How government recruitment works, from notification to joining
The stages every government job goes through, how long they take, and how to avoid fake job offers.
Who recruits for what
There is no single government job exam. Different bodies recruit for different employers, and knowing which body handles the post you want is the first step.
| Recruiting body | What it fills |
|---|---|
| Staff Selection Commission (SSC) | Most Group B and C posts in central ministries: inspectors, assistants, clerks, constables |
| Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) | Railway posts from track maintainer to station master and junior engineer |
| Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) | Group A services such as IAS, IPS and IRS, and defence officer entries |
| IBPS, SBI, RBI | Clerks and officers in public sector banks and the Reserve Bank |
| State PSCs and state selection boards | State government posts: tehsildar, state police, clerks, village officers, teachers |
The usual stages
- Notification: the official advertisement giving posts, pay level, age limit, qualification and dates. Everything on this site should be checked against it.
- Online application and fee, usually open for three to four weeks.
- Written examination, often in two tiers: a screening test, then a main test that decides merit.
- Skill or physical test where the post needs it: typing, shorthand, running, height and chest measurement.
- Interview, only for Group A services and some officer-level posts. Most Group B and C posts have no interview.
- Document verification, where original certificates are checked against what you claimed in the form.
- Medical examination, strict for uniformed and railway running posts.
- Final merit list and allotment of post, department and place according to rank and your preferences.
- Appointment letter, police verification of character, joining, training and probation.
How long it takes
From notification to joining commonly takes one to two years, and state recruitments often take longer because of court cases. Plan your finances and keep studying or working while a result is pending.
A place on the merit list is not an appointment. You still have to clear document verification, the medical examination and character verification.
Avoiding fraud
Nobody can sell you a government job. Selection is by merit list, and appointment letters come only from the department after the official result.
- Trust only official websites, which end in .gov.in or .nic.in (or the body's own known address, such as ibps.in).
- Fees are paid only through the application portal. No officer or agent collects money for selection, posting or 'setting'.
- Check any result or call letter by logging in to the official portal yourself, not through a link someone sends.
Common questions
Is there an interview for SSC and Railway jobs?+
For almost all Group B non-gazetted and Group C posts, no. Interviews were discontinued for these posts in 2016. Selection is on the written examination plus any skill or physical test.
Can I apply for central jobs from any state?+
Yes. Central government recruitment is open to Indian citizens from every state. State government posts usually require knowledge of the state language and often reserve posts for residents.
Go further
More guides
- Government career options by field: clerk, peon, courts, doctors, nurses, municipal bodies and more
- Court jobs at every level: Supreme Court, High Courts and district courts
- How to become a government teacher: D.El.Ed, B.Ed, M.Ed, CTET, TET and the recruitment exams
- In-hand salary explained: basic pay, DA, HRA, TA and deductions
HowIndiaEarns is an independent guide. Rules change through government orders, so confirm anything that affects your eligibility in the official notification. Pay figures use rates as of January 2026.