Written examinations for officer pathways
Start with the existing detailed guides, then compare the route behind each examination.
Independent guidance · Official notification always controls
Exams and entries
Indian Defence Exams & Officer Entry Routes
Compare purpose, education stage and selection pathway before checking the exact eligibility rules in the current official notice.
Quick comparison
Compare the route—not only the paper
| Entry | Education stage | Written stage | What follows | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA & NA | Class 12 stage | UPSC written exam | SSB, medical and merit | Guide |
| CDS | Graduate stage | UPSC written exam | SSB, medical and merit | Guide |
| AFCAT | Graduate stage | IAF online exam | AFSB, medical and merit | Guide |
Exact eligibility, academy choice, branch availability and stages must be checked in the current controlling notice.
NDA & NA
A Class 12-stage pathway to Army, Navy and Air Force officer training routes.
Open guide 02CDS
A graduate pathway linked to notified academy and commission choices.
Open guide 03AFCAT
An Air Force officer-entry examination for notified Flying and Ground Duty branches.
Open guideChoose the career route, then the preparation.
An examination is one part of an entry pathway. Start with your education stage and the kind of service career you want, then investigate the relevant selection process. Other officer entries and Agniveer should not be treated as extra versions of NDA, CDS or AFCAT.
Other officer-entry routes
NCC Special Entry, TES, TGC, SSC Tech, JAG and notified Navy officer entries need separate route-specific guidance. They are not interchangeable with the written examinations above. Explore the service career guides for these entry routes and check the relevant current notification.
Agniveer: a separate career pathway
Keep Agniveer research separate from commissioned officer-entry comparisons. Investigate the relevant service notification and the nature of the engagement before comparing preparation options.
Go to the source for the current entry
Use the issuing authority’s current notice for application dates, qualifications, vacancies and selection requirements. A route being listed here does not mean applications are open.
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