Top 10 Toughest Exams in India 2025

List of Top 10 Toughest Exams in India

Let's look at the top ten toughest exams in India. 

• Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)
• UPSC Civil Service Examination (UPSC CCE)
• Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
• Entrance Exam for National Defence Academy (NDA)
• Common Admission Test (CAT)
• UGC National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) 
• Chartered Accountant (CA)
• National Institute of Design Entrance

Get an Idea of Hardest Exams in India in 2025

The highlights are bulleted below:

• Cracking examinations can be difficult, you have the pay the cost of hard work, dedication and concentration. 
• Lakhs of candidates spend years preparing for these grueling tests, competing for a restricted number of positions. 
• Certain tests are among the most difficult to pass due to their complex syllabus, competitive nature, and restricted number of openings. 
• These tests require continuous dedication, years of hard work, and substantial study. 
• India is well-known for its rigorous and extremely competitive educational system, with tests playing an important role in molding a candidate's future. These tests assess candidates' aptitude, knowledge, quantitative abilities, and linguistic fluency.
• Within the Indian academic system, there is one ultimate goal that candidates would do all in their power to achieve: the title of "Toughest Exam in India." Not only do the rigorous curricula and depth of knowledge assessed reflect the difficulty of the material, but they also bear witness to the extraordinary commitment, tenacity, and intelligence needed to even consider applying. 
• This title is not given out lightly because it represents a task that goes beyond simple academic rivalry and entails a path of intense preparation, unflinching resolve, and unrelenting perseverance. 
• Numerous students nationwide are driven to succeed by the pursuit of this distinction, as they all want to demonstrate their mettle in the face of the most demanding exam in terms of endurance and knowledge. 
• Thus, in the context of Indian education, the "Toughest Exam" defines the goals and shapes the destinies of those who dare to pursue it, serving as both a daunting barrier and an esteemed entry point to success.

1.UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE)

UPSC CSE is India's most difficult exam, given yearly by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates for civil service positions such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and related tasks. A recognised university degree is required to apply for UPSC. The exam is divided into three stages: preliminary, main written, and personality tests. The preliminary test consists of two multiple-choice papers, while the main test consists of nine descriptive papers. The main and personality test scores are used to assess consistency and problem-solving skills, with a focus on current events and book knowledge. Despite the large number of applicants each year, the selection rate is less than 1%.

2.Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the national JEE exam, which attracts a large number of candidates each year. It is divided into two papers: Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech and Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Planning courses. There are two levels: JEE Main for NITs, IITs, and other government institutes, and JEE Advanced for IITs, IISc, and RGIPT, which includes questions from physics, chemistry, and math. The amount of JEE Advanced questions changes each year, making it one of India's most difficult exams, fueling fierce competition among students for high ranks and IIT admissions.

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3. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

The Consortium of National legal Universities conducts the yearly CLAT exam for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate legal programmes at India's 24 national law universities. The exam, which is administered offline, consists of 150 questions divided into five sections: logical thinking, legal aptitude, English, general knowledge, and mathematics. Qualified people can pursue jobs in law, the judiciary, higher education, and government service. A minimum cut-off point is required, with no upper age limit for candidates.

4.National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)

The National Testing Agency administers the NEET examination. Every year, the most difficult exam in the medical field is administered for admission to various undergraduate courses such as Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), AYUSH, and veterinary programmes. The questions cover Chemistry, Physics, Zoology, and Botany. This exam has a total mark of 720. The competition and cut-off are both increasing rapidly. It is a one-stage examination. There is no maximum age limit, however the minimum age must be more than or equal to 17.

Also Check: NEET PG

5.Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) committee administers an all-India test in eight areas across the country. The committee includes representatives from the National Coordinating Board and Department of Higher Education, the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and IISc. Public sector undertakings (PSUs) will use the final GATE score. PSU recruits students for positions at Indian Oil, GAIL, and Hindustan Petroleum. The exam will consist of multiple-choice, multiple-select, and numerical answer types. There will be two sections: general aptitude and the candidate's selected portion.

6.National Defence Academy (NDA)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) holds the ability to administer the NDA exam, India's most difficult exam for the defence line. Selected individuals will have the opportunity to join the NDA's Army, Navy, or Air Force wings. The exam is administered twice a year. The exam will consist of a written examination followed by an interview with the Service Selection Board (SSB). It includes problems from both the mathematics and general ability categories. The general ability test syllabus includes themes from English and general awareness. The mathematics paper carries 300 points, whereas the general ability test comprises 600 questions. Candidates who pass this exam will be able to serve their country.

7.Common Admissions Test (CAT)

The CAT is a national-level examination. The IIM runs it on a rotating basis. It is a computer-based admission test for the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Students with a 50% aggregate score in a Bachelor's degree can apply for the exam, while reserved categories require a 45% aggregate score. The paper is divided into three sections: quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and data interpretation, verbal ability, and reading comprehension. The questions will include both multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice options. This year, 66 questions are expected to be posed. As the exam is administered in various shifts, CAT scores will be generated using a scaling and normalization technique.

8.UGC National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is in charge of administering the UGC NET exam for the University Grants Commission (UGC). The exam is taken to become an assistant professor or to obtain junior research fellowships. It is held twice every year. Aspiring candidates must have a Master's degree with at least 55%. It contains two papers. Both are conducted online. The common paper asks about teaching and research aptitude, general awareness, reasoning ability, and reading comprehension. Paper 2 is subject-specific. To qualify for the paper, candidates must score 40%. Reserved candidates should receive a minimum of 35%.

9.Chartered Accountants (CA)

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been organizing the CA test since its inception. The degree is comparable to a postgraduate degree from Delhi University. The candidates must complete three levels: foundation, intermediate, and final. It is held twice every year. The foundation course will consist of multiple-choice questions, while further stages will feature both multiple-choice and descriptive questions. The foundation test contains four papers, whereas the intermediate and final exams contain two groups of four papers each. This exam is one of the most difficult, requiring additional study time and effort. Candidates must complete all phases in order to achieve their goal of becoming chartered accountants.

In the News: CA Members demand exam postponement

Also Read: Is JEE Main Exam Tough

10. National Institute of Design Entrance

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is administered at the national level by the National Institute of Design. Candidates take the NID DAT exam for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. There will be two stages: NID DAT preliminary and NID DAT mains. Both phases are qualifying in nature. Before applying for the exam, candidates should be at least 19 years old. The merit list will be created based on the results received in the preliminary and main exams. The NID provides counselling in two stages.

Check out the Design Exams In India

Other Notable Tough Exams in India

Apart from the above mentioned exams, listed below are the other tough exams in India: 

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (CA exams)
• National Defense Academy (NDA) Entrance Exam
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Entrance Exam
• Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE)
• Comparative analysis of these exams in terms of toughness

Factors that Make Exams the Toughest

There are a number of factors and reasons behind the toughness of these exams. Some of them are elaborated below:

• The syllabus for these exams is comprehensive and broad. The syllabus incorporates a vast number of topics and in-depth knowledge of every topic is needed to crack them. For instance, the UPSC Exam Syllabus has a vast number of disciplines. The candidates are required to study in depth subjects like History, Geography, Political Science etc. Additionally, there is a syllabus for optional subject as well. If you have to answer correctly, you must profound understanding of the topics and subjects. 
• High Competition is another factor that contributes to the toughness. A great number of students submit applications and most of them get eliminated in the primary phase of the exam. The success rate for these exam is very low. If you go by percentage, not even 1% of the total students clear the exam successfully. For UPSC Exam, the success rate is even lower. Only 0.1% to 0.2% of the students clear the exam to become civil servants.
• A clear and organized preparation approach is needed. It takes months and even years for consistent candidates to clear the exam. Keeping in mind the vastness of the syllabus, a systematic planning is a must. Practicing regularly is the key to crack these exams. Additionally, there are a vast number of resources and institutes to choose from. Confusion is evident. Students need to figure out intelligently what works for them. Resource management is another problem for students. 
• Stress and anxiety is another problem for students. The desire to perform well in these exam along with family pressure is common in India. Most of the students consider these exams as a great medium for great careers. Time management also comes into play during preparation. Candidates need to spend time on health, family and other businesses. Balancing them becomes difficult and many students succumb to health issues. Mental resilience and patience is requires for months and even years to hit the goal. Mock test, practice schedules and revisions also create frustration among students as they need to check their progress.
• Support from family, friends, mentors and teachers is another factor. A number of candidates bank on counselling sessions, motivational videos and emotional support from their near and dear one to stay inspired in the face of difficulties. 

Career Avenues after Clearing these Exams in India

Clearing these exams contributes to a great career ahead. Get some highlights below:

• If you clear UPSC, NDA or CLAT, you will have a great career in government departments. 
• Through UPSC, you can be IAS, IPS or IFS officer. 
• Defense Services (NDA/CDS) exam will give you the opportunity to contribute to national defense. 
• You can work as a legal advisor, judge, and public prosecutor roles after law studies like CLAT. 
• Exams like IIT-JEE, GATE, and ISRO Scientist Exam lead to top technical roles. 
• IIT alumni contribute well to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship. 
• PSU Jobs (via GATE) are well recognized. You can work in units like ONGC, BHEL, and IOCL.
• ISRO/DRDO Scientists are well respected and contribute to defense technology. 
• Exams like NEET-UG, AIIMS PG, and INI-CET lead to great medical careers. You can be a doctor, researcher and medical specialist. 
• If you want to build a career in management, CAT is a prestigious exam for entry into top IIMs. You can work as a Business Analyst/Consultant,  
  Marketing and Sales Manager, Entrepreneur, Operations Manager etc.

Strategies to Crack Toughest Exams

Understand the Examination Pattern and Syllabus: Gain a thorough understanding of the exam structure, scoring system, and topics covered in each part.

1. Create a study plan: Create a well-structured study schedule that allocates time to each subject/topic, focusing on weaker areas and revisiting stronger ones.
2. Quality Study Materials: Use reliable and suggested study materials, such as textbooks, online resources, previous years' papers, and practice tests.
3. Practice regularly: Regular practice with mock examinations and sample papers improves time management, increases accuracy, and familiarizes you with the exam structure.
4. Time management: Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve speed and accuracy in the actual exam.
5. Revision is Key: To ensure good information retention, revisit concepts, formulas, and significant topics on a regular basis.
6. Seek Advice: Consider taking coaching workshops or online courses created exclusively for exam preparation. Expert advice can provide useful insights and suggestions.
7. Stay updated: Keep up to date on current events, general knowledge, and new advancements in relevant subjects by reading newspapers, publications, and using online resources.
8. Health and wellbeing: Maintain a healthy lifestyle, obtain enough sleep, and properly handle stress to ensure top performance on the exam.
9. Believe In Yourself: Maintain your confidence and positivity. Believe in your own preparation and ability.