Defence Exams 2023: Upcoming Defence Jobs & Notification

By : Naveen Singh

Updated : Oct 24, 2023, 7:20

Defence Exams 2023 notification has been released by the officials of the respective authorities. Defence jobs have been always an attraction to the youth who dreams to be an officer and serve their nation. These defence services offer jobs under the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, medical & engineering services, JAG’s Department, or in the Education Corps with dignified, prestigious, and lucrative career opportunities.

Every year lakhs of candidates aspire to appear in the Defence exams to fulfill their dream of working with these elite forces. With respect to which Defence entrance exams are held twice a year to give more opportunities to join the Army, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard. Some of the government organizations which conducts the defence entrance exams are:

  • Union Public Service Commission- CDS
  • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
  • Central Armed Police Forces
  • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
  • Cantonment Board
  • State Police Subordinate Selection Commission
  • Border Defence Organisation
  • Bureau of Police Research and Development
  • Indo-Tibetian Border Police
  • Railway Protection Force (RPF)

Thus, if you are planning to appear for the Defence 2023 exams, check below the complete details of all the Defence Recruitment Exams 2023, conducted in India. Also, check the important exam dates as well as details of tentative vacancies for the different defence exams.

List of Defence Exams 2023

Below you can have a look at the detailed defence exam calendar 2023 to track the events and prepare accordingly for these upcoming defence exams:

Defence Exams 2022

Date of notification release

Last date to apply online

Exam Dates

CDS 1 2022

22nd December 2021

11th January 2022

10th April 2022

AFCAT 1 2022

01st December 2021

30th December 2021

12th. 13th & 14th February 2022

ICG AC 2022

02nd February 2022

26th February 2022

March 2022

CAPF (AC) 2021

15th April 2021

05th May 2021

08th August 2021

INET

29th November 2019

19th December 2019

February 2020 (Postponed)

Territorial Army 2021

17th July 2021

19th August 2021

26th September 2021

Indian Army NCC

16th June 2021

15th July 2021

NA

CDS Exam

UPSC or the Union Public Service Commission conducts the exam of Combined Defence Services (CDS) twice a year for different branches of the Indian Armed Forces including the Air Force, Army and Navy. The exams are usually conducted in the months of February and November. Candidates must be graduates in order to apply for the CDS exam.

Exam Conducting Authority

Union Public Service Commission, UPSC

Selection Phase

  • Written Exam
  • SSB Interview/Personality Test
  • Document Verification
  • Medical Examination

Mode of Exam

Offline

CDS Subjects

  • English
  • General Knowledge
  • Elementary Mathematics

Negative Marking

1/3 is deducted for every wrong attempt

AFCAT 2023 Exam

Indian Air Force conducts the exam of AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) twice every year (in February & August). This is one of the most coveted exams among other defence exams for engineers. The candidates selected through the AFCAT exam serve in either Flying Branch (Short Service Commission), or, Technical Branch (Short Service & Permanent Commission), or, Ground Duty Branch (Short Service & Permanent Commission).

Exam Conducting Authority

Indian Air Force, IAF

Selection Phase

  • Written Exam
  • SSB Interview/Personality Test
  • Medical Examination
  • Final Merit List

Mode of Exam

Offline

AFCAT Subjects

  • Verbal Ability
  • General Awareness
  • Reasoning & Military Aptitude
  • Numerical Ability

EKT Subjects

  • Mechanical
  • Electronics
  • Computer Science

Negative Marking

1 mark is deducted for every wrong attempt

Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandant) Exam

The exam of CAPF Assistant Commandant (AC) is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The candidates selected from the CAPF AC exam are placed in either Border Security Force (BSF)/ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)/ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)/ Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)/ Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

Exam Conducting Authority

Union Public Service Commission, UPSC

Selection Phase

  • Written Exam
  • Physical Efficiency Test
  • Interview/Personality Test
  • Final Merit List

Mode of Exam

Offline

CAPF Subjects

  • Paper I: General Ability & Intelligence
  • Paper II: Descriptive

Negative Marking

1/3 mark is deducted for every wrong attempt

Defence Exam Eligibility

Defence exams offer various job opportunities for the candidates from different standards such as holding 10th, 12th, ITI, diploma, engineering and other graduation qualifications. The basic defence exam eligibility criteria are as follows:

1) Nationality:

  • Citizen of India, or
  • The subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
  • Tibetan refugees migrated to India before January 01, 1962 with the intention of Permanent Settle, or
  • An individual of Indian Origin migrated from Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire & Vietnam for permanent settle purpose in India.

2) Age Limit and Educational Qualification:

Courses

Age Limit

Qualification

Marital Status

Air Force Academy (AFA)

20 to 24 years

Degree of a recognized University (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) or Bachelor of Engineering

Unmarried

Indian Naval Academy (NA)

19 to 24 years

Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution

Indian Military Academy (IMA)

Degree of a recognized University or equivalent

Officers' Training Academy (OTA - Men)

19 to 25 years

Unmarried and Married

Officers Training Academy (OTA - Women, Non-Technical)

Unmarried, Widow and Divorcee

List of Defence Exams After Graduation

So, students who aren't aware of the career in defence can check the list of opportunities below in defence after graduation:

  • Combined Defence Services Examination, CDS
  • Indian Army TGC
  • Indian Army SSC Technical
  • Indian Air Force Airmen
  • Indian Army Jag
  • Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer, JCO
  • Indian Army Teacher
  • Indian Army NCC

List of Defence Exams for Females in India

There are many opportunities for women in the Armed Forces as women stand equally in every field. Below are some of the job options in defence services for women in India:

  • Combined Defence Services Examination, CDS
  • Short Service Commission (Technical)
  • NCC (SPL) Entry Women
  • Joint Advocate General (JAG) SCWW

FAQs related to Defence Exam

1) Can I join the Indian Army after ITI?

Answer: Yes, candidates with 12th/ ITI/ Diploma/ Graduation/ B. Sc Can Apply for Indian Army Jobs.

2) What are the exams to join the Indian Army?

Answer: NDA, CDS, AFCAT are the exams conducted yearly for youths to join the Indian Army.

3) Which website is the best for defence exam preparation?

Answer: You must try BYJU'S Exam Prep to prepare for defence exams with expert mentors, exclusive study material, thousands of questions to practice and prepare for the exam.

4] What are the exams that the candidates can take after completing their Graduation? 

Answer: The list of the exams that can be taken by the students completing their Graduation are as follows; 

  • Combined Defence Services Examination, CDS
  • Indian Army TGC
  • Indian Army SSC Technical
  • Indian Air Force Airmen
  • Indian Army Jag
  • Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer, JCO
  • Indian Army Teacher
  • Indian Army NCC

Defence Exam Related Quick Links -

Here are some related links for defence exams that help in your preparation and secure good marks in upcoming prelims and mains exams.

Defence Exams Mock Test

Defence Exam Online Coaching

Defence Exams Quiz 2022

Monthly Current Affairs

CDS Study Material 2022

Defence Studies Previous Year Papers

Defence Jobs

Defence Exams in India

AFCAT Mock Test

 

Download BYJU'S Exam Prep app for Defence Exam Preparation.

Prep Smart. Score Better. Go BYJU'S Exam Prep

Oct 24CDS & Defence

Defence Exams 2023: Upcoming Defence Jobs & Notification FAQs

  • Some of the most popular defence exams that are highly sought after are as follows:

    • UPSC NDA/NA
    • UPSC CDS
    • AFCAT
    • SSB
    • Indian Coast Guard
    • Indian Airforce Group X, Y
  • After passing Class 12th, you can apply for the following Defence Jobs:

    • NDA/NA
    • AFCAT
    • Indian Airforce Group X, Y
    • Indian Coast Guard
  • Female candidates can apply for Combined Defence Services Examination, CDS, Short Service Commission (Technical), NCC (SPL) Entry Women, and Joint Advocate General (JAG) SCWW defence jobs.

  • Yes, you can apply for soldier (General Duty, Technical) with 45% marks.

  • You can apply for the post of Combined Defence Services Examination, CDS, Indian Army TGC, Indian Army SSC Technical, Indian Air Force Airmen, Indian Army Jag, Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer, JCO, Indian Army Teacher, Indian Army NCC after completing your graduation.

  • No, there is no age relaxation for NDA.

  • Yes, permanent tattoos are not allowed in defence. However, if you belong to a certain tribe where it is customary to have a tattoo then your appointment will not be rejected.

  • No, women candidates cannot apply for UPSC NDA Job.

  • The selection process for defence jobs depends on the type of defence job that you will be applying for. However, the major criteria involve a written exam followed by a physical fitness test.

  • Some defence exams are held annually while some are held twice in a year such as NDA, CDS.

  • You can get defence exam notifications by visiting their official website or through BYJU'S Exam Prep website.

  • Yes, major exams like NDA and CDS have the requirement for sectional cutoff. But for AFCAT there is no sectional cutoff.

  • Yes, having an NCC ‘C’ Certificate serves as an important part in applying for defence jobs. There is a certain percentage of reservation for such candidates. 

  • Yes, you can appear for defence exams after your Post Graduation subject to eligibility criteria laid down.

  • The age limit requirement for defence exam differs as per the examination that you will be appearing for. 

  • The sections or subjects vary as per the exam for Defence Exams.

  • On becoming an army officer through NDA or CDS, you will be entitled to receive canteen benefits, travel allowance, HRA, DA, Quarter Accommodations, Uniform Allowance, Telephone and magazine allowance, special forces allowance, Children Education Allowance.

  • The level of GK is of moderate level in Defence Exams such as NDA, CDS. However, as per the trend analysis of the last few years, it has been observed that you need to have a grasp in current affairs. Moreover, you must have a clear understanding of basic political science.

  • Yes, you can apply for NDA even if you do not belong to Science.