How to apply for a government job online, step by step

Most government recruitments in India are now applied for online, and most rejections happen for small, avoidable reasons: a wrong photo size, a fee paid but not confirmed, or a form left in draft. This guide walks through an online application in the order you will meet each step.

1. Start from the official website only

Open the recruiting organisation's own website (for example ssc.gov.in, upsc.gov.in or ibps.in), or the link in the official notification. Every job on this site links only to official pages. Do not apply through a link someone sent you on WhatsApp or Telegram unless it goes to the same official address.

2. Read the notification before you register

Check eligibility, age, the last date and the fee first. Our guide How to read a recruitment notification shows which parts matter. If you are not eligible, stop here: an ineligible application is rejected later, and the fee is not returned.

3. Register once (One-Time Registration)

Many recruiters, including SSC and UPSC, use a One-Time Registration (OTR): you create one profile and use it for every exam. Keep these ready:

• a mobile number and email you will keep for years (results and admit cards come to them),
• your name, date of birth and parents' names exactly as in your Class 10 certificate,
• an ID such as Aadhaar, if the form asks for one.

Write down your registration number and password. Many candidates lose access before the admit card is released.

4. Prepare photo and signature to the stated size

Each notification states the photo and signature format: file type, size in KB, pixel size, and sometimes a background colour or the date the photo was taken. Resize to exactly what is asked.

A blurred photo, a selfie, or a signature in capital letters can cancel an application even after you pass the exam.

5. Fill the form slowly, then check the preview

• Choose your category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) only if you hold a valid certificate in the format the notification asks for.
• Enter marks and passing years exactly as on your mark sheets.
• Choose exam centres carefully: they usually cannot be changed later.
• Open the preview and compare every line with your documents before you submit.

6. Pay the fee and confirm it went through

Fees are often waived for SC, ST, PwD, women or ex-servicemen candidates; the notification says who pays. After paying, check that the portal shows the payment as successful. If money left your account but the portal shows "pending", wait for the time the notification mentions before paying again, and keep the transaction ID.

7. Submit, then download everything

An application counts only after the final Submit. Then download and keep:

• the filled application form (PDF),
• the fee receipt,
• a copy of the notification itself.

Apply a few days before the last date. Official websites slow down badly in the final 48 hours.

Quick checklist

• Official website, not a forwarded link
• Eligibility, age and last date checked
• Photo and signature in the exact format
• Preview checked line by line
• Payment confirmed, form submitted, PDFs saved

Looking for openings? See the latest Sarkari jobs and Bank jobs, each with its official link.