India Toughest Exam 2025: Check 10 Toughest Exams in India List

Also Read: Top 5 Toughest Exam in India

Here’s the list of the top 10 toughest exams in India. These exams have a very low selection rate and hardest to crack. 

• UPSC CSE – Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination
• JEE Advanced – Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced)
• GATE – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
• UGC NET – University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test
• CAT – Common Admission Test
• CLAT – Common Law Admission Test
• NEET – National Eligibility cum Entrance Test
• NDA – National Defence Academy Entrance Exam
• CA Exam – Chartered Accountant Examination
• NID Entrance Exam – National Institute of Design Entrance Examination

Candidates can check the details of each exam below.

Also Read: Top Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Exams In India

1. UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE)

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is considered the toughest exam in India. The pass percentage of the exam is less than 1%. UPSC is conducted yearly by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). It is a national-level exam conducted to recruit candidates for the All India Services and Central Civil Services. 

UPSC is conducted in three stages: 

• Prelims (Qualifying Only) 
• Mains (written) 
• Mains (Personality Test) 

Candidates who qualify for the exam are recruited as bureaucrats such as IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and various other Central Civil Services. The IAS or Indian Administrative Service holds the highest position among Indian bureaucrats. UPSC is often included among the top 10 toughest exams in the world for its competition level and pass percentage. Check UPSC CSE (IAS) Selection Process 2025: Prelims, Mains, Interview.  

Check the details of UPSC exam in the table below: 

UPSC CSE Overview
Exam name	UPSC Exam
Conducting body	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Exam Purpose	To recruit candidates for the All India Services and Central Civil Services
Exam level	National
Exam frequency	Once a year
Exam mode	Offline - pen and paper mode
Exam stages	Prelims (Qualifying Only) - 400 Marks Mains (written) - 1750  Marks Mains (Personality Test) - 275 Marks
Exam Duration	Prelims - 2 hours for each paper Mains - 3 hours for each paper Personality Test  - not fixed (25 to 45 minutes)
Selection rate	Approximately 0.15%
Application fee(Prelims)	INR 100
Exam helpdesk no.	011-23098543 / 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098591
Official website	https://www.upsc.gov.in/

Why UPSC CSE Exam is Considered the Toughest Exam in India 2025?

Here are the main reasons:

• The selection rate of UPSC is less than 1%. 
• The competition is very high. As per the 2025 stats, around 1 selection out of every 664 candidates. Around 6.5 lakh candidates appeared for 979 vacancies in 2025. 
• The UPSC syllabus is very tough. It includes a wide range of subjects including history, political science, economics, biology, governance, ethics, and others. 
• The selection process includes three stages: 
• Prelims (Qualifying Only) - 400 Marks
• Mains (written) - 1750  Marks
• Mains (Personality Test) - 275 Marks

Qualifying for the UPSC CSE requires strong dedication, sincere preparation, and intellectual prowess. Those who pass the exam are directly recruited into India’s bureaucracy.  

Also Read: UPSC Toppers Strategy and Study Plans

2. JEE Advanced Exam

With a pass percentage less than 30%, the JEE Advanced is among the top 5 toughest exam in India. Conducted by IIT Roorkee, JEE Advanced is the gateway for admissions to the prestigious IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) in India. Also, it is regarded as one of the most challenging engineering entrance tests in India. 

JEE Advanced is a national-level entrance test conducted only once a year. In 2025, 1,87,223 students registered for the exam and only 54,378 candidates were selected in JEE Advanced for IIT admissions. 

Joint Entrance Exam Advanced (JEE Advanced) is a computer-based test conducted in both English and Hindi. Only candidates who qualify JEE Main are eligible to appear for this exam. It serves as the second stage of the IIT admission process. 

Check the details of UPSC exam in the table below: 

Exam Particulars	Exam Details
Exam Name	Joint Entrance Exam Advanced
Conducting Body	IIT Roorkee
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Mode of Exam	Computer-based test
Colleges Accepting Exam Score	IITs and other institutes
Courses offered through Entrance Exam	BTech BS BArch BTech and MTech dual degree BS and MS dual degree Integrated MTech Integrated MSc Check complete list of courses
Exam Fees	Female and SC/ST: INR 1,450 All Other Categories: INR 2,900 Candidates residing in SAARC countries: USD 90 Candidates residing in Non- SAARC countries: USD 180
Exam Duration	Paper 1: 3 hours Paper 2: 3 hours Total: 6 hours
No. of Papers	Two papers
Language/Medium of Exam	English / Hindi
Official Website	jeeadv.ac.in

Why JEE Advanced Exam One of the Toughest Exam in India 2025?

Here are the main reasons:

• High Competition: Around 1,87,223 students appeared for the JEE Advanced for only 18,160 IIT seats as per 2025. 
• The JEE Advanced exam pattern changes each year and its question paper pattern is often unpredictable.
• JEE Advanced syllabus delves into advanced topics within Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, which generally go beyond the basic concepts of 12th standard. 
• The duration of the test is 6 hours spread across two papers. Therefore, many students struggle with time management. 

Check the JEE Advanced Exam success rate of the last 5 years:

Year	Registered	Appeared	Qualified	%Qualified
2021	151,193	141,699	41,862	29.54
2022	160,038	155,538	40,712	26.17
2023	189,744	180,372	43,773	24.26
2024	186,584	180,200	48,248	26.77
2025	187,223	1,80,422	54,378	30.14%

Also Read: JEE Advanced: All About IIT Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced

3. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)

Planning to study a master’s in Engineering, Technology, and Architecture in IITs and NITs? GATE is a national entrance test conducted once a year for students who wish to study PG from top IITs and NITs in India. The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India examination conducted jointly by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). 

GATE is listed among the most toughest exam in India. It is a computer-based test conducted online in multiple test locations across India. Check all GATE test centres in India. Many students include it among the top 5 toughest exams in India. Here are the details of GATE exam:

Particulars	Details
GATE Full Form	Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Conducting Body	Jointly by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Official website	https://gate2026.iitg.ac.in/
Application fee	1800 Rs. (UR) and 900 Rs. (SC, ST, others)
Exam Level	National Level
Mode of Application	Online
Mode of exam	Computer-based Test (Online)
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Exam Duration	3 hours (180 minutes)
Number of Questions	10 (GA) + 55 (subject)= 65
Question Type	MCQ, MSQ, NAT
Applications Per Year	More than 8 Lakhs

Why GATE is Considered the Toughest Exam in India 2025?

Here are the main reasons:

• Extensive Syllabus: GATE exam syllabus is very vast, which includes a strong understanding of undergraduate engineering subjects. 
• Technical Depth: GATE assesses the conceptual understanding and ability of applicants. It also includes numerical calculations for complex problems. 
• High Competition: The GATE test competition is very intense, resulting in higher cutoffs every year. 
• Time Constraints: The duration of the GATE entrance test is only 3 hours (180 minutes). Candidates require a strategic approach to managing time. 
• Negative Marking: GATE exam pattern includes negative marking. 

4. UGC NET

UGC NET is a national-level examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the UGC. The test evaluates the eligibility of candidates for the posts of Assistant Professor and for awarding Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges. 

NTA UGC NET is conducted twice a year in online mode for various subjects. Candidates qualifying for NET are eligible for:

• Assistant Professorship (NET): Candidates can apply for the post of Assistant Professor in universities and colleges across India.
• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF): Candidates are eligible for Assistant Professorship and also receive a fellowship to pursue research or a PhD.

Candidates who have completed their post graduation or are pursuing a master’s degree from a recognized institution in India can apply for the UGC NET. Here are the details of UGC NET exam:

Exam Particulars	Exam Details
Exam Name	UGC NET (University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test)
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Twice a year
UGC NET Eligibility	A Post Graduation Degree or Appearing for the Final Year in the Post Graduation
Mode of Exam	Online (CBT)
Exam Fees	INR 1,150 for the General category INR 600 for OBC INR 325 for SC/ ST/ PwD/Third Gender
Exam Duration	180 minutes
Total Questions	50 MCQs in Paper 1 and 100 MCQs in Paper 2
Language/Medium of Exam	English and Hindi
Exam Purpose	Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges
Official Website & Helpline No.	https://ugcnet.nta.ac.in 011-69227700 011-40759000

Why is UGC NET one of India toughest exam?

Here are the main reasons:

• Large Competition: Every year, lakhs of students appear for the NTA UGC NET. However, the pass percentage is very low.
• The UGC NET syllabus includes two papers: 
• Paper-1: 100 marks
• Paper-2: 200 marks
• The UGC NET cutoffs are very high. Only 0.7% candidates qualify for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).  

5. CAT

While speaking about what is the toughest exam in India, CAT stands tall due to multiple reasons. Common Admission Test or CAT is a national-level management aptitude test. Candidates qualifying for the CAT can apply for admission to MBA and other postgraduate courses offered by the 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and top B-schools in India. 

Why is CAT considered a tough test?

CAT is recognised among the toughest exam in India rank wise, due to the following reasons: 

• CAT qualifiers can apply for admission to top IIMs in India and different B-schools.
• The competition level of CAT is very high. Around 3 lakh candidates appear for the test every year. 
• The CAT exam is very challenging and the question pattern is generally unpredictable. 
• CAT exam pattern assesses multiple skills including Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. 
• The cut-offs are extremely high, especially for older IIMs.

CAT Exam Highlights 

CAT Exam Particulars	CAT Details
CAT  Full Form	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Institute for 2025	IIM Kozhikode
Exam Level	National
CAT Entrance Exam Frequency	Once a year
CAT Exam Fees	INR 2,600 (General category) INR 1,300 (Reserved category)
Eligibility Criteria	Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD students)
Exam Purpose	Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India
Courses Offered	MBA/PGDM
CAT syllabus	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)  Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT exam mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs
CAT exam website	https://iimcat.ac.in
Exam helpdesk no.	1-800-210-1088 (Toll Free)

6. CLAT

What is the toughest exam in India? While mentioning the list of top 10 toughest exam in India, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is also included along with UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE), JEE Advanced, NEET, CAT, UGC NET, GATE, NDA, Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam, NID Entrance Exam and others.

CLAT is a national-level law entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs). The test is conducted for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs offered by 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. 

As per the reports, over 1 lakh candidates registered for CLAT every year for both UG and PG, however, the CAT selection rate of the test is around 5%. Due to the high competition, poor selection rates, and challenging exam pattern, CLAT is one of the toughest exams in India for law aspirants.

CLAT Highlights

Features	Details
Name of the exam	Common-Law Admission Test
Popularly known as	CLAT
Conducting body	The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs)
Exam mode	Pen-and-paper exam
Exam duration	Two hours
Accepting colleges	26 participating NLUs, and 61 private law colleges
Exam helpdesk number	08047162020
Official website	https://clatconsortiumofnlu.ac.in/

Why CLAT is considered to be a tough exam for students?

CLAT is in the list of the top 20 toughest exam in India due to the following reasons: 

• The competition ratio of CLAT exam is very high. The CLAT acceptance rate is around 5%. 
• The CLAT syllabus is extensive. The syllabus includes five sections: 
• English Language
• Legal Reasoning
• Current Affairs including General Knowledge
• Logical Reasoning 
• Quantitative Techniques
• Challenging time management. Many students often find it stressful to complete the full question paper within the given time.

7. NEET

The NEET exam is also included in the most toughest exam in India. NEET is a medical entrance test. The test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for undergraduate medical and paramedical courses. 

NEET full form is National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test. Candidates qualifying for the NEET entrance exam can apply for admission to MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, Veterinary, and other medical/paramedical courses in India.

Features of NEET exam pattern: 

• Mode of Exam: Offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
• Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes (200 minutes)
• Number of Questions: 200 questions
• Subjects Covered

• • Physics
  • Chemistry

• • Biology (Zoology & Botany)

• Questions are divided into two sections (A & B) in each subject.
• Section A: 35 questions (all compulsory).
• Section B: 15 questions (only 10 need to be attempted).

• Marks Distribution

• • Physics: 50 questions → 180 marks
  • Chemistry: 50 questions → 180 marks
  • Biology: 100 questions → 360 marks
  • Total: 180 questions → 720 marks

• Marking Scheme
• +4 marks for each correct answer.
• -1 mark for each wrong answer (negative marking).
• 0 mark for unattempted questions.

Check NEET exam highlights here:

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET)
Conducting Body	National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level	Undergraduate (UG) Exam at National Level
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Courses Offered Through NEET UG	MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, BAMS, BUMS, BVSC & AH
Exam Fees	INR 1,700 (General), 1,600 (OBC), 1,000 (Reserved category candidates), 9,500 (Foreign nationals)
Accepting Colleges	1,613 colleges
NEET Helpline Numbers	011-69227700, 011-40759000 Email: neetug2025@nta.ac,in,neet@nta.ac.in
NEET Official Website	www.neet.nta.nic.in

Why NEET is considered the toughest exam in India?

NEET is considered India toughest exam because of the following reasons:

• NEET is a very competitive exam in India. Every year, over 20 lakh students appear for the NEET exam. 
• The syllabus of NEET is very vast. Candidates need to prepare for Physics and Chemistry, along with Biology.
• The exam includes 180 questions, candidates need to complete the full NEET question paper within 180 minutes. It is very challenging to manage time with accuracy. 
• NEET marking scheme includes negative marking. Therefore, students need to be very careful and accurate to avoid mistakes.  
• The NEET cutoff for top medical colleges in India is very high. 

8. NDA

NDA is a national-level entrance examination in India. It is one of the most toughest exam in India. NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy Course. 

National Defence Academy or NDA is held twice a year (NDA I in April and NDA II in September). Candidates aged between 16.5 to 19.5 years with a 10+2 pass (with Physics & Math) can apply for NDA. 

NDA Selection Process:

1. Written Exam (Mathematics + GAT – General Ability Test)
2. SSB Interview (Service Selection Board)
3. Medical Examination

Check NDA exam details below: 

Exam Particulars	Exam Details
Exam Name	National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA)
Conducting Body	UPSC
Exam Level	National
Exam Frequency	Two times a year (April & September)
Mode of Exam	Offline
Exam Stages	Written exam and SSB Interview
Exam Purpose	For admission to National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC)
Exam Fees	INR 100 for male candidates belonging to the General and OBC categories. However, SC/ST/Women candidates/Sons of JCOs/NCOs/ORs are exempted from paying the fees.
Exam Duration	GAT: 2 ½ hours Mathematics: 2 ½ hours
Language/Medium of Exam	English and Hindi
Contact Details	011-23385271/011-23381125/011- 23098543
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

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9. Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam

CA exam is offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). CA exam is regarded as one of the most difficult exams in India. Candidates who wish to become professional Chartered Accountants. The test is divided into three stages - CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final. 

Why is Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam considered the toughest exam in India?

CA is considered one of the most toughest exam in India due to the following reasons:

• CA includes multiple stages: Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. Each stage includes challenging subjects.
• The syllabus of CA covers various topics such as accounting, law, taxation, costing, auditing, and finance.
• The pass percentage of CA exam is very low, which is around 5%–15%. 
• Candidates need to complete mandatory articleship, which includes 3 years of training.
• Requires strong analytical, numerical, and time management skills.

CA exam highlights:

Particulars	Chartered Accountancy Course Details
CA Full Form	Chartered Accountancy
CA Course Level	Certification
CA Course Duration	Can be up to 4.5 years
CA Course Exam Conducting Body	Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Exam Structure	Multiple papers at each level with objective and subjective questions, plus practical case studies.
Exam Form Fees	Rs. 1500
CA Course Admission Routes	Foundation Course or Direct Entry
CA Course Eligibility Criteria	Foundation Route: After Class 12 Direct Entry Route: Graduation
CA Areas of Employment	Audit, Taxation, Banking, Finance, Management etc.
CA Job Profiles	Accountants, Finance Managers, Accounting Managers, Business Analysts, Chartered Engineers, etc.
CA Average Salary	INR 10.8 LPA
CA Top Recruiters	KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), Lodha & Co., PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) etc.

10. National Institute of Design Entrance Exam

Planning to take the National Institute of Design Entrance Exam? If yes, you should know that National Institute of Design Entrance Exam is one of the top 10 toughest exam in India. The exam is conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses. 

Why is National Institute of Design Entrance Exam considered the toughest exam?

Here are the top reasons: 

• The acceptance rate of NID entrance exam is very low. Only a few hundred seats are available across NID campuses.
• National Institute of Design Entrance Exam selection ratio is very low.
• The exam includes two stage selection process: 
• DAT Prelims
• DAT Mains
• NID entrance exam has no fixed syllabus. 

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	NID Entrance Exam
Full Form	National Institute of Design Entrance Exam
Conducting Body	National Institute of Design (NID)
Exam Level	Undergraduate (B.Des) & Postgraduate (M.Des)
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Courses Offered	B.Des, M.Des, GDPD
Application Form Fee	Around INR 3,000 (General/OBC), INR 1,500 (SC/ST/PWD)
Exam Mode	DAT Prelims: Pen-and-Paper, DAT Mains: Studio Test/Interview
Exam Duration	3 Hours
Official Website	www.nid.edu

From the article, we can conclude that UPSC CSE, JEE Advanced, CAT, UGC NET, and GATE are the top 5 toughest exams in India. Candidates must prepare with dedication and sincerity to crack the most toughest exams in India.