NaukriBehind every government job is a sarkari exam, and behind every sarkari exam is a sarkari vigyapan — the official notification that announces it. If you can read a vigyapan correctly and know which exams to target, you are already ahead of most applicants. This guide covers both, plus the major sarkari exams for 2026 and how to start preparing for free.
What is a Sarkari Exam?
A sarkari exam is a competitive examination conducted by a government body to fill vacancies. Because demand vastly outstrips supply, selection is by exam — a transparent, merit-based way to shortlist from lakhs of applicants. Exams usually have multiple stages (a computer-based test, sometimes a descriptive paper, a physical or skill test, and document verification).
What is a Sarkari Vigyapan (notification)?
A sarkari vigyapan is the official advertisement for a vacancy. Reading it properly is the single most important step — most rejected applications fail on eligibility, not on the exam. A vigyapan tells you:
- Posts & vacancies — what jobs and how many seats.
- Eligibility — the minimum qualification (10th, 12th, graduate).
- Age limit — with relaxations for reserved categories.
- Important dates — start, last date, exam date.
- Application fee — and who is exempt.
- Selection process — the stages you must clear.
Always read the vigyapan on the official website before applying — and check each detail against your own eligibility.
Major Sarkari Exams 2026
These are the highest-volume national exams to know:
- SSC: CGL (graduate officer/assistant posts), CHSL (12th-pass clerk/DEO), MTS (10th-pass).
- Banking (IBPS): IBPS PO and IBPS Clerk.
- Railways (RRB): RRB NTPC, RRB Group D and RRB ALP.
- Engineering: SSC JE and RRB JE for diploma/degree holders.
See the complete list on the exams page and plan ahead with the exam calendar.
Sarkari exams by education level
Match the exam to your qualification: 10th-pass, 12th-pass or graduate. Applying for a post you are eligible for is the fastest route to selection.
How to prepare — for free
Start with the official syllabus, focus on the recurring high-weight topics, and practise regularly. NaukriMila offers free, original practice quizzes for major exams, each with answers and explanations — try the SSC CGL, IBPS PO or RRB NTPC quiz. Then track notifications and results on the daily updates feed so you never miss a vigyapan or a result.