Why This Question Matters
Every year, millions of Indian students face competitive exams to pursue careers in government, engineering, medicine, law, and defense. But which one is truly the most difficult exam in India?
This guide answers that question, compares key exams, and helps you understand what makes them so challenging.
Top 10 Most Difficult Exams in India
Here’s a comparison of India’s toughest exams based on competition level, syllabus difficulty, and success ratio:
| Rank | Exam Name | Known For / Why It’s Difficult |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UPSC Civil Services | Extremely low selection rate, vast syllabus, 3 stages |
| 2 | IIT-JEE Advanced | High-level Physics & Math, conceptual difficulty |
| 3 | GATE | Deep technical questions, engineering-level topics |
| 4 | NEET-UG | High competition, limited medical seats |
| 5 | CA (Chartered Account) | Multi-level structure, low pass percentage |
| 6 | AIIMS PG/INI CET | Advanced medical entrance for post-grad |
| 7 | CLAT | Logical reasoning, comprehension under time pressure |
| 8 | NDA/NA Exam | Requires mental + physical fitness, SSB interview |
| 9 | ISI Admission Test | Tough Math/Stats concepts, very few selections |
| 10 | UGC NET/JRF | Requires deep subject mastery, limited fellowship |
About the Most Difficult Exams in India
Let’s look deeper at the top 5:
1. UPSC Civil Services Exam (IAS/IPS)
- Attempts per year: ~10 lakh
- Success rate: Less than 0.2%
- Stages: Prelims, Mains, Interview
- Why so tough? It tests knowledge, ethics, decision-making, and current affairs.
2. IIT-JEE Advanced
- Attempts per year: ~2 lakh (after JEE Main filtering)
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Maths
- Challenge: Highly analytical, requires years of prep and top 2% scoring.
3. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
- For: M.Tech, PSU jobs
- Challenge: Deep technical questions, applied concepts from BTech level.
4. NEET-UG (Medical Entrance)
- Applicants: 20+ lakh
- Seats: Limited govt. MBBS seats
- Toughness: Biology-heavy, one wrong step can ruin a year.
5. CA (Chartered Accountancy)
- Challenge: Very low pass rate, long duration, and tough concepts.
- Levels: Foundation, Intermediate, Final
- Reality: Many drop midway due to difficulty.
Other Tough Exams Worth Mentioning
- SSC CGL – Competitive for govt. jobs
- CAT – For IIM admissions
- AILET – For NLU Delhi law admissions
- IES – For engineering govt. posts
- NIFT Entrance – For fashion design aspirants
Related Questions People Ask
Which is the No.1 toughest exam in India?
UPSC Civil Services is considered the most difficult due to its vast syllabus and low pass rate.
Which exam has the lowest success rate?
UPSC and CA exams have pass rates below 1%.
Is NEET tougher than JEE?
NEET has more applicants, but JEE Advanced is conceptually more challenging.
Which exams are toughest for government jobs?
UPSC, SSC CGL, and IES are among the hardest government-related exams.
What are the toughest exams in the world?
Globally, IIT-JEE and UPSC are often ranked among the most difficult.