined Defence Service Examination
I.A.F. Airman Education Instructors Trade Examination
I.A.F. Airman Non-Technical Trade Examination
I.A.F. Airman Technical Trade Examination
Indian Army Soldier Clerks Examination
Indian Army Soldier General Duty (N.E.R.) Examination
Indian Army Soldier Nursing Assistants (M.E.R.) Examination
Indian Army Soldier Technical (M.E.R.) Examination
Indian Navy Artificer Apprentices Examination
Indian Navy Dock Yard Apprentices Examination
Indian Navy Sailors Matric Entry Recruitment Examination
National Defence Academy Examination

UPSC Examinations:

The UPSC (Union Public Services Commission) conducts various exams each year for entry into central government services, combined Medical and Engineering services, Economic service and the Indian Forests services.

This constitutes List of all the civil services and other examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Central Police Force Assistant Commandants Examination
Civil Service Examination
Combined Defence Service Examination
Combined Engineering Service Examination
Combined Medical Service Examination
Geologists Examination
Indian Economic / Statistical Services Examination
Indian Forest Service Examination
National Defence Academy Entrance Examination
Section Officers/ Stenographers Departmental Competitive Examination
Special Class Railway Apprentices Examination

Bank Tests:

There are several exams conducted in Bank exams i.e Public Sector Banks (SBI, PO, IBPS, SBI Clerk, IBPS Clerk) and Regional Rural Banks. The number of vacancies depends on the bank. Here is the list of Bank tests:

Reserve Bank Officers Exam
Bank Clerical Grade Exam
SBI Probationary Officers Exam

List Of Competitive Examinations In India

Railway Examinations:

The Indian Railways is one of the world's largest & biggest employers with 1.4 million people as a workforce. They conduct examinations to fill various posts.

Railway Non-Technical Cadre Examination
Railway Protection Force Sub-Inspectors/Constables Examination
Railway Technical Cadre Examination (RTCE)
Combined Engineering Service Examination
Combined Medical Service Examination
Special Class Railway Apprentices Examination

Research Examinations:

Research examinations are conducted for the recruitment to posts in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the ICAR and to such other posts and services that the President, ICAR, may specify from time to time.

ARS NET (Agricultural Research Service and National Eligibility Test) Examination

SSC Examinations:

The SSC Selection Post Exam is an annual examination which is organized by SSC for the central government to recruit candidates for officer posts. The posts are offered in the various government departments.

Here is the list of exams conducted by SSC:

Combined Graduate Level Tier Examination
Combined Higher Secondary Level (10+2) Examination
Junior Engineer Examination (Civil and Electrical)
Junior Hindi Translator Examination
SAS Apprentices Examination
Stenographers Service Examination
Tax Assistants Examination

UGC/NCTE examinations:

Teacher Eligibility Test (TET):

NCTE conducts exams for those aspiring to become teachers in schools under Government, private, unaided and aided categories.

National Eligibility Test (NET):

NET Is conducted by UGC, it is a national level entrance examination for Post Graduation candidates. NET is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Award of Junior Research Fellowships (JRF) and eligibility for Lectureship in various Indian universities and colleges.

LIC/ GIC examinations:

It is a competitive examination for the recruitment of the Assistant Administrative Officers etc, in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is held once a year, generally in the month of June. Here is the list of exams conducted by LIC/ GIC: