Government Exams
Government & Competitive Exams in India
Structure, eligibility and preparation for India's major government and competitive exams — UPSC Civil Services, SSC, bank PO, NDA and railway recruitment.
Government and public-sector exams attract lakhs of candidates each year across UPSC, SSC, banking, defence and railways. These guides explain how each exam is structured and who can apply — neutral, official facts only, with no predictions or commentary.
Vacancy counts, age limits and attempt rules are set by each conducting body and change every cycle, so always confirm them on the official notification.
Last updated
Tests this hub covers
SSC CGL
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) · Once a year (CGL 2026: Tier-I, computer-based, scheduled for 30 September–30 October 2026 per SSC's notice of 12 September 2026; Tier-II tentatively December 2026)
SSC CHSL
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) · Once a year in SSC's examination calendar (2026 notice published 7 September 2026; Tier-I and Tier-II dates to be notified)
SSC MTS
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) · Once a year in SSC's examination calendar (the 2025 examination's computer-based test ran 4–20 February 2026; the 2026 notice had not been published as of 30 September 2026)
IBPS PO
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) · Once a year (CRP PO/MT-XVI, for 2027–28 vacancies: Preliminary August 2026, Main October 2026, interviews November–December 2026 — tentative schedule in the notification)
IBPS Clerk
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) · Once a year (CRP CSA-XVI, for 2027–28 vacancies: Preliminary October 2026, Main December 2026 — tentative schedule in the notification)
SBI PO
State Bank of India (SBI) · Once a year (the 2026-27 advertisement, CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, set tentative dates: Preliminary in August 2026, Main in September 2026, Phase III in October/November 2026)
RBI Grade B
Reserve Bank of India Services Board (RBISB), for the Reserve Bank of India · Once per panel year. The PY 2026 notice was published on 29 April 2026, with Phase I on 13–14 June 2026 and Phase II on 25–26 July 2026
CDS
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · Twice a year (CDS (I) and CDS (II)). CDS (II) 2026 was held on 13 September 2026. UPSC's 2027 calendar schedules CDS (I) 2027 for 11 April 2027 (notification on 2 December 2026)
AFCAT
Indian Air Force · Twice a year (Cycle 01 and Cycle 02). AFCAT 01/2026 was held on 31 January 2026 and AFCAT 02/2026 on 8 August 2026
CAPF AC
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · Once a year — the 2026 written examination was held on 19 July 2026, and UPSC's programme of examinations for 2027 already lists the 2027 examination (confirm dates on upsc.gov.in)
Guides for India
23 of 23 guides in this hub are for India.
How to Prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Exam
The UPSC Civil Services Examination — its three stages and how to approach preparation — with a link to the official UPSC site.
Read guideSSC CGL Exam Guide
The SSC Combined Graduate Level exam — what it is, its tiered structure, and how to prepare — with a link to the official SSC site.
Read guideSSC CHSL Exam Guide
What SSC CHSL is and how it works — the Staff Selection Commission, the Class-12-level posts it recruits for, the computer-based stages, and where to confirm the current rules.
Read guideSSC MTS Exam Guide
What SSC MTS is and how it works — the Staff Selection Commission, the Class-10-level Multi-Tasking Staff and Havaldar posts, the computer-based exam, and where to confirm the rules.
Read guideBank PO Exam Guide
How Bank Probationary Officer recruitment works in India — the common exam stages and how to prepare — with a link to the official IBPS site.
Read guideSBI PO Exam Guide
What the SBI PO exam is and how it works — conducted by State Bank of India for Probationary Officers, the three-phase selection, eligibility, and where to confirm the rules.
Read guideRBI Grade B Exam Guide
What the RBI Grade B exam is and how it works — conducted by the Reserve Bank of India for Grade B Officers, the multi-phase selection, eligibility streams, and where to confirm the rules.
Read guideNDA Entrance Guide
The National Defence Academy entrance — what it is, the broad selection process, and how to prepare — with a link to the official UPSC site.
Read guideRailway Exams: An Overview
How Railway Recruitment Board exams for Indian Railways work — common exam types and stages — with a link to the official Indian Railways site.
Read guideUPSC Engineering Services Exam (ESE/IES) Guide
The UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) — the four disciplines, the three-stage scheme, eligibility basis and what to verify on upsc.gov.in.
Read guideUPSC CMS Exam Guide (Combined Medical Services)
The UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Examination — the MBBS-to-central-medical-officer route, its two-part scheme, eligibility basis and what to verify on upsc.gov.in.
Read guideUPSC IES / ISS Exam Guide (Indian Economic Service & Indian Statistical Service)
The UPSC Indian Economic Service (IES) and Indian Statistical Service (ISS) exam — who conducts it, who is eligible, its written papers plus viva-voce, and how to prepare — with current details in the official UPSC notification.
Read guideUPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam Guide
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist examination — the geologist, geophysicist, chemist and hydrogeologist streams, stream-wise eligibility, and the three-stage selection — with current details in each year's official UPSC notification.
Read guideCDS Exam Guide
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination — what it is, its selection stages and eligibility, and the academies it leads to, with a link to the UPSC site.
Read guideAFCAT Exam Guide
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) — what it is, its selection stages and eligibility, and the entry branches, with links to the official sources.
Read guideCAPF Assistant Commandant (AC) Exam Guide
The UPSC CAPF (Assistant Commandants) Examination — what it is, which forces it covers, its selection stages and eligibility, with a link to the UPSC site.
Read guideState PSC Exams: An Overview
State Public Service Commission (PSC) exams in India — what they are, how they are structured, and the main state-level commissions — with all specifics deferred to each state's official PSC.
Read guideCTET & State TET Exam Guide
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) and state-level TETs — who conducts them, Paper I vs Paper II, broad eligibility, and how they connect to school-teaching appointments.
Read guideHow to Join the Indian Armed Forces
The main routes to become a commissioned officer in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force — NDA, CDS, AFCAT, and other entries — with links to official sites.
Read guideHow to Become an IAS Officer
The route to the Indian Administrative Service — through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, its three stages, and what to verify on the official UPSC website.
Read guideHow to Become an IPS Officer
The route to the Indian Police Service — through the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the three stages, and what to verify on the official UPSC website.
Read guideBest Courses & Degrees for Government Jobs
Which degrees and educational backgrounds open which government-exam routes in India — UPSC, SSC, banking, defence, and railways — without guarantees or hype.
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