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Top 10 Toughest Exam in India

top 10 toughest exam in india

The Indian Education System is one of the best education systems in the world. The number of students who take various entrance exams every year is enormous.

When it comes to competitive exams, there is no dearth of options. A competitive exam refers to an exam conducted by the government or a company to recruit candidates who have the necessary skills and intellect to perform well.

toughest exam in india

Competitive exams are designed and framed to measure aptitude, mental stability, technical skills, physical fitness, etc.

These exams are conducted either orally, online, via pen-and-paper, or in a setup that requires the test taker to perform the exam with a particular set of skills.

Thousands of exams are conducted in India every year; most of them are easy to crack, but few are considered the toughest.

Every year, lakhs of students sit down for lots of exams. Some are searching to be a part of the defence, while others are looking to study abroad.

Therefore, top 10 most difficult exam in india should be based on the difficulty level and the number of candidates who can crack them. Here are some of the  Top 10 Toughest Exam in India:

Recommended

UPSC Civil Services Exam

(Best for Price)

Overall Rating: 4/5

About Exam: The UPSC Civil Services Exams find people for top administrative jobs in India's Central Government.



Chartered Accountant (CA)

(Best for performance)

Overall Rating: 4/5

About Exam: The Chartered Accountant (CA) certification is the most difficult in India. The multiple-tiered exams for the CA course follow a stringent format.



NEET UG

(Best for Overall)

Overall Rating: 5/5

About Exam: NEET is a premedical exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to screen candidates for admission to MBBS/BDS programs in medical/dental colleges in India, excluding AIIMS and JIPMER.

List of Top 10 Toughest Exam in India 

1. UPSC Civil Services Exam

About Exam: The UPSC Civil Services Exams find people for top administrative jobs in India's Central Government.

The test covers many services, such as IAS, IPS, and IFS. The three-part exam, which includes a preliminary exam, the main exam, and an interview or personality test, requires a lot of seriousness, hard work, and dedication. 

Undoubtedly It's the most toughest exam in India. The UPSC syllabus is very long and covers various topics, making it the most difficult exam in india. Union Public Service Commission is in charge of the test.

  • Conducted By: Union Public Service Commission

  • Exam Type: Post Graduate

  • Eligibility: 75% aggregate marks in 12th class
  • Exam Level: All India Level

2. IIT- JEE

About Exam: Known as the JEE Advanced, the Joint Entrance Examination is one of India's most difficult entrance exams.

The JEE Advanced is conducted to evaluate candidates for admission to engineering programs at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and other institutions. 

The examination is administered in two stages: IIT-JEE Mains and IIT-JEE Advanced.

Many students take admissions exams for prestigious IITs, but only a few are accepted to study at these institutions. It is one of the most difficult examinations in India due to the curriculum's complexity and the intense competition.

  • Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

  • Exam Type: Under Graduate
  • Eligibility: 75% aggregate marks in 12th class
  • Exam Level: All India Level

3. Chartered Accountant (CA)

About Exam: The Chartered Accountant (CA) certification is the most difficult in India. The multiple-tiered exams for the CA course follow a stringent format.

Passing the examination can guarantee a successful career with a lucrative salary, but it requires effort.

The exam consists of three stages: the Common Proficiency Test (CPT), the Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC), and the CA Final Examination.

The pass rate for this examination ranges between 8 and 16 percent.

  • Conducted By:  Institute of Chartered Accountants of India  

  • Exam Type: Under Graduate
  • Eligibility: 60% aggregate marks in 12th class
  • Exam Level: Foundation, Intermediate and Final

4. NEET UG

About Exam: NEET is a premedical exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to screen candidates for admission to MBBS/BDS programs in medical/dental colleges in India, excluding AIIMS and JIPMER.

Approximately 10 million candidates take the exam and compete for about 1 million seats.

To increase their chances of achieving a high score on the NEET, students should consult the essential preparation tips. 

The NEET exam has risen to prominence among India's most difficult examinations with growing competition.

  • Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

  • Exam Type: Under Graduate
  • Eligibility: 12th or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology.  
  • Exam Level: All India Level

5. AIIMS UG

About Exam: Since AIIMS is the best medical school in India, all medical students aspire to earn their MBBS from AIIMS.

NEET-UG has replaced this exam, which stands for National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate.

Limited seats and difficult questions make it one of the most difficult examinations in India. 

AIIMS is administered by the esteemed All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi to select candidates for admission to AIIMS's seven campuses.

  • Conducted By: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi   

  • Exam Type: Under Graduate and Post Graduate 
  • Eligibility:  Aggregate of 60% required in English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology in 10+2 boards  
  • Exam Level: All India Level

6. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

About Exam: GATE is held to make it easier for people to get into postgraduate programs like ME/MTech at IITs, IIITs, NITs, and other top colleges.

Some Indian Government PSU companies will also look at your GATE score.

The GATE is thought to be one of the hardest tests in India.

Its curriculum is made up of the ideas that students learn in their first four years of the undergraduate degree. 

It is set up as an online test, and test-takers are graded on their general intelligence and how well they know Technical and Engineering Mathematics.

  • Conducted By:  Indian Institute of Science  

  • Exam Type: Post Graduate 
  • Eligibility: Graduation in Science or Engineering  
  • Exam Level: All India Level

7. National Defence Academy (NDA)

About Exam: NDA, which stands for National Defence Academy, is one of the hardest tests to pass in India.

The test is a way to get into the Army, Air Force, or Navy, which are all parts of the National Defense Services.

Therefore, the people who want to take this test must be physically and mentally fit. Those who pass this test will have a bright future as professionals in the Indian Armed Forces.

The candidates are chosen based on their scores on a written test and an SSB interview, including tests of intelligence, personality, and psychological aptitude.

  • Conducted By: UPSC 

  • Exam Type:  Under Graduate  
  • Eligibility: 
    • Army Wing: Passed or appearing in 12th class
  • • For Air Force and Naval Wings: Passed or appearing in 12th class. Candidates must have studied and passed in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry and in 12th class
  • Exam Level: All India Level

8. Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)

About Exam: The Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT), as the name suggests, is an entrance exam for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs such as LLB and LLM.

India's top 16 law schools accept the results of this test. It is a national-level exam with a high level of competition.

Only candidates with extensive legal knowledge will be able to pass this exam.

  • Conducted By: National Law Universities  

  • Exam Type:  Under Graduate and Post Graduate 
  • Eligibility: 
    • UG: Class 12th with minimum 45%
    • PG: 3-year LLB with minimum 50%
  • Exam Level: All India Level

9. UGC NET

About Exam: UGC NET is a national exam used to find suitable candidates for Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) at Indian universities and colleges.

It is one of the 10 hardest tests in India, and it is given in 83 different subjects and 81 different places. Since 2018, it has been run by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Most people who take it are either studying for or have already finished their master's degree.

  • Conducted By:  National Testing Agency 

  • Exam Type: Post Graduate 
  • Eligibility: Post Graduation with a minimum of 55% 
  • Exam Level: All India Level

10. National Institute of Design Entrance Exam

About Exam: The NID Design Aptitude Test, also known as the NID DAT exam, is an entrance exam for design students used to assess candidates' design skills and select them for admission to the premier National Institutes of Design (NIDs).

Applicants are tested in various areas of design during the first round of this entrance exam, including perception, attitude, aptitude, achievement, and motivation. 

Shortlisted candidates from the first round will advance to the second round, a personal interview, to be considered for admission to the best design colleges in India.

Only the most creative students are chosen, making it one of the most challenging exams in India to pass.

  • Conducted By:  National Institute of Design

  • Exam Type: Under Graduate and Post Graduate  
  • Eligibility: 10+2 with minimum 50% 
  • Exam Level: All India Level

Conclusion

India has one of the best education systems globally, and the country is a leader in education both inside and outside of its borders.
The Indian education system has contributed a lot to society. Both the students and their parents sow the seeds of dedication to education.

However, there are many reasons why the students do not perform well. The information about every entrance exam conducted across the country is available on various websites.

We have listed the top exams in india that are taking place today. These exams will help you determine your future and serve as a stepping stone toward success.

There is no denying that cracking these exams will be challenging, and you will have to work hard to get through them. But as we all know in life, nothing comes easy.

So, if you miss out on one exam, there are thousands of others waiting for you to give it your best shot!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is World toughest exam?

The Master Sommelier Diploma Examination is considered the world's toughest examination.

It is the final written examination of the Court of Master Sommeliers' Advanced Wine Course and is designed to test a candidate's knowledge of all areas of beverage service, from history and theory to practical application.


2. Which is the 2nd toughest exam in India?

UPSC Civil Services Exam, IIT-JEE (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination), NEET UG and AIIMS UG are few of the toughest examinations in India.


3. Is IAS india's most toughest exam?

The UPSC exam is considered among the toughest exams globally because out of lakhs of candidates, only 0.1% to 0.4% succeed in clearing the exam.

The pass percentage for this exam is about 6%. The UPSC exam is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is mandatory for all those who wish to work in any Government department or organization.


4. Is UPSC tougher than NEET?

NEET is a national-level medical entrance test that the CBSE conducts. It has a limited syllabus for students to study.

In NEET, you have to study only three papers – Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Therefore, it would be best to prepare for them well as they are the essential papers in NEET.

UPSC is tougher than NEET because there is no limitation in the syllabus of UPSC. The questions can come from any field, such as History, Geography, Political Science, etc.

Here are india's toughest exam

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About the Author

Currently working as an Editor in Chief with Ankuraggarwal.in, he is managing all the ins and outs of the content management process and editorial operations. Having an experience of 8 years in the publishing/ e-solution industry, he manages a small freelancing team of fellow editors and has worked with several domains including academics, healthcare, lifestyle and technical writings. He is a stickler for accuracy and loves to read noir-fiction and binge-watch anthologies.

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