Check Your Eligibility

Defence Exams Eligibility Criteria

Find out the age limits, educational qualifications, marital status, physical fitness standards, and gender requirements for various Officer and Airmen entries.

Select Defense Entry

Comprehensive Entry Requirements

NDA & Naval Academy Entry

UPSC Exam Entry
Age Limit

16.5 years to 19.5 years (Cadet must be unmarried at the time of joining).

Educational Qualification

• Army Wing: Passed 12th Class (10+2 pattern) in any stream.
• Air Force & Navy Wing: Passed 12th Class with Physics & Mathematics.

Gender & Marital Status

Male & Female Cadets (Unmarried Candidates only).

Physical Standards for NDA

Parameter Male Candidates Female Candidates
Min Height 157 cm (162.5 cm for Flying Wing) 152 cm
Chest Expansion Minimum 5 cm expansion Not Applicable
Visual Standard 6/6 Better Eye, 6/9 Worse Eye 6/6 Better Eye, 6/9 Worse Eye
1.6 KM Running Within 7 Minutes Within 8 Minutes
Note: Relaxation in height is applicable for candidates from Gorkhas, North-East states, and Lakshadweep regions as per Govt rules.

Combined Defence Services (CDS)

Graduate Entry
Age Limit

• IMA / INA: 19 to 24 Years
• AFA (Air Force): 20 to 24 Years
• OTA (Non-Technical): 19 to 25 Years

Educational Qualification

• IMA / OTA: Graduation degree in any stream.
• INA: Engineering degree.
• AFA: Degree with Physics & Math at 10+2 level or B.E/B.Tech.

Entry Specific Highlights

  • IMA (Indian Military Academy): Permanent Commission for Male Candidates.
  • OTA (Officers Training Academy): Short Service Commission for Male & Female Candidates.
  • Final Year Students: Appearing in final degree exams can also apply provisionally.

AFCAT (Air Force Entry)

Flying & Ground Duty
Age Limit

• Flying Branch: 20 to 24 Years
• Ground Duty (Tech/Non-Tech): 20 to 26 Years

Educational Qualification

Graduation with minimum 60% marks and minimum 50% in Physics & Math at 10+2 level.

AFCAT Selection Stages

  1. Online Written Test (AFCAT Paper): 100 Questions covering General Awareness, Verbal, Reasoning, and Math.
  2. EKT Exam: Only for Ground Duty Technical Branch.
  3. AFSB Interview: 5-Day Testing at Air Force Selection Boards (Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar, Varanasi).
  4. CPSS Test: Computerised Pilot Selection System for Flying Branch candidates.

Air Force Group X & Y Entry

Agniveervayu Entry
Age Limit

17.5 years to 21 years at the time of online exam registration.

Educational Qualification

• Group X (Science Subjects): 10+2 with Math, Physics & English (Min 50% aggregate & 50% in English).
• Group Y (Other than Science): 10+2 passed in any stream (Min 50% aggregate & 50% in English).

PFT (Physical Fitness Test)

  • 1.6 KM Run: Completed within 7 minutes for males (8 minutes for females).
  • Push-ups: 10 Repetitions in 1 minute.
  • Sit-ups & Squats: 10 Sit-ups and 20 Squats within specified time limits.

Agniveer Army & Navy SSR/MR

Rally & CBT Entry
Age Limit

17.5 years to 21 years across all trade categories.

Educational Qualification

• General Duty (GD): 10th Pass with 45% aggregate.
• Technical Entry: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Math & English (50% aggregate).
• Tradesman: 8th / 10th Pass simple pass.

Army Rally Physical Test Marking

Task Group I (Max Marks) Group II (Max Marks)
1.6 KM Run Within 5:30 mins (60 Marks) 5:31 to 5:45 mins (48 Marks)
Beam (Pull-ups) 10 Pull-ups (40 Marks) 6 to 9 Pull-ups (16-33 Marks)
9 Feet Ditch Qualifying Only Qualifying Only
Zig-Zag Balance Qualifying Only Qualifying Only
Free Verification

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