List of Top 10 Toughest Exams in India 2024 : Toughest Exam in India

India has some of the hardest exams that test a student’s knowledge and skills. If you want a career in civil services, engineering, medicine, or management, passing these exams can be really tough. Here’s a look at the top 10 toughest exams in India for 2024:

Top 10 Toughest Exam In India Rank wise

Here is a list of the top 10 toughest exams in India in 2024:

1. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service Exam
2. Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced
3. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
4. Common Admission Test (CAT)
5. Chartered Accountancy (CA) Exam
6. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) PG Entrance Exam
7. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG
8. National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam
9. Indian Statistical Service (ISS) Exam
10. 10. Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
11. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT):

Top 10 Toughest Indian Exams in 2024: Detailed information

 Here’s an expanded overview of the top 10 toughest exams in India in 2024, including approximate participation numbers, frequency, mode of exam, courses covered, conducting authority, and approximate fees:

UPSC Civil Service Examination (IAS):

Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, it selects candidates for prestigious civil services like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS), etc. It consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview.

• Participants: Around 10-12 lakh candidates appear annually.
• Frequency: Once a year (Prelims in June, Main in September).
• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper).
• Courses: Various civil services including IAS, IFS, IPS, etc.
• Conducted by: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• Fee: Rs. 100 (SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates exempted), Rs. 100 (General/OBC male candidates).
• Website: https://upsc.gov.in/

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced:

JEE Advanced is conducted for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is the second stage of the JEE after the JEE Main and is considered one of the toughest engineering entrance exams in India.

• Participants: About 2.5 lakh candidates qualify from JEE Main.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in May).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to undergraduate engineering programs at IITs.
• Conducted by: IITs on a rotational basis.
• Fee: Rs. 2800 (General/OBC male candidates), Rs. 1400 (Female candidates), Rs. 1400 (SC/ST/PwD candidates).

• Website : https://jeeadv.ac.in/

Common Admission Test (CAT):

CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to their MBA programs. It tests candidates on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

• Participants: Around 2.5 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in November/December).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to MBA programs at IIMs and other top management institutes.
• Conducted by: IIMs on a rotational basis.
• Fee: Rs. 2200 (General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates), Rs. 1100 (SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• Website: www.iimcat.ac.in

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG:

NEET PG is conducted for admission to postgraduate medical courses (MD/MS/Diploma) in India. It is a highly competitive exam for medical graduates aiming to pursue higher studies in the medical field.

• Participants: Approximately 1.5-2 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in January/February).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to MD/MS/Diploma courses in medical colleges across India.
• Conducted by: National Board of Examinations (NBE).
• Fee: Rs. 5000 (General/OBC candidates), Rs. 3750 (SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• Website: https://nbe.edu.in/

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE):

GATE is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology for admission to postgraduate programs and recruitment to various public sector undertakings (PSUs).

• Participants: Around 9-10 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in February).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to postgraduate programs in engineering/architecture and recruitment in PSUs.
• Conducted by: IISc and IITs on a rotational basis.
• Fee: Rs. 1500 to 2000 (General/OBC candidates), Rs. 750 to 1250 (SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• Website: http://gate.iitd.ac.in/

AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam (AIIMS):

Conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), this exam is for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS) offered by AIIMS institutes across India.

• Participants: About 2-3 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in May/June).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to MBBS course at AIIMS institutes.
• Conducted by: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
• Fee: Rs. 1500 to 2000 (General/OBC candidates), Rs. 1200 to 1500 (SC/ST candidates).
• Website: https://www.aiimsexams.ac.in/

Chartered Accountancy (CA) Exam

Conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the CA Exam has three levels: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. Each level has a vast syllabus and a very low pass percentage, making it one of the toughest professional exams in the country. The exam tests candidates on their knowledge of accounting, taxation, auditing, and financial management.

• Participants: Approximately 2-3 lakh candidates appear for various levels of the CA exam annually.
• Frequency: The CA exam is conducted twice a year. The three levels are:
• CA Foundation: Held in May and November.
• CA Intermediate: Held in May and November.
• CA Final: Held in May and November.
• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper).
• Courses:
• CA Foundation Course: The entry-level test.
• CA Intermediate Course: The second level, split into Group I and Group II.
• CA Final Course: The final level, split into Group I and Group II.
• Conducted by: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
• Fee (Approximate):
• CA Foundation:
  • Registration Fee: Rs. 9,000
  • Exam Fee: Rs. 1,500
• CA Intermediate:
  • Registration Fee: Rs. 18,000 (Both Groups) or Rs. 13,000 (Single Group)
  • Exam Fee: Rs. 2,700 (Both Groups) or Rs. 1,500 (Single Group)
• CA Final:
  • Registration Fee: Rs. 22,000
  • Exam Fee: Rs. 3,300 (Both Groups) or Rs. 1,800 (Single Group)

• Website : https://www.icai.org/

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT):

XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission to its management programs and other reputed management institutes across India. It tests candidates on Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.

• Participants: Around 1 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in January).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to MBA programs at XLRI and other management institutes.
• Conducted by: XLRI Jamshedpur.
• Fee: Rs. 1800 to 2000 (General/OBC candidates), Rs. 900 to 1000 (SC/ST candidates).
• Website: XAT

National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam:

Conducted by UPSC, NDA exam is for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy, where cadets are trained for the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force).

• Participants: Approximately 3-4 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Twice a year (NDA I in April, NDA II in September).
• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper).
• Courses: Training for Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Conducted by: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
• Fee: Rs. 100 (SC/ST/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs exempted), Rs. 100 (General/OBC candidates).
• Website: UPSC NDA

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT):

CLAT is an entrance exam for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs at National Law Universities (NLUs) and other institutes offering legal education in India.

• Participants: About 70,000-80,000 candidates.
• Frequency: Once a year (usually in May).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs at NLUs and other institutes.
• Conducted by: Consortium of National Law Universities.
• Fee: Rs. 4000 to 4500 (General/OBC candidates), Rs. 3500 (SC/ST candidates).
• Website: CLAT

UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test):

UGC-NET is conducted by NTA on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professorship in Indian universities and colleges.

• Participants: Approximately 10-12 lakh candidates.
• Frequency: Twice a year (June and December).
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).
• Courses: Eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professorship in Indian universities and colleges.
• Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Fee: Rs. 1000 (General candidates), Rs. 500 (OBC-NCL/EWS candidates), Rs. 250 (SC/ST/PwD candidates).
• Website: UGC-NET

 These exams not only test the academic prowess of candidates but also demand meticulous preparation, dedication, and strategic planning due to their competitive nature and the significant career opportunities they offer in various sectors.