11 Toughest Competitive Entrance Exams in India

India is a highly competitive country with millions of students vying for limited opportunities in higher education and prestigious jobs. This fierce competition has given rise to numerous entrance exams that test students’ skills, knowledge, and aptitude. Here, we discuss 11 of the toughest competitive entrance exams in India, providing detailed information and relevant statistics.

1. JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination Advanced): JEE Advanced is the second stage of the two-tier Joint Entrance Examination, conducted by one of the seven zonal Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for admission into undergraduate engineering courses offered by IITs and a few other top engineering colleges in India. Only the top 2.5 lakh rank holders in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. The examination comprises two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, and tests students on their knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The difficulty level is extremely high, with a success rate of around 0.92%.
2. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): NEET is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Veterinary courses in India. The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). With a high difficulty level, NEET sees around 16 lakh applicants each year, but only 7.5% successfully clear the examination.
3. CAT (Common Admission Test): CAT is the most prestigious management entrance examination in India, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. It is a gateway to the 20 IIMs and over 100 other top management institutions in India. The exam tests candidates on their Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning skills. With around 2.3 lakh applicants each year and a success rate of only 2%, CAT is among the toughest entrance exams in the country.
4. UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE): The UPSC CSE is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit candidates for prestigious Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), Indian Foreign Services (IFS), and other Central Government services. The exam consists of three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and Personality Test (Interview). The difficulty level is extremely high, with around 10-11 lakh applicants each year and a success rate of just 0.1%.
5. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering): GATE is a national-level examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven IITs on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB). It is aimed at testing the comprehensive understanding of engineering and science subjects among students. GATE scores are used for admission to M.Tech, M.E., and Ph.D. programs in engineering and for recruitment by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). With an average of 9 lakh applicants and a success rate of 15%, GATE is a highly competitive exam.
6. AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam: The AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam is a national-level examination conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for admission to MBBS courses in AIIMS institutes across India. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, General Knowledge, and Aptitude & Logical Thinking. With a high difficulty level and around 3 lakh applicants, the success rate stands at a mere 0.9%.
7. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test): CLAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in the 22 NLUs and other law colleges in India. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. With 60,000 applicants and a success rate.
8. JAM (Joint Admission Test for M.Sc.): JAM is a national-level entrance examination conducted by one of the IITs or IISc Bangalore on a rotational basis for admission to M.Sc., M.Sc.-Ph.D. dual degree, and other postgraduate programs in science disciplines offered by IITs, IISc, and other top institutions. The exam consists of seven test papers, with candidates allowed to appear for a maximum of two. With around 14,000 applicants each year and a success rate of 22%, JAM is a highly competitive examination for science graduates.
9. NDA & NA Exam (National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination): The NDA & NA Exam is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA) for the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, and Navy) and the Naval Academy (NA) for the Indian Navy. The exam consists of two written papers (Mathematics and General Ability Test) and a subsequent interview by the Services Selection Board (SSB). With 4-5 lakh applicants and a success rate of 0.4%, this exam is highly competitive and challenging.
10. UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test): The UGC NET is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine eligibility for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. The exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 (General) and Paper 2 (Subject-specific), and covers over 80 subjects. With 10 lakh applicants each year and a success rate of 6%, UGC NET is a highly competitive examination for postgraduates.
11. CA (Chartered Accountancy Exam): The CA Exam is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in three stages: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. The CA Foundation is an entry-level examination for students who have cleared the 12th standard with a Commerce stream or graduates from any discipline. The CA Intermediate and CA Final exams consist of various subjects related to accountancy, taxation, law, and finance. With around 4 lakh applicants for the CA Foundation and an overall success rate in single digits, the CA Exam is considered one of the toughest entrance exams in India.

The aforementioned competitive entrance exams in India test students’ abilities, knowledge, and aptitude in various domains, making them highly challenging and competitive. Aspiring students must be prepared to face these challenges with perseverance, determination, and strategic planning to achieve success.