CareersEntrance and recruitment exams at a glance
The main examinations a student in India meets, with the class after which each is taken, where it leads and who holds it.
| Examination | Taken after | Leads to | Held by |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | Class 12 (PCM) | B.Tech at NITs, IIITs and others; first stage for IITs; Paper 2 for B.Arch | National Testing Agency |
| JEE Advanced | JEE Main | B.Tech at the IITs | An IIT, by rotation |
| NEET UG | Class 12 (PCB) | MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, veterinary, and nursing in many institutes | National Testing Agency |
| CUET UG | Class 12 | Degree courses at central and many other universities | National Testing Agency |
| CLAT | Class 12 | Five year law courses at National Law Universities | Consortium of NLUs |
| NDA and NA | Class 12 | Officer training for Army, Navy and Air Force | UPSC |
| NATA | Class 12 (with Mathematics) | B.Arch | Council of Architecture |
| UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT | Class 12 | B.Des and fashion courses | IIT Bombay, NID, NIFT |
| NCHM JEE | Class 12 | Hotel management at the national institutes | National Testing Agency |
| CA Foundation | Class 12 | The chartered accountancy course | ICAI |
| SSC CHSL | Class 12 | Clerical posts in central government offices | Staff Selection Commission |
| SSC MTS and Constable (GD) | Class 10 | Multi-tasking staff; constables in central armed police forces | Staff Selection Commission |
| RRB Group D and NTPC | Class 10 or ITI; Class 12 or degree | Railway posts | Railway Recruitment Boards |
| SSC CGL | Degree | Inspectors, assistants and auditors in central departments | Staff Selection Commission |
| UPSC Civil Services | Degree | IAS, IPS, IFS and other services | UPSC |
| IBPS PO and Clerk, SBI PO and Clerk | Degree | Officer and clerical posts in banks | IBPS; State Bank of India |
| CDS and AFCAT | Degree | Officer entry to the defence forces | UPSC; Indian Air Force |
| CAT | Degree | MBA at the IIMs and many other institutes | An IIM, by rotation |
| GATE | Engineering or science degree | M.Tech admission; recruitment by some public sector companies | IISc or an IIT, by rotation |
| CUET PG | Degree | Master's courses at central and other universities | National Testing Agency |
| CTET | D.El.Ed or B.Ed | Eligibility to teach classes 1 to 8 | CBSE |
| UGC NET | Master's degree | Eligibility for assistant professor; research fellowship | National Testing Agency |
| NEET PG | MBBS | MD, MS and diploma seats | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences |
How to use this table
- Find the row for the course or job you want.
- Note who holds the examination, and open that body's official website.
- Read the latest notice or information bulletin in full: eligibility, age, subjects, dates and fee.
- Fill in the form yourself, early, and keep a copy.
Three cautions
- Look-alike websites. Use only the official address, which usually ends in .gov.in, .nic.in or .ac.in. Sites that charge a "registration fee" to apply on your behalf are not official.
- State examinations. Most states have their own tests for engineering, nursing, polytechnic, teaching and state services. They are not in this table; your state's education department lists them.
- Change. Examinations are merged, renamed and reshaped every few years. If a name here has changed, the body's website will say what replaced it.
Check the official notice. This page describes how the path works in general, as understood in November 2026. Age limits, eligibility, exam patterns, dates and fees change. Before you apply or pay for anything, read the current notice on the official website named on this page. This is general information, not personal career advice.
Questions people ask
Which exams can I take after 12th?
JEE Main, NEET UG, CUET UG, CLAT, NDA, NATA, design tests such as UCEED and NID DAT, NCHM JEE, CA Foundation and SSC CHSL, depending on your stream.
Which exams need a degree?
UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, bank examinations, CDS, AFCAT, CAT and CUET PG are for graduates. GATE needs an engineering or science degree, or the later years of one.
Where do I find the real dates?
Only on the website of the body that holds the examination. Dates differ every year and are sometimes changed after the notice.