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.

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

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

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