⚔️ Defence Exams 2026: Complete List of Upcoming Defence Exams
Defence exams in India are conducted by UPSC, Indian Armed Forces, and Ministry of Defence to recruit officers and soldiers into the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and paramilitary forces. Major exams include NDA, CDS, AFCAT, CAPF AC, Agniveer (Army / Navy / Air Force), and various technical entry schemes.
| Exam | Body | Posts | Vacancies | Qualification | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA (I) 2026 | UPSC | Army / Navy / Air Force (Officer Cadet) | ~400 | 12th Pass (PCM for AF/Navy) | |
| CDS (I) 2026 | UPSC | IMA / OTA / Naval / Air Force Academy (Officer) | 457 | Graduation | |
| AFCAT (1) 2026 | Indian Air Force | Flying / Technical / Ground Duty (Short Service Commission) | ~300 | Graduation (Engg for Tech) | |
| AFCAT (2) 2026 | Indian Air Force | Flying / Technical / Ground Duty | ~300 | Graduation (Engg for Tech) | |
| CAPF AC 2026 | UPSC | Assistant Commandant — BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, NIA, SSF, AR | ~350 | Graduation | |
| NDA (II) 2026 | UPSC | Army / Navy / Air Force (Officer Cadet) | ~400 | 12th Pass (PCM for AF/Navy) | |
| CDS (II) 2026 | UPSC | IMA / OTA / Naval / Air Force Academy (Officer) | ~450 | Graduation | |
| Agniveer Army 2026 | Indian Army | Agniveer GD / Technical / Clerk / Tradesman | 25,000+ | 10th / 12th Pass | |
| Agniveer Vayu 01/2027 | Indian Air Force | Agniveer Vayu (Science / Other) | ~3,000 | 12th Pass (PCM) | |
| Agniveer Navy MR / SSR 2026 | Indian Navy | Agniveer — Senior Secondary Recruit / Matric Recruit | ~3,000 | 10th / 12th Pass | |
| Army TES 2026 | Indian Army | Technical Entry Scheme (Short Service Commission — Engineer) | 90 | 12th Pass (PCM 70%+) | |
| Territorial Army 2026 | Territorial Army | Officer — Territorial Army (Part-Time Commission) | ~100 | Graduation (Age 18–42) | |
| Indian Coast Guard Yantrik / Navik 2026 | Indian Coast Guard | Yantrik (Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics) / Navik GD & DB | ~500 | 10th / 12th / Diploma | |
| SSC Tech / JAG Entry 2026 | Indian Army | Short Service Commission (Technical / Judge Advocate General) | 200+ | B.Tech / LLB |
📅 Defence Exams 2026 Dates (Latest Exam Schedule)
Official exam dates for all major defence exams 2026. Status badges auto-update based on today's date.
| Exam | Notification | Apply Closes | Written Exam | SSB / Interview | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT (1) 2026 | Dec 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Feb 22–23, 2026 | Apr–Jun 2026 | |
| NDA (I) 2026 | Dec 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | Apr 12, 2026 | Jul–Sep 2026 (SSB) | |
| Agniveer Vayu 01/2027 | Feb 2026 | Mar 10, 2026 | Mar 30–31, 2026 | Jun–Jul 2026 | |
| CDS (I) 2026 | Dec 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | May 24, 2026 | Aug–Oct 2026 (SSB) | |
| CAPF AC 2026 | Apr 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | Aug 2, 2026 | Nov 2026 (PT + Interview) | |
| NDA (II) 2026 | May 28, 2026 | Jun 17, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | Dec 2026 (SSB) | |
| CDS (II) 2026 | May 28, 2026 | Jun 17, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | Dec 2026 (SSB) | |
| AFCAT (2) 2026 | Jun 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | Aug 22–23, 2026 | Oct–Dec 2026 (AFSB) | |
| Agniveer Army 2026 | Mar 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Jul–Sep 2026 (Rally) | — |
📆 Defence Exams 2026 Calendar (All Army, Navy & Air Force Exams Timeline)
| Month | Activity | Exam / Force |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Exam · Notification | AFCAT (1) Written Exam (Feb 22–23) · Agniveer Vayu Notification |
| Mar 2026 | Exam · Notification | Agniveer Vayu 01/2027 Exam (Mar 30–31) · CAPF AC Notification Released |
| Apr 2026 | Exam · Notification | NDA (I) Written Exam (Apr 12) · Army TES Notification · Territorial Army Notification · Coast Guard Notification |
| May 2026 | Exam · Notification | CDS (I) Written Exam (May 24) · NDA (II) Notification Released (May 28) · Agniveer Navy Notification |
| Jun 2026 | Notification · Apply | NDA (II) / CDS (II) Apply Closes (Jun 17) · AFCAT (2) Notification |
| Jul–Aug 2026 | Exam · SSB | Agniveer Army Rallies (Jul–Sep) · CAPF AC Written Exam (Aug 2) · AFCAT (2) Written Exam (Aug 22–23) |
| Sep 2026 | Exam | NDA (II) Written Exam (Sep 13) · CDS (II) Written Exam (Sep 13) |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | SSB · Interview | NDA (I) SSB Results · CDS (I) SSB · CAPF AC PT & Interview · Agniveer Navy Written Exam |
| Dec 2026 | SSB · Merits | NDA (II) SSB · CDS (II) SSB · AFCAT (2) AFSB · Various Merit Lists |
📢 Upcoming Defence Exams 2026 (Latest Notifications & Updates)
| Update | Exam | Date | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Done | AFCAT (1) 2026 — Written Exam (Feb 22–23) | Feb 2026 | Check Result → |
| Exam Approaching | Agniveer Vayu 01/2027 — Exam Mar 30–31 | Mar 30–31, 2026 | View Details → |
| Exam Approaching | NDA (I) 2026 — Written Exam Apr 12 | Apr 12, 2026 | View Details → |
| Upcoming | CDS (I) 2026 — Written Exam May 24 (457 vacancies) | May 24, 2026 | View Details → |
| Expected Apr 2026 | CAPF AC 2026 — ~350 vacancies | Apr 2026 | View Details → |
| Expected May 2026 | NDA (II) 2026 Notification — ~400 vacancies | May 28, 2026 | View Details → |
| Expected Jun 2026 | AFCAT (2) 2026 Notification | Jun 2026 | View Details → |
| Expected Mar 2026 | Agniveer Army 2026 Notification (~25,000 vacancies) | Mar 2026 | View Details → |
🇮🇳 Defence Exams 2026 in India (NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer & More)
🎖️ Officer Entry (UPSC)
🪖 Army
🛡️ Paramilitary / CG
🏛️ Government Defence Exams 2026 (Army, Navy, Air Force Jobs List)
| Post / Entry | Force | Exam | Vacancies | Pay Scale | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMA / NA / AFA Cadet (Permanent Commission) | Army / Navy / Air Force | NDA + SSB | ~400 | ₹56,100+/mo (Lt Pay Level 10) | 12th Pass (PCM for Navy/AF) |
| IMA / OTA / NA / AFA (Short Service / Permanent) | Army / Navy / Air Force | CDS + SSB | ~450 | ₹56,100+/mo (Lt Pay Level 10) | Graduation |
| Flying / Technical / Ground Duty Officer (SSC) | Indian Air Force | AFCAT + AFSB | ~300 | ₹56,100+/mo (Fg Off Level 10) | Graduation (B.Tech for Tech) |
| Assistant Commandant | BSF / CISF / CRPF / ITBP / SSB | CAPF AC + Physical + Interview | ~350 | ₹56,100+/mo (Level 10) | Graduation |
| TES Officer (Short Service Commission) | Indian Army | Army TES + SSB | 90 | ₹56,100+/mo (Lt Level 10) | 12th PCM 70%+ |
| SSC Tech / JAG Officer | Indian Army | Short Service Commission Scheme | 200+ | ₹56,100+/mo (Lt Level 10) | B.Tech / LLB |
| Agniveer GD / Technical / Clerk | Indian Army | Agniveer Rally + Written | 25,000+ | ₹30,000/mo (Package ₹9.1L/yr) | 10th / 12th Pass |
| Agniveer Vayu (Science / Other) | Indian Air Force | IAF Agniveer Written + Physical | ~3,000 | ₹30,000/mo (Package ₹9.1L/yr) | 12th PCM (Science track) |
| Agniveer MR / SSR | Indian Navy | Navy Agniveer Written + Physical | ~3,000 | ₹30,000/mo (Package ₹9.1L/yr) | 10th / 12th Pass |
| Navik GD / DB, Yantrik | Indian Coast Guard | Coast Guard Written + Physical | ~500 | ₹21,700–₹69,100 (Level 3/4) | 10th / 12th / Diploma |
✅ Defence Exams 2026 Eligibility Criteria (Qualification & Requirements)
| Exam | Gender | Qualification | Marital Status | Medical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA 2026 | Male (SSC passed / appearing) | 12th Pass — PCM compulsory for Navy / AF; any stream for Army | Unmarried only | Fit as per Armed Forces Medical Standards |
| CDS 2026 | Male (IMA/NA/AFA) · Male & Female (OTA) | Graduation from recognised university (B.Tech for AF/NA) | Unmarried (IMA/NA/AFA) · Any (OTA) | Fit as per Armed Forces Medical Standards |
| AFCAT 2026 | Male & Female | Graduation / B.Tech (for Technical branch: Engineering degree) | Any | PULHHEEMS / AFSB medical fit |
| CAPF AC 2026 | Male & Female | Graduation from recognised university | Any | Physically fit as per CAPF norms |
| Agniveer Army 2026 | Male (all posts) · Female (select posts) | 10th Pass (GD, Tradesman) · 12th Pass (Technical, Clerk, SKT) | Unmarried only | Medical at Rally site |
| Agniveer Vayu 2026 | Male & Female | 12th Pass — PCM + English for Science posts; 50% agg for others | Unmarried only | Medical fit as per IAF norms |
| Agniveer Navy 2026 | Male | 12th Pass (SSR) · 10th Pass (MR) | Unmarried only | Medical fit as per Navy norms |
💡 For all NDA / CDS / AFCAT officer entries, candidates must also clear the Services Selection Board (SSB) — a 5-day psychological and personality assessment process. SSB is equally important as the written exam.
🎂 Defence Exams 2026 Age Limit (Post-wise Relaxation Details)
| Exam | Min Age | Max Age | Age as on | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA (I) 2026 | 16.5 years | 19.5 years | Jan 1, 2026 | No relaxation |
| NDA (II) 2026 | 16.5 years | 19.5 years | Jul 1, 2026 | No relaxation |
| CDS (IMA / NA / AFA) | 20 years | 24 years | Jan / Jul 2026 | No relaxation |
| CDS (OTA) | 20 years | 25 years | Jan / Jul 2026 | No relaxation |
| AFCAT 2026 | 20 years | 26 years (Flying) / 28 years (Tech/GD) | As per notification | No relaxation |
| CAPF AC 2026 | 20 years | 25 years | Aug 1, 2026 | SC/ST +5 · OBC +3 · Ex-SM relaxation |
| Agniveer Army 2026 | 17.5 years | 23 years | As per rally | No relaxation |
| Agniveer Vayu 2026 | 17 years | 23 years | As per notification | No relaxation |
| Agniveer Navy 2026 | 17 years | 21 years | As per notification | No relaxation |
| Army TES 2026 | 16.5 years | 19.5 years | As per notification | No relaxation |
| Territorial Army 2026 | 18 years | 42 years | Date of joining | No relaxation |
⚠️ Defence exams typically have strict age limits with no relaxation for most officer entries. CAPF AC is an exception. Always verify from the official notification.
📝 Defence Exams 2026 Application Form (Apply Online Process)
1
Visit the Official Application Portal
NDA / CDS / CAPF: Apply at upsconline.nic.in · AFCAT: Apply at afcat.cdac.in · Agniveer Army: Apply at joinindianarmy.nic.in · Agniveer Vayu: Apply at agnipathvayu.cdac.in · Agniveer Navy: Apply at joinindiannavy.gov.in
2
Register & Create Account
Register with your Name, Email ID, Mobile Number, and Date of Birth. For UPSC exams (NDA / CDS), complete one-time registration at upsconline.nic.in and create your UPSC profile first.
3
Fill Application Form
Enter personal details, educational qualification, domicile state, choice of SSB centre (for NDA/CDS/AFCAT), physical measurements, and category details. For Agniveer Army, also enter your recruitment rally zone preference.
4
Upload Documents
Upload: Passport-size photo (JPG, white background), Signature (JPG), 10th / 12th Marksheet (as applicable), Category Certificate (for CAPF). Original documents are verified during SSB / joining stage.
5
Pay Application Fee
NDA / CDS: ₹100 (Gen/OBC); Free for SC/ST/Female · AFCAT: Free · CAPF AC: ₹200 (Gen/OBC); Free for SC/ST/Female · Agniveer: Free for all candidates.
6
Submit & Prepare for Multiple Stages
After written exam: Prepare for SSB / Physical Fitness Test / Medical. For NDA/CDS, the SSB is a 5-day process at designated Selection Boards across India. Physical fitness preparation should begin immediately after applying.
📄 Defence Exams 2026 Notification PDF (Download Official Notices)
| Exam | Vacancies | Notification Status | Official Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA (I) 2026 | ~400 | Released (Dec 2025) | upsc.gov.in | Download → |
| CDS (I) 2026 | 457 | Released (Dec 2025) | upsc.gov.in | Download → |
| AFCAT (1) 2026 | ~300 | Released (Dec 2025) | afcat.cdac.in | Download → |
| Agniveer Vayu 01/2027 | ~3,000 | Released (Feb 2026) | agnipathvayu.cdac.in | Download → |
| CAPF AC 2026 | ~350 | Expected Apr 2026 | upsc.gov.in | Check When Live → |
| NDA (II) 2026 | ~400 | May 28, 2026 | upsc.gov.in | Check When Live → |
| CDS (II) 2026 | ~450 | May 28, 2026 | upsc.gov.in | Check When Live → |
| AFCAT (2) 2026 | ~300 | Jun 2026 | afcat.cdac.in | Check When Live → |
| Agniveer Army 2026 | 25,000+ | Mar–Apr 2026 | joinindianarmy.nic.in | Check When Live → |
💡 Defence Exam Preparation Strategy 2026
Maths & Physics Foundation
NDA / CDS / AFCAT all test Mathematics heavily. Build a strong foundation in Class 11–12 Maths (Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Coordinate Geometry). For NDA, Maths is 300 marks out of 900.
GK / Current Affairs Daily
General Ability Test (NDA) and GK sections in CDS/AFCAT require deep current affairs coverage. Read national newspapers daily — defence, science, history, and geo-politics are key areas.
Physical Fitness from Day 1
Written exam is only the first gate. SSB and medical have strict physical standards. Start running (2.4 km in 10–12 min), push-ups (40+), pull-ups (8+) from Day 1 of preparation.
SSB Personality Development
SSB tests 15 Officer Like Qualities (OLQ). Read 'SSB Cracker' or similar guides. Practice GTO tasks, lecturette, WAT, TAT, and group discussions at least 3 months before SSB.
Apply for Both Cycles
NDA, CDS, and AFCAT are each conducted twice a year. Apply to both cycles simultaneously to double your attempt count. This allows recovery if one written exam goes poorly.
English Is Critical
English comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary carry significant marks in CDS and AFCAT. Practice RC passages, sentence correction, and fill-in-the-blanks from PYQs daily.