Top 10 Toughest Exams in India To Crack in 2022

1.Indian Civil Services Examination (UPSC)

The Indian Civil Services Examination (UPSC) is a competitive examination in India for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. It is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as Indian polity, international relations, economic and social development, and environmental ecology and biodiversity. The examination consists of two main stages: the preliminary examination, which is a multiple choice based test, and the main examination, which is a written test. The top candidates from the main examination are then called for an interview. The UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) once a year.

2.Indian Engineering Services Examination (IES)

The Indian Engineering Services Examination (IES) is a competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to various engineering services of the Government of India. The examination is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of engineering disciplines such as Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, and Civil Engineering. The examination consists of two main stages: the preliminary examination, which is a multiple choice based test, and the main examination, which is a written test. The top candidates from the main examination are then called for an interview. The IES exam is conducted once a year and only the top performers are selected for the role. It is highly competitive and tests the candidate’s knowledge of engineering principles, their ability to apply the principles in real-life situations, and their analytical skills.

3.Chartered Accountancy Examination (CA)

The Chartered Accountancy Examination (CA) is a professional certification in the field of accountancy in India. The examination is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as accounting, auditing, taxation, and corporate laws. The CA examination is divided into three levels:

1. Common Proficiency Test (CPT)
2. Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC)
3. Final Examination

The CPT is an entry level exam, which is followed by IPCC and then the final exam. The final examination has two groups and the student has to clear both groups in order to become a Chartered Accountant. The CA Examination is held twice a year in the months of May and November. It is a challenging exam that requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to clear.

4.Company Secretary Examination (CS)

The Company Secretary Examination (CS) is a professional certification in the field of corporate governance and secretarial practices in India. The examination is conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as company law, economic and commercial laws, capital markets, and corporate governance. The CS examination is divided into three levels:

1. Foundation Programme
2. Executive Programme
3. Professional Programme

The Foundation Programme is an entry-level exam, which is followed by the Executive Programme and then the Professional Programme. The Professional Programme has two groups and a student has to clear both groups in order to become a Company Secretary. The CS Examination is held four times a year in the months of June, December, December (Executive) and June (Professional). It is a challenging exam that requires a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance to clear. The CS course also includes practical training and experience which is essential to become a Company Secretary.

5.Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Entrance Exam

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Entrance Exam is a competitive examination in India for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) which are considered to be among the top business schools in the country. The examination is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, and logical reasoning. The most popular entrance exam for IIMs is the Common Admission Test (CAT) which is conducted annually by one of the IIMs on rotation basis. The CAT exam is a computer-based test and it consist of multiple-choice questions and is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.

Other than CAT, IIMs also accept scores of other management entrance exams such as GMAT, GRE and XAT. The selection process also includes Group Discussion, Personal Interview and Written Ability Test. IIMs are highly selective, and only a small number of candidates are admitted each year, based on their performance in the entrance examination and the subsequent selection process.

6.National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a competitive examination in India for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses across the country. The examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology. The NEET exam is a pen and paper-based test, consisting of multiple choice questions. The exam is divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). The questions are designed to test the candidate's understanding of the fundamental concepts and their ability to apply them to solve problems.

The NEET score is used by all Medical and Dental colleges across India, except AIIMS and JIPMER, to admit students into their undergraduate programmes. The exam is held annually in the month of May and the results are usually announced in June. The selection process also includes counseling, in which the student will be allotted college and seat based on their NEET score, category, and availability of seats in the college. It is a highly competitive exam and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to clear.

7.Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and Advanced

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a competitive examination in India for admission to undergraduate engineering courses across the country. The examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The JEE consists of two parts: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

JEE Main is the first stage of the examination and is conducted twice a year in the months of January and April. JEE Main is a computer-based test and it consist of multiple-choice questions divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The exam is held for admission to undergraduate engineering courses offered by National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other government-funded technical institutes (GFTIs).

JEE Advanced is the second stage of the examination and is conducted once a year, usually in the month of May. JEE Advanced is a computer-based test and it consist of multiple-choice questions divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The exam is held for admission to undergraduate engineering courses offered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Only the top performers in JEE Main are eligible to take JEE Advanced. The selection process also includes counseling, in which the student will be allotted college and seat based on their JEE score, category, and availability of seats in the college. It is a highly competitive exam and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to clear.

8.Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a competitive examination in India for admission to postgraduate engineering courses (M.E., M.Tech, Ph.D.) across the country. The examination is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board - GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), and Government of India. It is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of engineering subjects.

The GATE exam is a computer-based test and it consist of multiple-choice questions and numerical answer type questions, divided into two sections: General Aptitude and Engineering Subject. The exam is held for admission to postgraduate engineering courses offered by IITs, IISc, NITs, CFTIs and other institutes. The GATE score is also used by various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) for recruitment of engineers at entry-level positions. The GATE exam is held annually in the month of February and the results are usually announced in March. It is a highly competitive exam and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to clear.

9.All India Bar Examination (AIBE)

The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a professional certification examination in India for advocates who wish to practice law in India. The examination is conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law, Family Law, and Law of Torts among others. The AIBE is an open-book, multiple-choice question-based examination, which is held annually in various cities across India.

The AIBE is an objective type test and it assesses an advocate's capability to think on their feet, grasp the essentials of the problem, and find a solution. The exam is divided into two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A is a multiple-choice question paper and Part B is an essay paper. The test is conducted in 11 languages, including English and Hindi. The passing the AIBE is a mandatory requirement to be eligible to practice law in India.

10.Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is an all India entrance examination, conducted on rotation by 17 National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to their undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes (LL.B & LL.M). The examination is considered to be one of the toughest exams in India due to its high level of competition and the vast syllabus that covers a wide range of subjects such as legal aptitude, logical reasoning, English, general knowledge and mathematics.

The CLAT is a computer-based test and it consists of multiple-choice questions divided into five sections: English including comprehension, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Legal Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning. The CLAT is usually held in the month of May and the results are usually announced in June. The selection process also includes counseling, in which the student will be allotted college and seat based on their CLAT score, category, and availability of seats in the college. It is a highly competitive exam and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance to clear.

Note: These are considered as the toughest exams in India as per the perception of students and experts, However, it's also important to note that different people may have different levels of difficulty and it's also depend upon their preparation and aptitude.