Brief Intro About Economics Competitive Exams in India Part II

• There are multiple competitive exams for economics students. 
• Before appearing for any of them, it is crucial to understand all the available options. 

There’s a massive list of competitive exams related to economics in India; here’s a guide explaining these exams and how to crack them in part II. Multiple organisations like the National Testing Agency (NTA), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Bank for Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD), Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC), etc., conduct various competitive examinations related to economics. 

Some of these examinations include Common University Entrance Test (CUET) PG Economics, University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET), Madhya Pradesh State Eligibility Test (MP SET), MPPSC Assistant Professor, SEBI Grade A Research team, NABARD etc. 

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) PG Economics Competitive Exams 

Every year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), facilitating admissions to postgraduate programs in multiple universities and institutes. In 2020, the University Grant Commission (UGC) proposed the concept of a single entrance test across various Central Universities (CUs), state universities, private universities and deemed to be universities across India, replacing the individual university entrance exams and streamlining the process. 

The Common University Entrance Test PG Economics is the entrance exam for postgraduate Economics programs in the participating universities across India. It’s a Computer-Based Test (CBT) examination. It is typically held between May and June every year; aspiring candidates are advised to stay updated through the official website, cuet.nta.nic.in Competitive Exams 

Candidates appearing for CUET PG Economics must have a bachelor’s degree with minimum marks as prescribed by the participating universities. The details regarding this are frequently updated on the official website. Competitive Exams 

Candidates are advised to understand the syllabus and topics along with their weights thoroughly. Focusing on mastering the basic concepts before moving to advanced topics, staying consistent with the preparation, and practising solving PYQs are highly recommended. 

University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET)

Twice every year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts University Grant Commission National Eligibility to test the eligibility of aspiring candidates for Assistant Professor or Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) positions in multiple Indian universities and colleges. 

The computer-based test (CBT) is typically conducted in June and December every year and is offered in 83 subjects covering various disciplines. The examination duration is three hours, and the total mark is 300. Candidates solve two papers where Paper I covers General Awareness, Teaching Aptitude, Research Aptitude, Communication Skills, Logical Reasoning, etc and is worth 100 marks. Paper II is subject-specific (For example, Economics) and worth 200 marks. 

Aspiring candidates must have a Master’s degree in a relevant field. However, the minimum percentage of marks varies depending on factors like the candidate’s category and the University Grant Commission’s (UGC’s) regulations. All these details are available on the official website of NTA. 

Candidates are advised to develop a deep understanding of the subjects. They must familiarise themselves with the topics, examination pattern and topic weightage scenario. Actively practising Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers and mock tests is recommended. 

GATE Economics Competitive Exams 

GATE Economics is for you, if you wish to pursue a postgraduate degree in Economics from prestigious institutes like the IITs, IISc Bangalore, or NITs. It’s a computer-based entrance examination for postgraduate programs in prestigious institutions conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. 

The examination duration is three hours, and the total mark is 100. The single-question paper consists of three sections. Section A covers General Aptitude (GA), which is composed of 10 questions worth 15 marks. Section B comprises reading comprehension consisting of 15 questions worth 25 marks. Section C covers Economics, where 40 questions are worth 60 marks. The question types are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NATs). 

However, there is no age limit for aspiring candidates, but they must have a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline with minimum marks as prescribed by the IISc Bangalore. The syllabus covers various topics, including Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, International Economics, Public Economics, Development Economics, and Indian Economy. The detailed syllabus is available on the official website. 

Aspiring candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the exam pattern, syllabus, & topics as per their weightage. Solving PYQs and going through full-length mock tests is highly recommended. Staying consistent with the preparation strategy and utilising textbooks, online lectures, coaching materials, etc., could bring the desired results. 

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Grade A

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) conducts the SEBI Grade A examination to recruit officers for regulatory positions of Assistant Manager (Grade A). The Research Stream of SEBI Grade A exam is for the aspirant who has a Master’s Degree in either, Economics, Statistics, Commerce, Business, Finance, or Econometrics from a recognized university. 

These officers are responsible for conducting research and analysis on aspects of the securities market, market trends, structure, investor behaviour etc. Research Stream officers also support the regulatory and development functions of SEBI by facilitating inputs and feedback on the implementation of proposals and policy of the securities market. 

The assessment is conducted in two phases: Phase I is the Objective Exam, and Phase II covers the Main Exam consisting of two papers and Phase III is the final Interview.

The age limit for aspiring candidates is 30 years, and they must have a Master’s Degree in any discipline or a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Engineering, CA, CFA, CS or Cost Accounting. However, specific requirements might vary depending on the chosen stream. Candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus for optimal success. 

Madhya Pradesh State Eligibility Test

The Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) conducts a State Eligibility Test (SET) to determine eligibility for assistant professor positions in various universities and colleges in Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, nearly every state conducts SET for similar posts; the syllabus, eligibility, and exam pattern are almost the same. 

The State Eligibility Test is an offline examination i.e. OMR based, consisting of two papers. Paper I covers General Awareness and Teaching or Research Aptitude based on the position. This section is worth 100 marks; candidates must solve this in one hour. Paper II is subjective to the post and other factors; for instance, SET economics will have economics-related questions worth 200 marks, and the candidates must solve the paper in 2 hours. 

Candidates appearing for the examination are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the syllabus, examination patterns, and PYQs for best results. Building a solid foundation of core subjects and keeping up with the latest developments is crucial to success. 

These are some of the competitive examinations related to the subject of Economics. The students wishing to appear for the examination are highly advised to understand their potential, goals and objectives to choose the best competitive examination that aligns with their potential and goals. Not every examination is meant for every student, and not every student is meant to clear every known exam; choose wisely. At Ecoholics, we provide a comprehensive guide for all these examinations; if you are still deciding which examination to appear for, book a free consultation with the experts today.