Government jobs

Government jobs after 12th and after graduation: one map

Lakhs of students prepare for government jobs every year, often without seeing the whole map. Here are the main central exams, sorted by the education you need, with who runs each one.

By Anuj Arora · Last verified: 9 Nov 2026

Two entry points

Main government exams by education level After Class 12: SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC 12th-level posts, Agniveer in the Army, Navy and Air Force, NDA, and state police and state staff exams. After graduation: UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, bank PO and clerk exams, RRB NTPC graduate-level posts, CDS and AFCAT, and state public service commission exams. After Class 12 SSC CHSLcentral offices RRB NTPC (12th-level) Indian Railways AgniveerArmy · Navy · Air Force NDAofficer, via UPSC State police · state staff each state's own boards After graduation UPSC Civil ServicesIAS · IPS · IFS SSC CGLministries Bank PO · clerkIBPS · SBI RRB NTPC (graduate)Railways CDS · AFCATofficer entry State PSC examsstate services
Every exam publishes a fresh notice each cycle. Ages and vacancies change; always read the latest one.

The exams at a glance

ExamConducted byMinimum educationAge (general)Leads to
SSC CHSLStaff Selection CommissionClass 1218–27Clerks, assistants and data entry operators in central offices
RRB NTPC (12th-level)Railway Recruitment BoardsClass 1218–33 (2026 notice)Clerical and commercial posts in Indian Railways
AgniveerArmy, Navy, Air ForceClass 10 or 12, by roleAbout 17½–21; see noticeFour years' service; up to 25% retained as regular soldiers
NDAUPSCClass 12 (Physics and Maths for Air Force and Navy)See noticeCommissioned officer after training
UPSC Civil ServicesUPSCAny degree21–32; six attemptsIAS, IPS, IFS and other central services
SSC CGLStaff Selection CommissionAny degree18–32, by postGroup B and C posts in ministries and departments
IBPS PO · SBI POIBPS · State Bank of IndiaAny degree20–30 · 21–30Probationary officers in public-sector banks
RRB NTPC (graduate)Railway Recruitment BoardsAny degreeFrom 18; see noticeGraduate-level posts in Indian Railways
CDS · AFCATUPSC · Indian Air ForceDegreeSee noticeOfficer entry into the armed forces
State PSCEach state's public service commissionAny degreeSet by each stateState administrative and police services

Reserved categories get age relaxation in every exam. Read the notification for your category before you plan.

Which family fits you?

  • You want a stable desk job: SSC or banking exams.
  • You want a uniform: Agniveer, NDA, CDS or AFCAT, or state police.
  • You want to lead and shape policy: UPSC or your state PSC.
  • You want a secure job close to home: state-level exams.

Prepare for a family, not one exam

SSC, banking and railway exams test the same core: arithmetic, reasoning, English and general awareness. Build that base once and you can sit several exams a year, instead of staking everything on one.

Give it a deadline

Decide how many attempts or years you will give, and keep a skill or job in view. Preparation without an end date is the most common way good years disappear.

Apply only on official websites

Real notices and forms are only on government sites such as ssc.gov.in, upsc.gov.in, the RRB sites, ibps.in and joinindianarmy.nic.in. No agent can get you a government job for money. Anyone who asks is running a fraud.

Preparing for a government exam?

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Sources

  1. SSC CHSL 2026 eligibility: Class 12, age 18–27
  2. RRB NTPC 2026 eligibility: 12th-level and graduate-level notices
  3. Agnipath scheme: four years' service, up to 25% retained
  4. IBPS PO and SBI PO 2026 eligibility
  5. UPSC Civil Services 2026 eligibility
  6. SSC CGL 2026 eligibility
  7. Official sites: ssc.gov.in, upsc.gov.in, indianrailways.gov.in (RRB links), ibps.in, sbi.co.in/careers, joinindianarmy.nic.in