23M, unemployed for 7 months and planning a Japan trip — how strong is my tourist visa profile?

Hi everyone,

I am 23M. I worked at an MNC for around one and a half years in a reasonably well-paying role. I left my job in December 2025 to prepare full-time for government examinations, so I have been unemployed for approximately seven months.

I have already cleared the first stage of the government examination I am preparing for. The second-stage examination is scheduled for the end of August 2026, and the results are expected around November 2026. I am continuing my preparation and intend to pursue this career path, so I hope this may also help demonstrate my reason to return to India after the trip.

I am planning a trip to Japan in November 2026 for 10 days with a few friends. We graduated around the same time, but unlike me, they are currently employed in stable, well-paying jobs.

My main concern is my current financial and employment profile. I have approximately ₹2 lakh in my savings account and around ₹6 lakh in my PPF account. Since I live with my parents and have been studying from home, there has been very little activity in my savings account during the past six to seven months. My monthly transactions are usually around ₹2,000 or less because I rarely go out or have major personal expenses.

My father is a senior government officer in a high rank with a stable income, so family sponsorship is also possible if required.

I would appreciate advice on the following:

1. Should I apply along with my friends as part of the same travel group, or should I submit an individual application?
2. Is my profile likely to be considered weak because I am currently unemployed and have limited bank transactions?
3. Would it be better to show the trip as self-funded or have my father sponsor it?
4. Can my second-stage government examination and expected result be presented as evidence of my ties to India?
5. What documents can I provide to prove that I have strong reasons to return to India?
6. What steps can I take before applying to improve my chances of getting the visa?
7. Will my PPF balance be considered relevant, or will only the money available in my savings account matter?

I have been reading several visa-related posts, and I am now worried that my current profile may not be strong enough. I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has applied for a Japan tourist visa while unemployed, preparing for competitive examinations, or being sponsored by their parents.

Thank you!