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Government jobs after graduation

A bachelor's degree in any subject opens the widest set of government jobs in India, from IAS and IPS through UPSC to Inspector and Assistant posts through SSC CGL and officer posts in public sector banks. Most graduate exams accept final-year students.

29 central government exams listed with age limits and starting pay · Updated October 2026

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Enter your qualifications, date of birth, category and state. We check every central exam and your state's exams, with your age relaxation applied, and show which are open now.

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Exams open to graduates in any subject

  • UPSC Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS)

    UPSC

    Attempts: 6 for General/EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD, unlimited for SC/ST.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)21–32 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic)
    Forms usuallyJan–Feb
  • QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)20–25 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic)
    Forms usuallyFeb–Mar
  • UPSC Combined Defence Services (CDS)

    UPSC

    IMA/INA 19–24, OTA 19–25. Women: OTA only. Naval Academy needs B.Tech or B.Sc with Physics & Maths.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)19–25 yearsNo category relaxation
    Starting payLevel 10 (₹56,100 basic) after commissioning
    Forms usuallyDec, Jan, May or Jun
  • UPSC EPFO – APFC

    UPSC

    Recruitment is not held every year.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)Up to 35 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic)
    Forms usuallyAug–Sep
  • SSC CGL (Inspector, ASO, Auditor, Tax Assistant)

    Staff Selection Commission

    Upper age differs by post: 27, 30 or 32. JSO needs Maths (60%) in Class 12 or Statistics in graduation.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)18–32 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 4–8 (₹25,500–47,600 basic)
    Forms usuallyJun–Jul
  • SSC CPO (Delhi Police SI, CAPF SI)

    Staff Selection Commission

    Male candidates for Delhi Police SI need a valid car and motorcycle licence.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)20–25 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic)
    Forms usuallySep–Oct
  • RRB NTPC – Graduate posts (Station Master, Goods Guard, Clerk)

    Railway Recruitment Boards

    Degree must be completed by the closing date. Some posts have a typing test.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)18–33 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 5–6 (₹29,200–35,400 basic)
    Forms usuallySep, Oct or Nov
  • IBPS PO (public sector banks)

    IBPS

    Degree result must be declared by the closing date.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)20–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyJul–Aug
  • IBPS Clerk

    IBPS

    Must know the official language of the state you apply for.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)20–28 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyAug
  • IBPS RRB – Officer Scale I & Office Assistant

    IBPS

    Office Assistant 18–28, Officer Scale I 18–30. Local language required.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)18–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallySep
  • SBI Probationary Officer

    State Bank of India

    Attempts: 6 for General/EWS.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyJun–Jul
  • SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)

    State Bank of India

    Local language of the circle is tested.

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)20–28 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyAug–Nov
  • RBI Grade B Officer

    Reserve Bank of India

    Attempts: 6 for General/EWS. DEPR and DSIM streams need a master's in Economics or Statistics.

    QualificationGraduate (60%) / PG (55%)
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallySep
  • RBI Assistant

    Reserve Bank of India

    Local language and word processing required.

    QualificationGraduate (50%)
    Age (General)20–28 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyFeb–Mar
  • QualificationGraduate (60%) / PG (55%)
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyNov
  • QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyAug–Sep
  • QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyJan–Feb
  • AFCAT (Air Force officer – flying & ground duty)

    Indian Air Force

    Flying branch 20–24 and needs Physics and Maths (50% each) in Class 12. Under 25 must be unmarried.

    QualificationGraduate (60%)
    Age (General)20–26 yearsNo category relaxation
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyNov, Dec, May or Jun
  • Intelligence Bureau ACIO Grade II

    Ministry of Home Affairs

    QualificationGraduate
    Age (General)18–27 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 7 (₹44,900 basic)
    Forms usuallyJul–Aug
  • GATE (PSU jobs, M.Tech admission)

    IITs

    No age limit. PSUs such as NTPC, IOCL, BHEL and PGCIL hire engineers through GATE scores.

    QualificationGraduate (3rd year onwards)
    Age (General)No upper age limit
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyAug–Sep

Exams for specific degrees (B.Tech, MBBS, B.Ed, LLB and others)

  • QualificationEngineering degree
    Age (General)21–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic)
    Forms usuallySep–Oct
  • QualificationMBBS
    Age (General)Up to 32 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic)
    Forms usuallyMar–Apr
  • QualificationProfessional degree
    Age (General)20–30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyJul
  • CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test)

    CBSE

    No age limit. Paper I (Classes 1–5) with D.El.Ed; Paper II (Classes 6–8) with B.Ed. Needed for KVS, NVS and central schools.

    QualificationD.El.Ed / B.Ed
    Age (General)No upper age limit
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyApr, May, Sep or Oct
  • QualificationClass 12 + D.El.Ed + CTET
    Age (General)Up to 30 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 6 (₹35,400 basic)
    Forms usuallyNov–Dec
  • QualificationGraduate + B.Ed + CTET
    Age (General)Up to 35 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 7 (₹44,900 basic)
    Forms usuallyNov–Dec
  • CSIR NET (Science)

    NTA

    No age limit for Assistant Professor. JRF up to 30 (+5 for reserved categories and women).

    QualificationM.Sc / B.Tech / MBBS (55%)
    Age (General)No upper age limit
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyMar, Apr, Oct or Nov

Exams after post-graduation

  • QualificationPost-graduate + B.Ed
    Age (General)Up to 40 yearsOBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10
    Starting payPay Level 8 (₹47,600 basic)
    Forms usuallyNov–Dec
  • UGC NET (Assistant Professor & JRF)

    NTA

    No age limit for Assistant Professor. JRF up to 30 (+5 for OBC, SC, ST, PwBD and women).

    QualificationPost-graduate (55%)
    Age (General)No upper age limit
    Starting payAs per notification
    Forms usuallyApr, May, Sep or Oct

You can also apply for every Class 10 and Class 12 level exam

A degree includes Class 12, so SSC CHSL, RRB NTPC (Class 12 posts), Group D and constable recruitments stay open while you are within their age limits. Govt jobs after 12th · Govt jobs after 10th

Is a distance or online degree valid for government jobs?

Yes, if the university and the programme are recognised by the UGC (and the UGC Distance Education Bureau for distance and online programmes). The UGC's 2020 regulations treat these degrees as equal to regular degrees. Professional degrees such as engineering and B.Ed have their own regulators (AICTE, NCTE), so check that the programme is approved by them.

Govt jobs after graduation for women

All exams on this page are open to women except where a note says otherwise (for example, Combined Defence Services admits women only to the Officers Training Academy). Women pay no application fee in SSC and UPSC exams, and a reduced fee that is refunded after the exam in Railway recruitments.

State government jobs

Each state runs its own civil services, police and staff-selection exams, with its own age limits. Pick your state:

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best government job after graduation?

It depends on your age and how long you can prepare. UPSC Civil Services gives the highest posts (Pay Level 10), but preparation usually takes one to two years. SSC CGL (Pay Level 4 to 8) and bank PO exams can be cleared in six to twelve months of focused study.

Can final-year students apply?

For UPSC, SSC CGL, SBI PO and most graduate exams, yes, provided you have your degree by the cut-off date in the notification. Railway NTPC graduate posts need the degree by the closing date of the application.

What is the age limit for SSC CGL?

18 to 32 years depending on the post; many posts are capped at 27 or 30. OBC candidates get 3 extra years, SC/ST 5 and PwBD 10 or more.

How many attempts are allowed in UPSC Civil Services?

Six for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC and PwBD candidates, and unlimited for SC and ST candidates, within the age limit.

Do I need a minimum percentage in graduation?

Most exams only need a pass. Exceptions include RBI Grade B (60%), NABARD Grade A (60%), AFCAT (60%) and RBI Assistant (50%), with lower marks for reserved categories in some of them.

Not sure which of these fit you?

Enter your qualifications, date of birth, category and state. We check every central exam and your state's exams, with your age relaxation applied, and show which are open now.

Start free career check →

Rules checked against the latest notifications in October 2026. Exam bodies change age limits and cut-off dates each cycle, so always confirm in the official notification before you apply. Age limits shown are for General candidates; see our age relaxation guide.

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