Top 5 Toughest Exams in India 2025: Check Complete Details Here
Do you know that every year, more than 300 exams are conducted in India across various fields? While some of these exams are relatively easy, others are considered among the toughest to crack. In this article, we will explore the most hardest exams in India. UPSC CSE, JEE Advanced, CAT, UGC NET, and GATE are among the top 5 toughest exams in India in 2025.
Top 5 Toughest Exams in India
Top 5 Toughest Exam in India: Exams are always stressful for students. Some exams can be easy to crack, whereas a few exams demand extreme hard work, consistency, and in-depth knowledge. These exams are considered the hardest exams in India due to high competition, low selection rate, complex exam pattern, and vast syllabus.
The list of toughest exams in India can vary depending on the personal skills, preparation, and knowledge of candidates. Meanwhile, lakhs of candidates appear for these exams every year, however, only a small percentage of applicants can crack them. In this article, we will explore the top 5 toughest exams in India and why they are considered the hardest to crack.
UPSC CSE, JEE Advanced, CAT, UGC NET, and GATE are considered the top 5 the toughest exams in India. However, deciding which is the 3 the toughest exam in the world depends on the individual test-takers.
In India, JEE Advanced is generally considered the 2nd the toughest exam in the world. Meanwhile, many candidates find NEET, UGC NET, CLAT, and other exams tougher than JEE Advanced.
- Top 5 Toughest Exams in India 2025 Overview
- Hardest Exams in India 2025: UPSC CSE
- IIT-JEE Advanced
- Toughest Exams in India: CAT
- UGC NET
- GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
- How To Crack Toughest Exams in India
Top 5 Toughest Exams in India 2025 Overview
The list of the top 5 hardest exams in India differs depending on the goals and priorities. Here’s a list of top 5 most difficult exams in India 2025:
- UPSC CSE
- JEE Advanced
- CAT
- UGC NET
- GATE
These exams are considered difficult and very tough to crack. UPSC and JEE Advanced are also rated among the toughest exams in the world. The selection rates of these tests are very low, with an increasing difficulty and competition ratio. Candidates who wish to apply for the exams need a strong knowledge of the subjects and sincere preparation.
Let’s explore these exams in detail below.
Also Read: Top Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Exams In India
Hardest Exams in India 2025: UPSC CSE
UPSC or Union Public Service Commission is a national competitive exam in India. UPSC Civil Service Examination (CSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually to recruit bureaucrats for prestigious posts such as IAS, IPS, IFS, and other allied services in the Government of India.
The success rate of UPSC CSE is less than 1%, which reason why it is ranked among the toughest exams in the world along with Gaokao, USMLE, and more. The complex exam pattern of UPSC demands strong skills, detailed knowledge, and preparation. The exam is conducted in three stages:
UPSC CSE, JEE Advanced, CAT, UGC NET, and GATE are generally considered the top 5 the toughest exam in India. Students need sincere preparation and strong skills to crack these exams in India.
- UPSC IAS Preliminary Exam
- UPSC IAS Main Exam (written)
- UPSC IAS Main Exam (Personality Test)
UPSC 2026 Exam Overview
- Exam Purpose: To recruit candidates for the All India Services and Central Civil Services
- Exam level: National
- Exam stages:
- Prelims (Qualifying Only) - 400 Marks
- Mains (written) - 1750 Marks
- Mains (Personality Test) - 275 Marks
- Why it is considered hard: UPSC is considered difficult due to its vast syllabus, multistage selection, and rigorous testing of knowledge, analytical skills, and personal interview.
Also Read:
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UPSC CSE (IAS) Selection Process 2025: Prelims, Mains, Interview
IIT-JEE Advanced
JEE Advanced is an engineering entrance test. It is a national level entrance exam in India conducted by one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis. Approximately 1.8 lakhs students appeared for the JEE Advanced in 2025, and only around 50 thousand students were able to enroll in top IITs in India.
The pass percentage of IIT JEE is less than 30%. Therefore, it is among the toughest exams in the world. The exam pattern of JEE Advanced includes deep conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, and analytical thinking. Meanwhile, students need at least 1–2 years of dedicated preparation to crack the test.
IIT-JEE Advanced Overview:
- Exam Level: National
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Mode of Exam: Computer-based test
- Number of papers: JEE (Advanced) 2026 will have two papers - paper 1 and paper 2
- Why it is considered hard: IIT-JEE Advanced is considered hard due to its highly challenging questions and time management under intense competition.
Also Read:
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10 Reasons Why JEE Advanced is One of the Toughest Exams in the World
Toughest Exams in India: CAT
CAT or Common Admission Test is considered the most difficult entrance test in India for admission to MBA and other post-graduate management programs. Around 3 lakhs candidates registered for CAT 2025 exam to secure admission to top IIMs in India. However, the acceptance rate of CAT ranges from 0.1% to 0.4%.
CAT syllabus includes three main sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
CAT Exam Overview
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Exam Purpose: Admission to IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,300 B-Schools in India
- CAT exam mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs
- Why is CAT considered a tough test?
- High competition level
- Higher cutoff for top IIMs
- Unpredictable question pattern
Also Read:
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UGC NET
UGC NET stands for University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. The test is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) to recruit Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. UGC NET is conducted twice a year in more than 85 different subjects.
As per the reports, more than 10 lakh candidates registered for the UGC NET June 2025. The minimum eligibility for UGC NET is a Master’s degree or equivalent with at least 55% marks.
Top Toughest Exam in India: UGC NET Overview
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Exam Frequency: Twice a year
- Exam Purpose: Assistant Professor or both Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges
- Why it is considered hard:
- High competition
- UGC NET cutoffs are very high
- UGC NET acceptance rate: only 6% to 10% (approx.)
Also Read:
GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
GATE is an entrance exam conducted for admission to technical postgraduate programs, such as M.Tech., M.E., PhD, and more. Many Indian students find it difficult to crack due to its extensive syllabus, technical depth, and negative marking.
So, if you are planning to study a master’s in Engineering, Technology, and Architecture in IITs and NITs, qualifying for GATE exam is mandatory.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Exam Overview
- Exam Level: National
- Mode of Application: Online
- Exam Frequency: Once a year
- Applications Per Year: More than 8 Lakhs
- Why GATE is considered tough in India:
- Extensive syllabus
- Technical depth
- High competition
- Time constraints
- Negative marking
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How To Crack Toughest Exams in India
Here’s a simple guide on how to crack the toughest exams in India:
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus is the first step to cracking hard exams. Check the structure, subjects, marking scheme, and weightage of each exams before starting the preparation.
- Make a Realistic Study Plan: Understand your strengths and weaknesses and then prepare an individual study plan for different exam sections.
- Focus on Conceptual Clarity: Do not focus on learning without conceptual clarity. Try to understand the concepts deeply to improve your chances of success in the exams.
- Practice Regularly: Solve previous years’ question papers, take mock tests, and attempt sample papers to improve speed and accuracy.
- Time Management: Learn to manage time during preparation and while attempting the exam.
Read More:
UPSC CSE, NEET, JEE Advanced, CAT, CLAT, UGC NET, GATE, NDA, Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam, and National Institute of Design Entrance Exam are the 10 most the toughest exam in India. Candidates need hardcore preparation to crack these exams.