Stream hub
Universities (General Degrees)
DU, BHU, JNU, Ashoka — arts, humanities, economics, psychology, journalism.
Central and state universities admit via CUET-UG. Courses cover Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, English, Journalism, Hospitality, Public Policy, etc.
Who this fits
- Strong in reading, writing, debate
- Want a broad-based degree before specialising
- Interested in humanities, social sciences, liberal arts
Typical fees
- DU / BHU / JNU
- ₹5 – 30 K / yr
- Ashoka / Krea / OP Jindal (Liberal Arts)
- ₹5 – 10 L / yr
Indicative. Verify with the institute before enrolling.
UG courses you can pick
BA (Hons) — Economics / History / Pol Sci / Psychology / English
3 years
BBA / BMS / BJMC / BA LLB
3–5 years
B.Sc (Hons) — Stats, CS, Maths
3 years
B.Sc Hospitality / Hotel Administration
3 years
Key exams & 2026 timelines
As of May 2026 · verify on the official site before applying| Exam | Body | Next date | Application | Eligibility | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUET UG Common University Entrance Test - Undergraduate University · UG Entrance · National For Central Universities & others | NTA | 2026-05-11 Confirmed (11-31 May 2026) | Jan-Feb 2026 | 12th pass | Visit |
SAT Scholastic Assessment Test Overseas · UG Abroad · International US undergrad | College Board | 2026-05 Multiple sittings | Check slot | 12th students | Visit |
UPSC CSE Civil Services Examination (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.) Civil Services · Central Government · National Mains: 21 Aug 2026 onwards (5 days) | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) | 2026-05-24 Confirmed (Prelims) | 14 Jan - 03 Feb 2026 | Bachelor's degree; age 21-32 | Visit |
UPSC IFoS Indian Forest Service Examination Civil Services · Central Government · National Prelims common with CSE; Mains from 22 Nov 2026 | UPSC | 2026-05-24 Confirmed (Prelims) | Jan-Feb 2026 | Bachelor's in Science/Engineering/Agri; age 21-32 | Visit |
UPSC CDS (I) Combined Defence Services Exam I Defence · Officer Entry · National Held same day as CSE Prelims | UPSC | 2026-05-24 Confirmed | Dec 2025 - Jan 2026 | Graduate; age 19-25 | Visit |
RRB NTPC Graduate Non-Technical Popular Categories - Graduate Level Railways · Graduate Level · National CBT 1 in 2026; for Station Master, Goods Guard, CA etc. | Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) | 2026-Q2 In progress / Tentative | Closed | Graduate; age 18-33 | Visit |
Indian Army Agniveer Army Agniveer (GD, Tradesman, Clerk etc.) Defence · Soldier Entry · National CEE conducted by ARO | Indian Army | 2026-Q2 In progress | Mar-Apr 2026 | 10th/12th; age 17.5-21 | Visit |
IPU CET Indraprastha University CET University · UG/PG Entrance · State - Delhi Many courses via CUET now | GGSIPU | 2026-Q2 Tentative | Mar-May 2026 | 12th / Graduate | Visit |
ACT American College Testing Overseas · UG Abroad · International US undergrad alternative | ACT Inc. | 2026-Q2 Multiple sittings | Check slot | 12th students | Visit |
UPSC IES/ISS Indian Economic Service / Indian Statistical Service Civil Services · Central Government · National 3-day descriptive exam | UPSC | 2026-06 Tentative (June-July) | Mar-Apr 2026 | PG in Economics / Statistics | Visit |
SSC CGL Combined Graduate Level Examination Central Govt Jobs · Graduate Level · National Tier 1 CBT; for Group B & C posts | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | 2026-06 Tentative (May-Jun 2026) | Apr-May 2026 | Graduate; age 18-32 | Visit |
SSC Selection Post Selection Post Phase XIV Central Govt Jobs · Mixed (10th to PG) · National Multiple posts with varying eligibility | SSC | 2026-06 Tentative | Apr-May 2026 | 10th/12th/Graduate | Visit |
NCHMCT JEE National Council for Hotel Management JEE Hotel Mgmt · UG Entrance · National For IHMs | NTA / NCHMCT | 2026-06 Tentative | Mar-May 2026 | 12th pass | Visit |
UPSC CMS Combined Medical Services Examination Civil Services · Medical - Govt · National For Assistant Medical Officer posts | UPSC | 2026-07 Tentative (July 2026) | Apr-May 2026 | MBBS | Visit |
CTET July Central Teacher Eligibility Test - July Teaching · School Teacher · National For KVS, NVS, Central govt schools | CBSE | 2026-07 Tentative | Apr-May 2026 | Graduate + B.Ed (Paper II); 12th+D.El.Ed (Paper I) | Visit |
UPSC CAPF AC Central Armed Police Forces - Assistant Commandant Defence · Paramilitary Officer · National For BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB | UPSC | 2026-07-19 Confirmed | Mar-Apr 2026 | Graduate; age 20-25 | Visit |
SSC CHSL Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination Central Govt Jobs · 12th Level · National For LDC, JSA, PA/SA, DEO posts | SSC | 2026-08 Tentative (Jul-Sep 2026) | May-Jun 2026 | 12th pass; age 18-27 | Visit |
SSC CPO Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police & CAPF Defence · Paramilitary SI · National For SI in Delhi Police/CAPF | SSC | 2026-08 Tentative (Aug-Sep 2026) | May-Jun 2026 | Graduate; age 20-25 | Visit |
AFCAT Air Force Common Admission Test Defence · Officer Entry · National AFCAT 1 conducted Feb 2026 | Indian Air Force | 2026-08 Tentative (AFCAT 2) | Jun 2026 | Graduate (stream varies); age 20-26 | Visit |
UPSC NDA (II) National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam II Defence · Officer Entry · National NDA (I) on 12 Apr 2026 already conducted | UPSC | 2026-09-13 Confirmed | Jun 2026 | 12th pass; unmarried male/female; age 16.5-19.5 | Visit |
UPSC CDS (II) Combined Defence Services Exam II Defence · Officer Entry · National CDS (I) on 24 May 2026 | UPSC | 2026-09-13 Confirmed | Jun 2026 | Graduate; age 19-25 | Visit |
TNPSC Group 1 TN Combined Civil Services Exam - Group I State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu administrative services | TNPSC | 2026-Q3 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-32 | Visit |
RRB NTPC UG Non-Technical Popular Categories - 12th Level Railways · 12th Level · National For Commercial Clerk, Ticket Clerk, etc. | RRB | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Closed | 12th; age 18-30 | Visit |
RRB Group D Group D Level-1 Posts Railways · 10th Level · National For Trackman, Helper, Assistant Pointsman | RRB | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Closed | 10th/ITI; age 18-36 | Visit |
RPF Constable Railway Protection Force Constable Railways · Security · National Physical + CBT | RPF | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 10th pass; age 18-28 | Visit |
RPF SI Railway Protection Force Sub-Inspector Railways · Security Officer · National Physical + CBT | RPF | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | Graduate; age 20-28 | Visit |
Indian Navy Agniveer SSR Navy Agniveer Senior Secondary Recruit Defence · Sailor Entry · National Short service | Indian Navy | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 12th (PCM); age 17.5-21 | Visit |
Indian Navy Agniveer MR Navy Agniveer Matric Recruit Defence · Sailor Entry · National Chef/Steward/Hygienist | Indian Navy | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 10th pass; age 17.5-21 | Visit |
Air Force Agniveervayu Air Force Agniveervayu (Group X/Y) Defence · Airman Entry · National STAR exam | Indian Air Force | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 12th (PCM for X, any for Y); age 17.5-21 | Visit |
Coast Guard Navik GD Indian Coast Guard Navik General Duty Defence · Sailor Entry · National | Indian Coast Guard | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 12th (PCM); age 18-22 | Visit |
Coast Guard Yantrik Indian Coast Guard Yantrik Defence · Technical Sailor · National | Indian Coast Guard | 2026-Q3 Tentative | Check notification | 10th + Diploma in Engg; age 18-22 | Visit |
KTET Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test Teaching · State TET · State - Kerala | Pareeksha Bhavan, Kerala | 2026-Q3 Annual-TBA | Check notification | As per category | Visit |
NCET National Common Entrance Test (4-yr ITEP) Teaching · UG Integrated B.Ed · National Integrated Teacher Education Programme | NTA | 2026-Q3 Tentative | May-Jun 2026 | 12th pass | Visit |
SSC JHT Junior Hindi Translator Examination Central Govt Jobs · PG Level · National For translator posts across ministries | SSC | 2026-09 Tentative (Aug-Sep 2026) | Jul 2026 | Master's degree with Hindi/English | Visit |
SSC MTS Multi-Tasking Staff Examination Central Govt Jobs · 10th Level · National Includes Havaldar in CBIC/CBN | SSC | 2026-10 Tentative (Sep-Nov 2026) | Jun-Jul 2026 | 10th pass; age 18-25 | Visit |
SSC Stenographer Stenographer Grade C & D Exam Central Govt Jobs · 12th Level · National Requires shorthand skill test | SSC | 2026-10 Tentative (Oct-Nov 2026) | Jul-Aug 2026 | 12th pass; age 18-30 | Visit |
BPSC CCE Bihar Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Bihar Bihar administrative services | BPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 20-37 | Visit |
UPPSC PCS UP Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services State Civil Services · State PSC · State - UP Uttar Pradesh admin services | UPPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-40 | Visit |
MPSC State Services Maharashtra State Services Examination State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Maharashtra Maharashtra civil services | MPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 19-38 | Visit |
KPSC KAS Karnataka Administrative Service Exam State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Karnataka Karnataka civil services | KPSC (Karnataka) | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-35 | Visit |
Kerala PSC KAS Kerala Administrative Service State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Kerala Kerala administrative services | Kerala PSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-32 | Visit |
WBPSC WBCS West Bengal Civil Services Exam State Civil Services · State PSC · State - WB West Bengal civil services | WBPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-36 | Visit |
RPSC RAS Rajasthan Administrative Service State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Rajasthan Rajasthan administrative services | RPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 21-40 | Visit |
APPSC Group 1 AP Group I Services State Civil Services · State PSC · State - AP AP state services | APPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 18-42 | Visit |
TSPSC Group 1 Telangana Group I Services State Civil Services · State PSC · State - Telangana Telangana state services | TSPSC | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 18-44 | Visit |
RRB ALP Assistant Loco Pilot & Technician Railways · Technical 10th+ITI · National Stage 1, 2, CBAT | RRB | 2026-Q4 Tentative | Check notification | 10th + ITI/Diploma; age 18-33 | Visit |
RRB JE Junior Engineer Railways · Engineering Diploma · National Multi-discipline technical | RRB | 2026-Q4 Tentative | Check notification | Engineering Diploma/Degree; age 18-33 | Visit |
TA Officer Territorial Army Officer Examination Defence · Part-time Officer · National Part-time commissioned officer | Ministry of Defence | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 18-42 | Visit |
UPTET UP Teacher Eligibility Test Teaching · State TET · State - UP | UP Basic Education Board | 2026-Q4 Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate + B.Ed / D.El.Ed | Visit |
CTET December Central Teacher Eligibility Test - December Teaching · School Teacher · National | CBSE | 2026-12 Tentative | Sep-Oct 2026 | Graduate + B.Ed (Paper II); 12th+D.El.Ed (Paper I) | Visit |
SSC GD General Duty Constable Examination Defence · Paramilitary Constable · National For BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, NIA, SSF, AR | SSC | 2027-01 Tentative (Jan-Mar 2027) | Sep 2026 | 10th pass; age 18-23 | Visit |
UPSC ESE / IES Engineering Services Examination Civil Services · Central Government · National 2026 Prelims on 08 Feb 2026 already conducted | UPSC | 2027-02 Annual (Feb) | Sep-Oct 2026 | Engineering degree; age 21-30 | Visit |
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Combined Geo-Scientist Examination Civil Services · Central Government · National 2026 Prelims on 08 Feb 2026 already conducted | UPSC | 2027-02 Annual (Feb) | Sep 2026 | M.Sc. in Geology/Geophysics/Chemistry; age 21-32 | Visit |
CUET PG Common University Entrance Test - Postgraduate University · PG Entrance · National 2026 conducted Mar-Apr | NTA | 2027-03 Annual (Mar-Apr) | Dec 2026 - Jan 2027 | Graduate | Visit |
RRB Paramedical Paramedical Categories Railways · Medical/Allied · National Nursing, Pharmacist, Lab Tech | RRB | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | Relevant professional qualification | Visit |
KVS Recruitment Kendriya Vidyalaya Teacher Recruitment Teaching · School Teacher · National PRT, TGT, PGT, Principal | KVS | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | B.Ed + CTET qualified | Visit |
NVS Recruitment Navodaya Vidyalaya Teacher Recruitment Teaching · School Teacher · National TGT, PGT, Principal | NVS | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | B.Ed + CTET qualified | Visit |
DSSSB Teacher Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board - Teacher Teaching · School Teacher - Delhi · State - Delhi For Delhi govt schools | DSSSB | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate + B.Ed + CTET | Visit |
TNTET Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test Teaching · State TET · State - TN | TRB, Tamil Nadu | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | B.Ed/D.El.Ed | Visit |
IB ACIO Intelligence Bureau Assistant Central Intelligence Officer Intelligence · Central Govt · National IB Grade II/Executive | MHA (IB) | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate; age 18-27 | Visit |
IB Security Assistant IB Security Assistant / Executive Intelligence · Central Govt · National | MHA (IB) | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | 10th/12th; age 18-27 | Visit |
FCI Category Food Corporation of India Category II/III Central Govt · PSU · National Manager and lower posts | FCI | 2026-TBA Annual-TBA | Check notification | Graduate | Visit |
GRE Graduate Record Examination Overseas · PG Abroad · International US grad schools | ETS | Rolling On-demand | Check slot | Graduate | Visit |
GMAT Graduate Management Admission Test Overseas · MBA Abroad · International Global MBA programs | GMAC | Rolling On-demand | Check slot | Graduate | Visit |
IELTS International English Language Testing System Overseas · English Proficiency · International | British Council / IDP | Rolling Check slot | ielts.org | None | Visit |
TOEFL iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language Overseas · English Proficiency · International | ETS | Rolling Check slot | ets.org/toefl | None | Visit |
PTE Academic Pearson Test of English - Academic Overseas · English Proficiency · International | Pearson | Rolling Check slot | pearsonpte.com | None | Visit |
Career paths
Civil Services
UPSC / state PSCs — 2–4 year preparation after UG.
Tips before you commit
- For DU, subject-subject combination in CUET matters as much as score.
- For psychology, plan for a 5–7 year pathway (BA → MA → M.Phil / Psy.D).
- Consider liberal arts only if your financial plan is solid — fees are steep.
Scholarships: CUET-linked merit, MoMA minority, Ashoka/Krea need-blind aid, state post-matric.
Top colleges (NIRF-ranked)
Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Karnataka
top100
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi, Delhi
top100
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal, Karnataka
top100
Jamia Milla Islamia
New Delhi, Delhi
top100
University of Delhi
Delhi, Delhi
top100
Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
top100
Birla Institute of Technology & Science
Pilani, Rajasthan
top100
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
top100