You may know UPSC, IIT JEE, GATE, etc are the hardest exams to pass in India. Here are the top 10 toughest exams in India, which take several years of relentless preparation and hard work.
Exam Difficulty Level in India 2025: Examining the hardest exams in India can be daunting and requires quite a bit of effort, but nothing worthwhile comes easy. Thousands of candidates dedicate years to preparing for these competitive examinations, which only have a small number of positions available. Some exams among these are very tough to clear as they have a vast syllabus, cut-throat competition, and the openings are limited. These exams require immense dedication, years of effort, and thorough preparation. Here is a list of the most challenging competitive exams in India, which not everyone can clear.
10 Most Toughest Exams in India
Indian education system is quite tough and competitive and examinations are taken very seriously and impact the life of a candidate. These exams assess candidates’ knowledge of aptitude, their quantitative ability, and language skills. Indeed, three of India’s most popular competitive exams have been ranked among the world’s top 10 toughest exams, as per Erudera, an online education search platform. Exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (IIT JEE) conducted by IIT, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), and that of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) fall under this category. Apart from these, here we have mentioned the hardest competitive exams in India.
Here is a Full List of Most Difficult Exams in India
Here is the list of the toughest exams of India in 2025.
- UPSC IAS
- JEE Advanced
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
- IIM CAT
- NDA
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- CA Exam | Chartered Accountant Exam
- UGC NET
- NEET
- National Institute of Design Entrance Exam
1. Civil Services Examination by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
UPSC CSE is without a doubt one of the most India’s toughest exams. It is a path to eminent services namely Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). OCI is conducted in three phases – Prelims, Mains, and Interview round
About 10–12 lakh candidates appear for the UPSC every year, out of which a few thousand are able to crack it. Due to its vast syllabus and requirement of in-depth concept knowledge, it is amongst the toughest exams in India.
Exam level: National
Exam frequency: Annually
Exam mode: Offline
2. Indian Institute of Technology – Joint Entrance Exam (IIT JEE)
IIT JEE is the second-highest exam in India. It is a common entrance test that is conducted at the national level for aspirants who wish to be admitted in prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology. It has two important parts – IIT Mains and JEE Advanced.
The JEE Mains, which is the first level of the joint entrance exam, is a National Testing Agency-led assessment that takes place on a biannual basis. JEE Advanced is the final stage.
Exam level: National
Exam Frequency: 2 (January and April)
Total marks: 300
3. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
GATE is the only exam for those willing to do their post-graduation in Engineering. It is a national-level exam for Master of Engineering (ME), Master in Technology (MTech), and direct PhD at IITs, NITs, IIIT,s and other institutes/universities in India. It is an extremely tough exam, which requires thorough conceptual knowledge and an appropriate preparation plan to attempt.
Conducting Institute of GATE 2023: IIT Kanpur
Exam type: National level
Exam frequency: Once a year
Exam mode: Online
Questions type: MSQ/MCQ/NAT
Language: English
4. Common Admission Test (CAT)Indian Institutes of Management
CAT is a tough test for graduates who are aiming to get admission into higher education in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It evaluates the aspirants’ knowledge of quantitative ability, data interpretation, verbal ability, and logical reasoning. This is a national-level exam in which there are a limited number of seats available, so the competition level is very high.
National level, MBA entrance exam
Exam frequency: Once a year
Exam mode: Online
Language: English
5. National Defence Academy (NDA)
NDA is the national-level exam, conducted by the Services Selection Board, to recruit the brightest minds in the country for its most prestigious defense academy. It is one the toughest exams in India because a huge number of candidates are given this exam. This exam is mandatory for all the candidates who have cleared class 12th and wish to join the military.
6. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
The CLAT is the entry examination for the top National Law Universities (NLUs) of India. The National Law Universities are considered prestigious institutions and aspiring lawyers need to pass this exam to seek admission. Potential candidates are evaluated on their knowledge of English, general knowledge, legal reasoning, and maths.
Exam frequency: Twice a year
Exam type: Law Entrance Test
Exam mode: Offline
Exam duration: 2 hours
7. CA (Chartered Accountant) Exam
The CA exam is the final level which is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). CPT is the first stage, followed by IPCC (Integrated Professional Competence Course). The IPCC consists of seven subjects in total.
After passing this, they proceed to the CA Final Examination. This exam covers everything from advanced financial reporting to strategic financial management, to other complex topics.
8. UGC-NET
The UGC NET exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency, is yet another formidable challenge for budding educators. Lakhs of candidates take the exam and the competition is tough.
Conducting body: National Testing Agency
Exam level: National
Exam frequency: Twice a year
Exam mode: Online (CBT)
Exam duration: 180 minutes
9. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)
The NEET is the supreme test for doctors and dentists-in-the-making. When is NEET 2023: NEET is the entrance exam for the top medical and dental institutes in India. On the basis of their knowledge regarding nature, chemistry-like subjects, and physics-like subjects candidates are being examined. This brings in an added level of intensity and competition due to a limited number of medical seats.
10. NID Entrance Exam – 2024 National Institute of Design.
The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts an entrance exam for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate design programs. This can be considered as one of the toughest exams in India because a huge number of candidates apply for this exam and very few seats are there. This exam assesses the candidates in aptitude, creativity, innovation, and design thinking. It assesses their problem-solving skills and their critical thinking capabilities in the design context.
Important Preparation Tips for Toughest Exams in India
If you are preparing for the hardest competitive exams in India then you require dedication, proper preparation strategy, syllabus understanding, and regular mock solving. Your understanding of these exams will be far more than academic skills; they require analytical prowess, problem-solving, and performance under pressure.
Develop strong fundamentals: Ensure the basics; especially for Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics, so that you can solve tricky questions with ease.
Undertake Mock Tests Regularly: Mock tests & previous papers boost speed, and accuracy & tell what to work on.
Follow through with your study routine: Devote 6-8 hours a day utilizing a mix of problem-solving, revision, and interactive studying for effective learning and to avoid burnout.
