Competitive Examinations are the route towards gaining safe civil jobs in 'Banking', 'Insurance' and other similar sectors. Each year millions of young Indians vie for the Civil Services Examinations to secure their aspired jobs in various public sectors. A number of Civil Services Examinations are held in different sectors and each examination has its unique criteria. These competitive examinations also give a candidate an edge over others.

The Competitive examinations differ from the entrance tests as, competitive examinations are taken by the candidates for getting recruited in any of the civic services, while the Entrance tests are taken by the candidates for seeking admission in their desired professional course.

Some of the most premium competitive examinations are:

• UPSC:
  The Union Public Service Commission advises the government on matters relating to framing recruitment rules, principles followed in making appointments, promotions and transfers from one service to another and on disciplinary matters affecting civil servants.
• Insurance:
  The Insurance sector in India is nationalized. A candidate taking this test gets the job in LIC/GIC India.
• Banking Board Exams
  Banking is one of the most rewarding sectors in the country. It assures well-paid, secure and satisfying career prospects. In 1978 Banking Services Recruitment Boards (BSRBs) were established to have a uniform standard & eligibility criteria for recruitment of personnel to Nationalized Banks. BSRB has now been dissolved. Banks now recruit their employees directly via classified ads.

  • Banking is one of the most lucrative professions in the country. In our developing economy, banks occupy an undisputed position of importance. Earlier in the year 1978, Banking Services Recruitment Boards (BSRBs) were established to have a uniform standard and eligibility criteria for recruitment of personnel to Nationalized Banks. However, the Central Recruitment Board of the State Bank of India undertook recruitment of officers for the State Bank group on the all India level separately. After dissolution of BSRB's, banks now advertise about their vacancies through classified ads.
    
    Eligibility for Banking Board Exams
    
    For seeking entry into banking services a candidate must at least be a graduate with fairly high marks. A candidate who has completed a course in Actuarial Science, Accountancy and so on are preferred.
    
    About the Banking Board test
    
    The ads for the bank jobs often feature in the daily newspapers. The recruitment in the banks are done on the basis of a written test, which includes the following sections:

    • Test of Reasoning
    • Quantitative Aptitude
    • General Awareness
    • English Language
    • Descriptive Test

    Except for the descriptive portion, all other sections contain objective-type questions. In Reasoning, there are verbal and non-verbal sections, which aims at testing the ability of the candidate to apply their brain. In English, the test is aimed at judging the overall comprehension and understanding of the language.
    
    The descriptive paper can be answered in English or Hindi. It is meant to judge the written expression of the candidates.
    
    There are other competitive tests too, which would enable the candidate to get recruited in nationalized banks, they are as follow

    • State Bank Probationary Officer's Examination
    • Clerical Grade Examination
    • Reserve Bank Grade 'A'/'B' Officers' Exam

    Some institutes that offer courses in banking:

    • Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology, IDRBT, Castle Hills, Road #1, Masab Tank,Hydrebad- 500 057.
    • National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM), NIBM post office, Kondhwe Khurd, Pune- 411048.
    • The Indian Institute of Banking & Finance, The Arcade, World Trade Centre, 2nd Floor, Tower 4, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai-400 005.
• Indian Railways
  The Indian railways are broadly divided and sub-divided into zones, divisions and departments, each controlling a particular function. The highest are the Group A officers, while the lowest in rank are the Group D staff members.
• Defence
  Indian Defence Services offer dignified, prestigious and lucrative career opportunities. As a part of the Indian defence services, one can serve in the Indian Air Force and so on. There is absolutely no barrier with respect to caste, religion, creed and so on.