Top Indian Government Exams after Graduation: Part 1

We've all probably heard our parents saying, "Beta ek baar Sarkari Naukari mil jaye, fir maze hi maze". (Once you secure a government job, life will be much more enjoyable).  

A Department of Personnel and Training report reveals that over 22 Cr. people have applied for government jobs since 2014. But what makes these "Sarkari Naukari" so appealing? Well, they offer high job security, prestige, good salaries, housing, medical benefits, and other perks, making them highly sought-after career options in India.

In this two-part series, you will learn about the top government exams in India,  their syllabus, and the different posts they offer.

1. UPSC

Let's begin with one of India's most widely recognised exams, the Union Public Service Commission, where out of every 1000 candidates, only 2 can qualify.

UPSC is in charge of organising important exams to hire people with the right skills and know-how to work as civil servants, in defence, and as administrators in the Indian government. This makes governance better and ensures the government gives top-notch services to citizens.

Exams Conducted by UPSC

UPSC conducts different examinations at the All-India level yearly.

Civil Services 

UPSC provides 24 diverse roles in civil services, which are highly sought-after compared to others. These positions are filled annually through the Civil Service Examination (CSE).

While there are different Civil Services, most people aim for Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Services (IPS), and Indian Foreign Services (IFS)- All India Services.

Posts of Indian Civil Services

The Civil Services Examination posts are divided into 2 groups:

How are the positions (IAS, IFS, IRS, IPS) determined for a candidate after taking the CSE?

Service allocation is based on the following factors:

1. Preference ( Indicated at the time of filling Detailed Application Form after clearing prelims);
2. Rank in the final merit list;
3. Category of candidate; and
4. Vacancies

For instance, if there are 100 openings for IAS, 50 are for reserved categories and the rest 50  for unreserved categories. A general candidate needs to secure a rank between 1 and 50 to qualify for IAS (depending on preferences selected by others in between). If IAS isn't someone's top choice between the rank 1-50, they may get another preferred service like IPS or IRS.

And if someone from the unreserved category got AIR 89, they still won't get IAS, as there are 50 seats for the reserved category, with this rank, s/he could have opted for IFS or IPS, but if s/he chose IRS IT as their second preference so that s/he will be allocated that service.

Civil Service Exam: 2024

Check out the 2024 CSE Exam calendar, question paper, etc, from the Official Website!

Candidates should know that the Civil Services and the Indian Forest Services have a common prelims exam. While applying for prelims, candidates should indicate whether they are taking both exams or only either one of them. 

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2. Banking

In India, bank exams are highly respected by those who want to work in banking. Many banks and organisations hold these exams every year. Some of the well-known bank exams include

A. RBI Grade B

• About: The Grade B officer recruitment exam is the only way to become an entry-level officer at RBI.
• Duties: RBI Grade B officer inspects the credit appraisal system of banks, KYC AML guidelines, cash vaults, the functioning and overall security of the branch, and the policymaking process.
• Posts: RBI Grade B vacancies are announced for different positions, such as Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) – (General), Officers in Grade ‘B' (DR) – DEPR, and Officers in Grade 'B’ (DR) – DSIM.
• Salary: The starting salary is ₹55,200 per month, and the total monthly earnings come to around ₹1,16,914 (approx.)

B. SBI PO and SBI Clerk Exam

• Both exams offer opportunities to work at the esteemed State Bank of India, though in different roles. While their syllabi are similar, there are notable differences in the format, types, and topics of questions asked in the Main exams.

C. IBPS SO/PO Exam

• The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is an autonomous body that conducts recruitment examinations for all Public Sector Banks except SBI.
• Eleven banks are participating, including BoB, BoI, Canara Bank, etc.
• Every year, IBPS holds the IBPS SO exam to choose specialist officers and IBPS PO for probationary officers. 
• Getting through IBPS PO is simpler compared to IBPS SO. The reason is that BPS PO is more general, while IBPS SO is more specialised. IBPS PO covers a wider variety of subjects than IBPS SO.

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3. Railway

• After graduation, there are different job opportunities in the railway sector. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) categorises these jobs into four levels: Group A, Group B, Group C, and Group D.
• Group A positions are filled through the UPSC exam. The jobs in this group include both technical and non-technical roles. Exams held for these jobs are the Civil Service Exam, Engineering Service Exam, and Combined Medical Service Examination.
• Group B, RRB doesn't hold exams for Group B positions. These roles are for promotion purposes only.
• Group C positions are filled by the RRB. These positions include various non-technical roles like Assistant Station Masters, Train Clerks, Ticket Collectors, etc.
• Group D is a divisional-level hiring process for various positions, including trackman, safaiwala, etc. 

How To Get Railway Jobs?

RRB conducts various exams for jobs available for 10th, 12th, and graduate students in railways, with 21 zones releasing region-wise notifications. 

There are two types of railway jobs: technical and non-technical. Eligibility criteria vary, and sports quotas may increase the chances of direct recruitment. 

A. Technical Jobs- RRB ALP (Assistant Loco Pilot) & Technicians

B. Non-technical Job- RRB NTPC 

Other Non-Technical Railway Jobs- RRB Ministerial & isolated Categories, RRB Paramedical Categories jobs and RPF SI.

Frequently Asked Questions related to Govt Exams after Graduation

Q1. Which government exam is best after graduation?

After graduation in India, you can appear for government exams such as UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, Banking Exams (IBPS, SBI), State PSCs, and more, depending on your career interests and qualifications.

Q2. How many exams are there at UPSC?

The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination has 3 stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test (Interview).

Q3. What are the top 10 toughest exams in India?

• UPSC

• IIT JEE

• NDA

• UGC-NET

• Indian Engineering Services (IES)

• CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

• Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam

• NEET

• CAT: Common Admission Test

• GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

Q4. What are the top 5 civil services in India?

IAS (Indian Administrative Service), IPS (Indian Police Service), IFS (Indian Foreign Service), IRTS (Indian Railway Traffic Service), and IRS (Indian Revenue Service).

Q5. What is the age limit for most government exams after graduation?

The age limit for govt. jobs usually between 21 to 35 years, with some relaxation for reserved categories. Always check the official notification for the exact age requirements.

To be Continued in Part 2...