Competitive Exams in India 2025 — India conducts a large spectrum of competitive examinations for school students, college aspirants, graduates, and job seekers. These exams determine eligibility for scholarships, admission to top institutes, and selection for high-responsibility government roles. This guide presents a clean, syllabus-aligned, and practical overview of the major exams—School-Level, Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and Government Recruitment—with Bootstrap-styled tables, accurate summaries, and ready-to-use preparation frameworks.
Quick Internal Resources
- NCERTBooks.net — Home
- NCERT Books (All Classes)
- NCERT Solutions (All Classes)
- NCERT Books — Class 12
- NCERT Books — Class 11
For official textbook PDFs and notices, visit the NCERT official website.
Competitive Exams in India: Complete 2025 Guide
The Indian competitive exam ecosystem can be grouped by stage and outcome. School-stage assessments nurture early talent; UG entrances decide access to professional degrees; PG entrances open pathways to advanced study and research; recruitment tests select for crucial roles in public services, railways, banking, and state cadres.
| Segment | Primary Audience | Purpose | Indicative Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| School-Level / Foundation | Classes 6–12 (varies by exam) | Scholarships, talent identification, subject enrichment | NMMS, Olympiads (Math/Science/English/Computing), NTSE (historic) |
| Undergraduate (UG) | Class 12 pass/appearing | Admissions to Engineering, Medical, Law, Architecture, Multidisciplinary programs | JEE Main/Advanced, NEET-UG, CUET-UG, CLAT (UG), NATA |
| Postgraduate (PG) | Graduates / final-year students | Masters/Doctoral admissions; academic eligibility; PSU shortlisting | GATE, CAT, UGC NET (incl. JRF), CUET-PG, IIT-JAM |
| Government Recruitment | 12th pass / Graduates (as notified) | Selection to central/state services, defence, railways, banking | UPSC CSE, SSC (CGL/CHSL/CPO/JE), RRB NTPC/JE/Group D, IBPS/SBI, State PSCs |
School-Level Competitive Exams
School-stage exams encourage structured thinking, early problem-solving, and healthy competition. They often feature objective formats, reward clarity over rote memorization, and complement regular curricula. Below are representative school-level exams and their core features.
| Exam | Conducting Body | Typical Eligibility | What It Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympiads (Math, Science, English, Computing, etc.) | Recognized national bodies/organizations (via schools) | Classes 1–12 (levels vary) | Conceptual mastery, logical reasoning, application beyond the textbook |
| NMMS (National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship) | Education departments (central/state implementation) | Class 8; economic criteria apply | MAT (aptitude), SAT (scholastic); scholarship support through higher classes |
| NTSE (historic reference) | NCERT (national stage) with state screening | Class 10 (when notified) | Mental ability and scholastic aptitude; benchmark scholarship test |
How to Use School Exams Smartly
- NCERT-first approach: For Classes 6–10, build from textbooks, then progress to higher-order problems. Start with NCERT Books and cross-verify with NCERT Solutions.
- Short, timed drills: 20–30 minute sets develop speed and accuracy without fatigue.
- Error logs: Track misreads, unit slips, and diagram mistakes; re-attempt those patterns within 48 hours.
- Spiral revision: Revisit older chapters weekly; quick formula/definition runs keep memory fresh.
Undergraduate (UG) Entrance Exams
UG entrances decide admission to engineering, medical, law, architecture, and multi-disciplinary programs. They predominantly assess the Class 11–12 syllabus, calibrated for speed, precision, and multi-topic switching. Below is a consolidated table of major UG exams with evergreen essentials.
| Exam | Conducting Body | Eligibility (Typical) | Key Subjects / Papers |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | National Testing Agency (NTA) | Class 12 with Mathematics & Physics (and a third subject as notified) | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (CBT; MCQ + numerical-value questions) |
| JEE Advanced | IITs (under Joint Admission Board) | Top JEE Main qualifiers; Class 12 with PCM | Advanced-level Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics across two papers |
| NEET-UG | NTA | Class 12 with PCB/Biotech; age criteria as notified | Biology (Botany/Zoology), Chemistry, Physics |
| CUET-UG | NTA | Class 12; stream depends on chosen course/university | Language paper(s), domain subject(s), and a general test (as applicable) |
| CLAT (UG) | Consortium of National Law Universities | Class 12 with minimum marks as notified | English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
| NATA | Council of Architecture (CoA) | Class 12 with Mathematics (or 10+3 Diploma with Math) | Math, aptitude/reasoning, visual-spatial understanding |
UG Preparation Framework
- Master NCERTs: Finish line-by-line for Class 11–12; then extend to standard problem books.
- Test progression: Topic tests → cumulative tests → full mocks (weekly) with post-test analysis.
- Speed + accuracy: Numerical questions have no choices—practice precise arithmetic and units.
- Error ledger: Classify each error (concept gap, misread, time pressure) and re-attempt within 48 hours.
Resource tip: Build your subject foundation from NCERT Books — Class 11 and NCERT Books — Class 12.
Postgraduate (PG) Entrance Exams
PG entrances assess depth, synthesis, and research readiness. Scores are used for admissions and, in technical streams, PSU shortlisting. The table below collects the most impactful PG exams and their evergreen essentials.
| Exam | Conducting Body | Eligibility (Typical) | Frequency (Typical) | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GATE | IISc + IITs (jointly) | UG degree in Engg/Tech/Architecture; or relevant Sciences/Arts (as notified) | Once a year | Subject-specific paper (29+ disciplines) + Engg Math/Aptitude |
| CAT | IIMs (rotation) | Graduate in any discipline; final-year eligible | Once a year | VARC, DILR, QA — percentile-based shortlisting |
| UGC NET (incl. JRF) | NTA on behalf of UGC | Master’s (or final-year PG) with minimum marks | Typically twice a year | Paper 1 (teaching/research) + Paper 2 (subject-specific) |
| CUET-PG | NTA | Graduate degree in relevant stream | Once a year | Language/General + domain papers for PG admissions |
| IIT-JAM | IITs | Bachelor’s in relevant science stream | Once a year | Subject-wise MCQ/MSQ/NAT for M.Sc./Integrated PhD |
PG Preparation Playbook
- Concept maps: Build topic trees; track links across subfields to reduce re-learning time.
- Past papers first: Identify weightage and question styles; align notes to recurring patterns.
- Quant & reasoning hygiene: For CAT/GATE-type aptitude, train daily in short bursts to prevent skill decay.
- Academic writing: For NET-aspirants, practice concise definitions and logical argument flow.
Academic pathway tip: Use NCERT Solutions for baseline pedagogy and answer structuring whenever you revisit foundational topics for PG prep or teaching/research aptitude.
Government Recruitment Exams
Public-sector roles remain highly attractive for stability, social impact, and career growth. Recruitment exams are multi-stage—screening tests, mains/descriptive papers, skill/physical tests (as applicable), and interviews. The following table captures widely pursued recruitment pathways.
| Exam | Conducting Body | Eligibility (Typical) | Stages & Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) | Union Public Service Commission | Graduate; age and attempt limits as notified | Prelims (GS + CSAT), Mains (Essay, 4×GS, 2×Optional), Interview — breadth + writing + personality |
| SSC CGL / CHSL / CPO / JE | Staff Selection Commission | 12th/Graduate (as per post) | Tiered CBTs + skill/physical where applicable; heavy on Quant, Reasoning, English, GA |
| RRB NTPC / JE / Group D | Railway Recruitment Boards | 10th/12th/Graduate (post-wise) | CBTs → PET/Skill → DV/Medical; Math, Reasoning, GA; logistics-intensive nationwide drives |
| IBPS / SBI (PO, Clerk, SO) | IBPS; State Bank of India (separate for SBI) | Graduate; category-wise age norms | Prelims → Mains → Interview; speed, accuracy, banking awareness, data analysis |
| State PSCs (UPPSC, MPSC, TNPSC, etc.) | Respective State Public Service Commissions | Graduate; state-specific criteria | Prelims → Mains → Interview; UPSC-like pattern with strong state-specific content |
Recruitment Success Routines
- Calendar discipline: Map notifications, application windows, and likely exam months 12–18 months ahead.
- GS + current affairs pipeline: Daily notes, monthly consolidation, quarterly revisions; link facts to themes (polity, economy, environment).
- Descriptive drills: For mains-type exams, write and review essays/answers under time pressure; build a feedback loop.
- Physical/SSB readiness: For defence/physical standards, train consistently and rehearse structured communication for interviews.
Comparative Master Table (Snapshot)
Use this consolidated view to compare level, purpose, and subjects across the most referenced exams. For official changes, always rely on the latest notification PDFs.
| Exam | Level | Key Papers/Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Olympiads | School | Math/Science/English/Computing + logical reasoning |
| JEE Main / Advanced | UG | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| NEET-UG | UG | Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
| CUET-UG/PG | UG/PG | Language(s), domain subject(s), general aptitude (formats vary) |
| GATE / CAT / IIT-JAM | PG | Subject-specific; aptitude/quant/verbal as applicable |
| UGC NET | PG+ | Paper 1 (general) + Paper 2 (subject) |
| UPSC / SSC / RRB / IBPS / State PSC | Recruitment | GS, aptitude, language, domain tests; interviews/skill/physical as applicable |
Preparation System That Works (Across Exams)
1) Syllabus → Strategy → Simulation
- Syllabus: Extract official syllabus and blueprint. Tag topics by weightage and difficulty.
- Strategy: Mix heavy + light topics daily; allocate spaced revision slots.
- Simulation: Full-length mocks under exam conditions; analysis within 24 hours.
2) Error Analytics & Retention
- Maintain a mistake ledger with categories (concept, misread, calculation, time management).
- Re-attempt only the wrong/slow questions after 48 hours; verify improvement on day 7.
- Condense key steps into one-page chapter sheets; use them before every mock.
3) Foundations First
For school and UG levels, strong fundamentals come from the right books and solutions. Use NCERT Books for baseline theory and NCERT Solutions to calibrate presentation, step-by-step logic, and exam-friendly language.
4) Health & Consistency
- Short, regular sessions beat occasional long marathons.
- Sleep, hydration, and light exercise improve recall and stamina.
- Peer discussion helps, but keep a personal decision log to avoid “resource hopping.”