Career hub · Uniformed services

Defence Forces — every entry scheme

Whether you are in Class 10, Class 12, engineering college or already a graduate, there is a route into the Army, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard. Below are all the current entry schemes, eligibility and selection process in one place.

Upcoming defence exams (from database)

Full calendar

UPSC CAPF AC

2026-07-19

SSC CHSL

2026-08

SSC CPO

2026-08

AFCAT

2026-08

UPSC NDA (II)

2026-09-13

UPSC CDS (II)

2026-09-13

After 10th

Agniveer — Army

Army

Eligibility: Agniveer General Duty: 10th ≥ 45% (min 33% in each subject). Tradesman / Tech / Clerk have separate norms.
Selection: Online Common Entrance Exam (CEE) → Physical & medical → recruitment rally.
Commission / outcome: 4-year short service as Agniveer; up to 25% retained for regular cadre after merit review.

Official site

Agniveer — Navy (SSR / MR)

Navy

Eligibility: SSR: 12th PCM/B ≥ 50%. MR: 10th pass. Unmarried, age 17½–21.
Selection: Online INET-style written → physical fitness test → medical.
Commission / outcome: 4-year engagement as Agniveer; 25% retained in regular Navy.

Official site

Indian Coast Guard — Navik / Yantrik

Coast Guard

Eligibility: Navik GD: 12th PCM. Navik DB: 10th pass. Yantrik: Diploma in Electrical / Mechanical / Electronics.
Selection: Stage-I online → Stage-II physical → Stage-III document + medical.
Commission / outcome: Enrolled as sailor / technical sailor.

Official site

After 12th

NDA & Naval Academy (UPSC)

Tri-services

Eligibility: Unmarried male/female, age 16½–19½ at commencement. 12th pass (PCM for Air Force / Navy).
Selection: UPSC written (Maths + GAT) → SSB interview (5 days) → medical.
Commission / outcome: Permanent Commission as officer after 3-yr NDA + 1-yr academy training.

Official site

Indian Navy 10+2 B.Tech (Cadet) Entry

Navy

Eligibility: Unmarried male, 12th PCM ≥ 70%, English ≥ 50%. Age 17–19.
Selection: Shortlist on JEE Main rank → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: 4-yr B.Tech at INA Ezhimala → Permanent Commission as Executive / Technical officer.

Official site

Indian Army Technical Entry Scheme (TES)

Army

Eligibility: Unmarried male, 12th PCM ≥ 60% aggregate. Age 16½–19½.
Selection: Shortlist on 12th marks → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: 1-yr basic + 3-yr engineering (CME / MCTE / MCEME) → Permanent Commission.

Official site

Agniveer Vayu — Indian Air Force

Air Force

Eligibility: Science: 12th PCM ≥ 50%, English ≥ 50%. Other streams: 12th ≥ 50% with English.
Selection: Online Phase-I test → Phase-II (adaptability + physical) → medical.
Commission / outcome: 4-year engagement; 25% retained as regular airmen.

Official site

After B.E/B.Tech

SSC Tech — Army (Men & Women)

Army

Eligibility: B.E/B.Tech in notified streams. Age 20–27.
Selection: Shortlist on engineering aggregate → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: Short Service Commission (10 yrs, extendable to 14).

Official site

After graduation

CDS Examination (UPSC)

Tri-services

Eligibility: IMA / OTA: any graduate. Naval Academy: B.E/B.Tech. Air Force Academy: graduate with PCM in 12th + B.Tech.
Selection: UPSC written → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: Permanent Commission (IMA / Navy / AFA) or Short Service Commission (OTA).

Official site

AFCAT — Air Force Common Admission Test

Air Force

Eligibility: Flying: graduate with 60% + 12th PCM ≥ 50%. Ground duty tech: B.E/B.Tech in relevant stream. Non-tech: graduate / post-grad.
Selection: AFCAT online → AFSB → medical (pilot candidates: PABT).
Commission / outcome: Short Service Commission (14 yrs); extendable to 20.

Official site

INET — Indian Navy Entrance Test

Navy

Eligibility: Branch-specific (B.E/B.Tech/B.Sc/MBA). Age 21–24 generally.
Selection: INET online → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: Short Service Commission in Executive, Technical, Education branches.

Official site

Territorial Army Officer

Army

Eligibility: Graduate, employed (civil job), age 18–42.
Selection: Written (Reasoning, Maths, GK, English) → PIB + SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: Part-time officer commission; 2 months embodiment per year.

Official site

JAG Entry — Army

Army

Eligibility: LLB with ≥ 55%, enrolled as advocate with Bar Council. Age 21–27.
Selection: Shortlist → SSB → medical.
Commission / outcome: Short Service Commission in JAG branch.

Official site

NCC Special Entry

Tri-services

Eligibility: NCC 'C' certificate with B grade or above; graduate with ≥ 50%.
Selection: Shortlist → direct SSB (no written).
Commission / outcome: SSC into Army via OTA (or Navy / AF via respective academies).

Official site

Indian Coast Guard — Assistant Commandant

Coast Guard

Eligibility: General Duty: B.Sc with Maths + Physics. Tech: B.E/B.Tech. Pilot: CPL or graduate with PCM.
Selection: Preliminary online → Mental Ability + Picture Perception → Final board → medical.
Commission / outcome: Permanent / Short Service Commission in ICG.

Official site

SSB — the one common gate

Almost every officer entry (NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TES, INET, JAG, NCC, ICG Assistant Commandant) runs through a 5-day Services Selection Board: screening (OIR + PPDT) on Day 1, psychology + GTO + personal interview through Days 2–4, and a conference on Day 5. Prep for it deliberately.

Defence Forces — every entry scheme

Upcoming defence exams (from database)

After 10th

Agniveer — Army

Agniveer — Navy (SSR / MR)

Indian Coast Guard — Navik / Yantrik

After 12th

NDA & Naval Academy (UPSC)

Indian Navy 10+2 B.Tech (Cadet) Entry

Indian Army Technical Entry Scheme (TES)

Agniveer Vayu — Indian Air Force

After B.E/B.Tech

SSC Tech — Army (Men & Women)

After graduation

CDS Examination (UPSC)

AFCAT — Air Force Common Admission Test

INET — Indian Navy Entrance Test

Territorial Army Officer

JAG Entry — Army

NCC Special Entry

Indian Coast Guard — Assistant Commandant

SSB — the one common gate

From the blog