After graduation you can take national-level tests such as UPSC CSE, SSC CGL, IBPS PO, RBI Grade B and CDS to enter civil services, banking, railways and defence. Each exam has its own eligibility, syllabus and preparation window of 6–12 months. Banking exams are held almost every month; UPSC is once a year. Choose by career goal, attempt limit and post preferences.
Which UPSC exams can I write after graduation?
UPSC conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE) for IAS, IPS and IFS posts. You must be a graduate in any discipline and be aged 21–32 years (37 years for OBC, 42 for SC/ST). The exam has three stages: Prelims (2 papers of 200 marks each, negative marking ⅓), Mains (9 papers, 1750 marks), and Interview (275 marks). The entire process takes about 10–12 months from notification to final result. A candidate can attempt UPSC CSE a maximum of 6 times (9 for OBC, unlimited for SC/ST).
- Notification: February
- Prelims: May–June
- Mains: September–October
- Final result: April next year
How to crack SSC CGL after your degree?
Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) recruits for Group-B and Group-C posts in ministries, tax and audit departments. Eligibility is graduation in any stream and age between 18–30 years (relaxation by category). The exam is held in four tiers. Tier-I is an online test of 200 marks in 60 minutes with four sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English. Tier-II has four papers of 200 marks each. A candidate can attempt SSC CGL up to 4 times within the age limit.
- Tier-I notification: March
- Tier-I exam: June–July
- Tier-II exam: November
- Final result: February next year
What banking exams are good after graduation?
After your degree you can sit for IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B and IBPS Clerk. IBPS PO consists of Prelims (100 questions in 1 hour, 100 marks), Mains (200 marks) and Interview (100 marks). SBI PO follows a similar pattern with slightly higher cut-offs. RBI Grade B has three phases: Phase-I (200 marks), Phase-II (300 marks) and Interview (50 marks). Banking exams are conducted almost every month; candidates can attempt each exam up to 4 times within the age limit.
| Exam | Frequency | Attempts allowed | Starting salary (LPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO | Twice a year | 4 | ₹8–10 |
| SBI PO | Once a year | 4 | ₹10–11 |
| RBI Grade B | Once a year | 6 | ₹13–15 |
| IBPS Clerk | Twice a year | Unlimited | ₹4–5 |
Can I join defence through exams after graduation?
Yes. The Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam is held twice a year by UPSC for entry into IMA, INA, AFA and OTA. Graduates aged 20–24 years (for OTA 19–25) can apply. The exam has two papers: English and General Knowledge (each 100 marks, 2 hours) and Elementary Mathematics (100 marks, 2 hours). Shortlisted candidates go to SSB interview and medicals. For technical entry in the Army (TES) you need PCM in Class 12 and appear through the TES notification; no written exam is held.
- CDS notification: January and June
- CDS exam: April and September
- SSB interview: 5 days
Which SSC exams recruit for Group B posts?
SSC recruits for Group B posts through CGL, CHSL, MTS and Stenographer exams. CGL recruits for Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Section Officer and Inspector posts. CHSL recruits for Lower Division Clerk, Data Entry Operator and Postal Assistant. Both require graduation; MTS needs Class 10 and Stenographer needs Class 12. The selection process includes a written test, skill test and document verification. Candidates can attempt each SSC exam up to the age limit.
- SSC CHSL notification: November
- SSC CHSL exam: March–April
- SSC MTS notification: January
- SSC MTS exam: April
What are the eligibility and syllabus for RBI Grade B?
RBI Grade B is open to graduates aged 21–30 years (33 for OBC, 35 for SC/ST). The syllabus includes Economic & Social Issues (100 marks), Finance & Management (100 marks) and English (100 marks) in Phase-II. Phase-I is General Awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning (200 marks). The exam is conducted once a year, usually in August–September, with final selection through interview.
- Phase-I duration: 2 hours
- Phase-II duration: 3 hours
- Interview marks: 50
How do I prepare for NDA after graduation?
Technically, NDA is for Class 12 pass students; however, graduates can still appear as “Limited Competitive Examination” for entry into Army, Navy and Air Force through the Short Service Commission route. The written exam has two papers: Mathematics (300 marks, 2½ hours) and General Ability Test (600 marks, 2½ hours). SSB interview follows for 5 days. Prepare with NCERT books up to Class 12 level and solve previous papers.
- Notification: May and December
- Exam: July and January
Which exams give the highest salary after graduation?
The highest starting salaries are offered by RBI Grade B (₹13–15 LPA), followed by IAS officers (₹56,100 basic at entry), IFS officers (₹56,100) and IPS officers (₹56,100). Among banking exams, SBI PO offers ₹10–11 LPA and IBPS PO ₹8–10 LPA. Defence officers through CDS start at ₹56,100 basic plus grade pay. Salaries increase with promotions and allowances.
| Post | Starting salary (LPA) | Promotions to | Age limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAS/IPS/IFS | ₹56,100 (basic) | Secretary to Government of India | 32 years (general) |
| RBI Grade B | ₹13–15 | Deputy Governor | 30 years (general) |
| SBI PO | ₹10–11 | Chief General Manager | 30 years |
| CDS Officer | ₹56,100 (basic) | Major General | 24 years (Army) |
What are the attempt limits and age relaxations for these exams?
Attempt limits and age relaxations vary by exam and category. UPSC CSE allows 6 attempts for general, 9 for OBC, unlimited for SC/ST. SSC CGL allows 4 attempts within the age limit; age relaxations are 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST. Banking exams allow 4 attempts for general; OBC get 7 and SC/ST get 9 within the age limit. RBI Grade B allows 6 attempts for general, 9 for OBC and unlimited for SC/ST.
- UPSC CSE attempts: 6/9/unlimited
- SSC CGL attempts: 4
- Banking attempts: 4/7/9
- RBI Grade B attempts: 6/9/unlimited
How to choose the right exam after graduation?
Match your exam to your career goal: civil services for policy-making, banking for finance, defence for uniformed service, SSC for Group-B posts. Factor in your attempt limit, age relaxation and preparation time (6–12 months). Banking exams are frequent and less time-consuming; UPSC needs longer commitment. Compare salaries, postings and work-life balance before deciding.
- Short preparation window: banking, SSC
- Long preparation window: UPSC, RBI Grade B
- Highest salary: RBI Grade B, IAS
- Most frequent exams: banking, SSC
Where can I find official notifications and syllabi?
UPSC notifications are published on https://upsc.gov.in. SSC notifications are on https://ssc.nic.in. Banking exams are announced on our exams page. RBI Grade B notifications are on https://rbi.org.in. Always check the official site for the latest schedule, syllabus and eligibility.
FAQ
Can I attempt UPSC CSE after graduation?
Yes. A graduate in any discipline can attempt UPSC CSE if they meet the age criteria: 21–32 years for general category. OBC candidates get 37 years and SC/ST get 42 years.
Which banking exam gives the highest salary?
RBI Grade B offers the highest starting salary among banking exams at ₹13–15 LPA, followed by SBI PO at ₹10–11 LPA.
What is the age limit for CDS after graduation?
The CDS exam for IMA, INA and AFA requires graduates aged 20–24 years (20–26 for OTA). Technical Entry Scheme (TES) has an age limit of 16½–19½ years.
How many times can I attempt SSC CGL?
You can attempt SSC CGL up to 4 times within the age limit. Age relaxations apply for OBC (3 years) and SC/ST (5 years).
Where can I find the latest exam calendar for 2026?
UPSC and SSC publish annual calendars on their official websites. You can also track upcoming notifications on our exams page.
