Upcoming Government Exams 2026: Full List of SSC, Banking, Railway, UPSC, Defence and State Exams

2026 is a big year for upcoming government exam notifications. SSC, UPSC, IBPS, RRB, and most state PSCs are releasing their exam calendars, and the vacancies run into the hundreds of thousands. If you are figuring out which exam to apply for, this page has everything — official dates, eligibility, expected vacancies, and salary figures — sourced from official boards, not third-party roundups.

Where a notification is not out yet, dates are clearly marked as Expected or Tentative. Check back after each official release.

SSC released its 2026-27 exam calendar on 14 March 2026. It runs exams for central government posts across multiple levels — from 10th pass to graduation. The calendar is out, so there is no excuse to miss an application window this year.

SSC CGL had over 20 lakh applicants last year. That number tells you how much competition you are stepping into, but also how many posts are on the table. For a graduate from a tier 2 or tier 3 city, CGL posts like Tax Assistant, Auditor, or Inspector (Income Tax) are genuinely stable, well-paying options that do not require relocating to a metro.

If you have cleared Class 12 and want a government job without waiting to finish a degree, CHSL is your clearest path. Posts include Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant, and Data Entry Operator. These are central government postings with 7th Pay Commission salaries and full job security.

10th pass students in Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, or MP — SSC MTS and RRB Group D are your two realistic options right now. The syllabus is 10th level, there is no interview, and the application process is straightforward. Start with these before looking at anything more competitive.

IBPS released its 2026-27 exam calendar on 16 January 2026. Banking remains the sector with the highest number of applicants, mainly because of salaries, job security, and the fact that most posts come with housing allowances and other perks. The IBPS selection process runs in two or three stages depending on the post — Prelims, Mains, and Interview (Clerk-level exams skip the interview entirely).

SBI handles its recruitment separately. The SBI PO 2026 notification was expected by January 25, 2026, with Prelims in March 2026. Eligibility: Graduation from a recognised university, Age 21-30. Apply at sbi.co.in. Do not wait for it on IBPS — SBI is not part of that cycle.

If you are a first-time aspirant and nervous about interviews, IBPS RRB Clerk has no interview round at all. It is a solid starting point for anyone from a smaller city who wants a bank job without the pressure of a panel.

RRB has already started exam cycles this year. If you are a 12th pass or graduate student who has been sitting on a railway prep plan, the current NTPC window is not one to miss.

RRB NTPC Graduate Level CBT-1 is running from March 16 to March 27, 2026. Total vacancies are 8,868. Out of these, 5,810 are graduate-level posts and 3,058 are for 12th pass. No interview for most posts — you clear the CBT stages, you are in.

UPSC released its Annual Calendar 2026 on 15 May 2025. The CSE 2026 notification came out on January 14, 2026. The Prelims application closed February 3. If you did not apply this cycle, you are looking at 2027 — which means you have about 14 months to prepare if you start now.

UPSC CSE takes 12 to 24 months of focused preparation for most people who crack it. If you are in the final year of graduation right now, that timeline works in your favour — start with NCERT foundation and a Prelims target for 2027.

NDA is one of the only central exams where you can apply while still appearing for Class 12 boards. If you are 16-17 and have a genuine interest in the defence forces, NDA II 2026 (notification expected June 2026) gives you enough time to prepare.

Students in smaller cities often skip state PSCs because they assume central government exams pay better. That is not always true. UPPSC PCS and RPSC RAS starting salaries are around Rs 56,100 per month with allowances — same as central — and you are typically posted closer to home. Worth checking your state PSC calendar before you finalise your exam list.

Choosing between SSC, banking, railways, UPSC, or a state PSC is not just about salary. It depends on your stream, current age, how many years you are willing to prepare, and what kind of work you actually want to do for the next 30 years. Picking the wrong exam and spending 12 to 18 months on it is a real cost — especially for students from smaller cities where there are fewer safety nets.

CuroMinds has career counsellors who work specifically with students planning government job careers. You get a focused session, not a generic checklist.

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