From UPSC NDA to Agniveer - serve the nation in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Paramilitary forces. Uniform, respect, adventure, and lifelong benefits. Free mock tests, syllabus, PYQs, and exam dates - all in one place.
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🪖 All Defence & Paramilitary Exams at a Glance
Click any exam to access full syllabus, previous year papers, and free mock tests
Compare all Defence & Paramilitary exams by qualification, posts, salary and selection process
Exam
Min. Qualification
Force / Posts
Age Limit
Salary
Selection Process
UPSC NDA
12th Pass
Army OfficerNaval OfficerAir Force Officer
16.5–19.5 yrs
₹56,100–₹2,50,000
Written + SSB + Medical
UPSC CDS
Graduate
IMAINAAFAOTA
19–25 yrs
₹56,100–₹2,50,000
Written + SSB + Medical
AFCAT
Graduate / B.Tech
Flying BranchTechnicalGround Duty
20–26 yrs
₹56,100–₹1,77,500
Written + AFSB + Medical
Agniveer
10th / 12th Pass
ArmyNavyAir Force
17.5–21 yrs
₹30,000–₹40,000
Written + Physical + Medical
Navy SSR/MR
10th / 12th Pass
SSRMRArtificer Apprentice
17–21 yrs
₹21,700–₹69,100
Written + Physical + Medical
Coast Guard
10th / 12th Pass
Navik GDNavik DBYantrik
18–22 yrs
₹21,700–₹69,100
Written + Physical + Medical
💡 Topper Strategy - How to Crack Defence Exams
1
Mathematics is non-negotiable - NDA and CDS Maths papers are rigorous. Cover Algebra, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Matrices from Class 11–12 NCERT thoroughly before moving to advanced topics.
2
English and GK determine your rank - The GAT (General Ability Test) section in NDA covers both English and GK. A strong GK score can compensate for average Maths performance and push you into the merit list.
3
Physical fitness runs parallel to studies - Don't wait for the written result to start physical training. Build your running stamina (1.6 km in under 7 min), push-ups, and chin-ups from Day 1 of preparation.
4
SSB is a personality test, not just GK - For NDA and CDS, the SSB (Services Selection Board) interview tests leadership, teamwork, and decision-making. Read newspaper editorials and practice OIR tests and group tasks regularly.
5
Agniveer and Navy follow a different pattern - These exams test Science, Maths, English, and Reasoning at 10th/12th level. Speed and accuracy matter more than depth - take timed sectional mocks from Month 1.
6
Attempt NDA twice a year - UPSC conducts NDA twice annually (April and September). Apply for both each year until you clear - the syllabus is identical and each attempt builds valuable exam experience.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions - Defence Exams
Most searched questions about Defence & Paramilitary exams answered by our experts
UPSC NDA is the most prestigious defence exam available after 12th - it leads to officer-rank positions in the Army, Navy, and Air Force after 3 years of training at the National Defence Academy, Pune. You can also apply for Agniveer (all three forces), Navy SSR/MR, and Coast Guard Navik after 12th. For 10th pass candidates, Agniveer Army, Navy MR, and Coast Guard Navik DB are available.
UPSC NDA is for 12th pass students (or those appearing in 12th) and leads to officer training at the National Defence Academy. UPSC CDS is for graduates and leads to officer training at IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Naval Academy), AFA (Air Force Academy), or OTA (Officers Training Academy). Both lead to officer rank but NDA is a much younger entry - candidates join NDA at 16–19 years and graduate as Lieutenants at 21–22 years.
Agniveer is a 4-year short-service scheme for recruiting soldiers into the Army, Navy, and Air Force. After 4 years, 25% of Agniveers are retained as permanent soldiers based on performance, while the remaining 75% receive a Seva Nidhi corpus of approximately ₹11–12 lakh and a skill certificate. The scheme offers military training, discipline, salary, and benefits during the 4-year tenure. Retained Agniveers go on to serve full careers in their respective forces.
UPSC NDA is held twice a year and you can attempt it as many times as you want within the age limit of 19.5 years - effectively giving most candidates 4–5 attempts. UPSC CDS also has no fixed attempt limit and can be attempted until you cross the upper age limit (25 years for most academies). Both exams are conducted by UPSC twice a year - in February/April and August/September.
After completing NDA training and the subsequent 1-year IMA/INA/AFA training, a commissioned officer starts at Lieutenant rank with a Basic Pay of ₹56,100 (Level 10). Including Military Service Pay (₹15,500), DA, HRA, and various allowances like Field Area Allowance, the in-hand salary of a Lieutenant ranges from ₹75,000 to ₹1,10,000+ per month depending on posting. Officers also receive free accommodation, medical benefits, CSD canteen access, and 60 days of annual leave.
Yes, most defence exams carry negative marking. UPSC NDA deducts 0.33 marks per wrong answer (1/3rd of marks). UPSC CDS also deducts 0.33 marks per wrong answer. AFCAT deducts 1 mark for every 3 wrong answers. Agniveer exams vary by force - Army Agniveer has 0.25 marks negative marking while Navy and Air Force Agniveer have 0.25 per wrong answer. Always factor negative marking into your attempt strategy.
Yes, women can now apply for most defence exams. UPSC NDA was opened to women from 2022 onwards after a Supreme Court order. Women can appear for UPSC CDS (OTA entry), AFCAT (Short Service Commission), and Agniveer (all three forces - Army, Navy, Air Force). Coast Guard also accepts women for officer cadre. Women are eligible for most branches except a few combat-specific roles that remain restricted. The selection process including SSB and physical tests applies equally to all candidates.
Defence & Paramilitary Exams 2026 - Everything You Need to Know
India's defence sector offers some of the most respected and rewarding careers in public service. Exams like UPSC NDA, UPSC CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer, Navy SSR/MR, and Coast Guard provide pathways into the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Coast Guard at both officer and soldier levels. A career in defence comes with unmatched job security, structured pay growth, pension benefits, free accommodation, medical coverage, and the honour of serving the nation.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the NDA and CDS exams twice a year, making them among the most regularly scheduled defence recruitment exams. AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force for Short Service Commission entries. The Agniveer scheme, launched in 2022, provides a 4-year short-service military career across all three forces and has quickly become one of the most applied-for defence opportunities in the country.
Most defence exams share a common academic core: Mathematics, General Knowledge, English, and Science. This overlap means preparing for NDA significantly helps with CDS, AFCAT, and even Agniveer. Our 2,000+ free Defence mock tests - chapter-wise, subject-wise, and full-length - cover every topic from Trigonometry and Algebra to Indian History, Current Affairs, and Defence GK, giving you the complete preparation toolkit at zero cost.
