Let's be real — the moment results come out, half the country starts Googling "which government exam is next." And honestly? That's the right instinct. The ones who crack Sarkari exams aren't always the smartest people in the room. They're the most prepared — and more importantly, the most organised.
This guide is that organisation, handed to you on a plate.
Whether you've just passed Class 10, finished your graduation, or you're a working professional eyeing a career switch — there's an exam on this list for you. We've broken everything down by qualification level, registration month, and category so you spend less time hunting and more time actually preparing.
Here's something nobody tells freshers: most candidates miss their window not because they failed — but because they applied too late, or missed the notification entirely.
SSC released its 2026–27 exam calendar on 14 March 2026, IBPS released its calendar on 16 January 2026, and UPSC Civil Services Prelims is scheduled for 24 May 2026. That's three major notifications from three different bodies — all within a few months. If you're not tracking these, you're already behind.
While this guide provides an anticipated schedule, official exam dates can be subject to change. It is imperative to regularly check the official websites of the respective examination authorities for the latest notifications, application deadlines, and any updates regarding admit cards or exam schedules.
Bookmark this. Print it. Pin it to your wall like a war map.
UPSC conducts 12 to 14 major examinations per year — the full schedule is available on upsc.gov.in. These range from the iconic Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) to Engineering Services, Combined Defence Services, and the NDA.
The UPSC NDA 2 notification 2026 was released on May 20, 2026, on the official website upsc.gov.in, with the application form link active from May 20 to June 9, 2026.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS/IFS) | February | Graduation (Any Stream) | IAS, IPS, IFS & Allied Services |
| UPSC NDA I | December–January | Class 12 (PCM for Army/Navy) | National Defence Academy |
| UPSC NDA II | May–June | Class 12 (PCM for Army/Navy) | National Defence Academy |
| UPSC CDS I | November–December | Graduation | Indian Army/Navy/Air Force Officer |
| UPSC CDS II | May–June | Graduation | Indian Army/Navy/Air Force Officer |
| UPSC CAPF AC | April–May | Graduation (Any Stream) | Assistant Commandant, Paramilitary |
| UPSC Engineering Services | September–October | B.E./B.Tech (Relevant Discipline) | Engineering Posts (Central Govt) |
| UPSC CMS | March–April | MBBS Degree | Medical Officer (Central Govt) |
| UPSC IFS (Indian Forest Service) | February | Graduation in Science/Engineering/Agriculture | Indian Forest Service |
| UPSC CISF AC (LDCE) | As notified | Graduation + Service in CISF | Assistant Commandant (CISF) |
Quick Note: For UPSC Civil Services, the age limit is 21–32 years (general category). The attempt limit is 6 attempts. If this is your goal, start early — the syllabus alone could fill a small library.
Banking remains one of the most popular career destinations — and for good reason. Bank recruitment continues to attract candidates due to job stability and attractive benefits. In 2025, IBPS, SBI, LIC, and other banks released recruitment notifications for thousands of vacancies.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI PO | April–May | Graduation (Any Stream) | Probationary Officer, SBI |
| SBI Clerk | January–February | Graduation (Any Stream) | Junior Associate, SBI |
| IBPS PO | July–August | Graduation (Any Stream) | Probationary Officer, Public Sector Banks |
| IBPS Clerk | September–October | Graduation (Any Stream) | Clerical Cadre, Public Sector Banks |
| IBPS RRB PO (Officer Scale I) | June–July | Graduation (Any Stream) | Officer Scale-I, Regional Rural Banks |
| IBPS RRB Clerk | June–July | Graduation (Any Stream) | Office Assistant, Regional Rural Banks |
| RBI Grade B | February–March | Graduation (Min 60% Marks) | Grade B Officer, Reserve Bank of India |
| RBI Assistant | October–November | Graduation (Any Stream) | Assistant, Reserve Bank of India |
| NABARD Grade A | January–March | Graduation in Relevant Field | Development Assistant / Officer |
| LIC AAO | February–March | Graduation (Any Stream) | Assistant Administrative Officer, LIC |
| LIC ADO | March–April | Class 12 Pass | Apprentice Development Officer, LIC |
| IDBI Bank Executive | March–April | Graduation (Any Stream) | Executive Posts, IDBI Bank |
Pro Tip: For IBPS RRB Office Assistant, candidates must be between 18 and 28 years of age. Age relaxation applies for SC/ST/OBC/Ex-Servicemen. Always check the official notification for updated age criteria.
The Staff Selection Commission is a machine that never sleeps. It runs exams throughout the year across every qualification level — from Class 10 pass to graduates. Every year, 30+ major government competitive exams are conducted in India by organisations such as UPSC, SSC, IBPS, RRB, and state public service commissions.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL | April–May | Graduation (Any Stream) | Group B & C posts across Ministries |
| SSC CHSL | April–May | Class 12 Pass | LDC, JSA, PA, DEO Posts |
| SSC MTS | June–July | Class 10 Pass | Multi-Tasking Staff (Non-Technical) |
| SSC GD Constable | November–December | Class 10 Pass | Constable in BSF/CISF/CRPF/SSB/NIA |
| SSC CPO / SI | May–June | Graduation (Any Stream) | Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police / CAPF |
| SSC Stenographer (Grade C & D) | October–November | Class 12 Pass | Stenographer, Central Govt Offices |
| SSC JE (Junior Engineer) | March–April | Diploma/Degree in Engineering | Junior Engineer, PWD/CPWD/CWC |
| SSC JHT | September–October | Master's Degree in Hindi + Degree in English | Junior Hindi Translator |
| SSC Selection Post | February–March | 10th / 12th / Graduation (varies by post) | Various Central Govt Posts |
SSC runs the largest set of government exams for both central government clerical and constable posts — and is the most popular route for 12th pass students across all streams. SSC also waives application fees for female candidates.
Indian Railways doesn't just connect cities — it connects millions of aspirants to a stable livelihood. The Ministry of Railways released its official RRB Exam Calendar 2026–27 on 12 December 2025. RRB Group D 2026 has 22,195 confirmed vacancies under CEN 09/2025. Posts at all qualification levels — 10th pass to graduation — are available through different exams in the same annual cycle.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC (Graduate Level) | September–November | Graduation (Any Stream) | Station Master, Goods Guard, ASM, etc. |
| RRB NTPC (Undergraduate Level) | September–November | Class 12 Pass | Junior Clerk, Accounts Clerk, etc. |
| RRB Group D | August–September | Class 10 Pass (ITI preferred) | Track Maintainer, Helper, Porter, etc. |
| RRB JE (Junior Engineer) | February–March | Diploma/Degree in Engineering | Junior Engineer across departments |
| RRB ALP (Loco Pilot) | January–March | ITI / Diploma in Engineering | Assistant Loco Pilot, Technician |
| RRB Ministerial & Isolated Posts | As notified | Varies (10th to Graduate) | Stenographer, Language Teacher, etc. |
| RRC Apprentice | As notified | Class 10 Pass + ITI | Trade Apprentice (Zone-wise) |
Not everyone who loves their country wants to sit in an office. If you're drawn to a life of discipline and service — the defence sector has some of the most respected and well-paying careers.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA (I & II) | Dec–Jan / May–Jun | Class 12 (PCM for Army/Navy) | Army, Navy, Air Force (Officer Cadet) |
| CDS (I & II) | Nov–Dec / May–Jun | Graduation | Indian Army/Navy/Air Force Officer |
| AFCAT | December / June | Graduation (60% Marks) | Air Force Officer (Flying/Ground Duty) |
| Indian Army Agniveer | January–February | Class 10 / Class 12 (varies) | Agniveer — Short-term Military Service |
| Indian Navy SSR / AA | As notified | Class 12 (PCM) | Sailor / Apprentice Entry |
| Indian Air Force Agniveervayu | March–April | Class 12 (PCM, min 50%) | Agniveervayu (Technical & Non-Technical) |
| CAPF AC | April–May | Graduation | Assistant Commandant (BSF/CISF/CRPF etc.) |
| Indian Coast Guard (Navik GD) | As notified | Class 12 Pass | Navik General Duty |
NDA now accepts female candidates. The eligibility change was introduced in 2022 following the Supreme Court order. This is a landmark shift — if you're a female aspirant with Class 12 PCM, NDA is now very much on the table.
India's teacher recruitment system is one of the most structured in the world. Whether you want to teach at primary level or become a professor, there's an exam for that.
| Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification Required | Post/Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTET | November–December | Graduation + B.Ed / D.El.Ed | Central Govt Primary & Upper Primary Teacher |
| DSSSB TGT/PGT | February–March | Graduation/Post-Graduation + B.Ed | Teacher, Delhi Govt Schools |
| KVS TGT/PGT | February–April | Graduation/Post-Graduation + B.Ed | Kendriya Vidyalaya Teacher |
| NVS TGT/PGT | February–March | Graduation/Post-Graduation + B.Ed | Navodaya Vidyalaya Teacher |
| UGC NET | March–April / September–October | Post-Graduation (55% Marks) | Assistant Professor / JRF |
| CSIR NET | March / September | M.Sc or equivalent (Science) | Research & Lectureship (Science streams) |
CTET 2026 registration started on November 27, 2025, on the official CBSE website. The CTET certificate is valid for a lifetime — clearing it once opens doors across states.
State Public Service Commissions conduct their own Civil Services exams — often with more vacancies and slightly lower competition than UPSC. Here's a quick overview of major ones:
| State PSC | Exam Name | Registration Month | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPSC (Maharashtra) | MPSC State Services | October–November | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| UPPSC (Uttar Pradesh) | PCS | January–February | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| BPSC (Bihar) | BPSC Integrated | July–August | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| RPSC (Rajasthan) | RAS | July–September | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| MPPSC (Madhya Pradesh) | State Services | January–February | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| KPSC (Karnataka) | KAS | March–April | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) | Group I | February–March | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| WBPSC (West Bengal) | WBCS | October–November | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| HPSC (Haryana) | HCS | As notified | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| OPSC (Odisha) | OAS | As notified | Graduation (Any Stream) |
| Month | Key Registrations Opening |
|---|---|
| January | SBI Clerk, BPSC, RRB ALP, NABARD Grade A |
| February | UPSC CSE, UPSC IFS, RBI Grade B, LIC AAO, UPPSC PCS |
| March | SSC JE, UPSC CMS, RRB JE, LIC ADO |
| April | SBI PO, SSC CGL, SSC CPO, KVS Teacher, DSSSB |
| May | SSC CHSL, UPSC CAPF, UPSC NDA II, CDS II |
| June | SSC MTS, IBPS RRB (PO + Clerk), Air Force Agniveer |
| July | IBPS PO, BPSC, RPSC RAS |
| August | RRB NTPC (UG), RRB Group D |
| September | IBPS Clerk, UGC NET, CSIR NET, UPSC ESE |
| October | NVS/KVS Teacher, RBI Assistant, UPPSC PCS |
| November | SSC GD Constable, CTET, MPSC State Services, WBCS |
| December | UPSC NDA I, UPSC CDS I, SSC Stenographer |
One exam at a time vs. multiple exams — There's a real debate here. Most toppers will tell you: pick one or two exams max and go deep. Spreading yourself thin across 10 different syllabi is how people spend 5 years preparing and clearing nothing.
The notification date is not the last date — Notifications open weeks before the form deadline. But the habit of "I'll apply later" has cost more than a few people their chance. Apply the day you see the notification.
Prelims ≠ Final selection — For most exams (UPSC, IBPS, SSC CGL), there are multiple stages. Clearing Prelims is the entry ticket, not the finish line. Adjust your preparation mindset accordingly.
Previous year papers are non-negotiable — Leverage Previous Year Papers and Tests to build a robust preparation strategy that aligns with the exam patterns. No shortcut replaces pattern recognition from past papers. Do at least 5–7 years for every exam you target.
Always verify exam dates from official sources before applying:
| Exam Category | Official Website |
|---|---|
| UPSC (All) | upsc.gov.in |
| SSC (All) | ssc.gov.in |
| IBPS (Banking) | ibps.in |
| SBI | sbi.co.in/web/careers |
| RBI | rbi.org.in |
| RRB / Railway | indianrailways.gov.in / indianrailways.gov.in |
| NDA / CDS | upsc.gov.in |
| CTET | ctet.nic.in |
| UGC NET | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| State PSCs | Respective State PSC websites |
The journey towards securing a government job is challenging yet achievable with a strategic, disciplined, and well-informed approach. The exam is not your enemy — the lack of a plan is.
Pick your exam. Know your qualification. Note the registration month. Then put your head down and prepare like you mean it.
The 2025–26 recruitment cycle is shaping up to be one of the largest in recent years, offering over one million government job opportunities across central and state departments. That's not a small number. Somewhere in that list is your seat — go claim it.