A career in defence, rightfully remarked as not for the faint of heart, is highly demanding where only the brave and true patriots at heart can enter. It is the most respected and prestigious profession in the country. While millions admire and aspire to be in the defence forces, it takes strong will and dedication to tread this professional path. India with over 5.1 million military personnel, has the second-largest military force in the world. A career in defence is not only highly revered but also gratifying. Numerous perks and benefits in addition to the monthly high remuneration, make a career in defence a dream for many youths in the country.
Building a career in defence requires disciplining oneself early on. It also requires having complete knowledge about the available career options and trajectories that one must choose. The Indian Defence also called the Indian Armed Forces is made up of four services, namely- The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. These four services come under the gamut of the Indian Armed Forces governed by the Ministry of Defence, under the supreme command of the President of India.
This blog aims to give detailed information about building a career in defence and how to go about it. We shall discuss the major paths of joining the Indian Armed Forces and the relevant requirements that a candidate must fulfil.
Two prominent routes give entry into the defence services in India: National Defence Academy (NDA) and Combined Defence Services (CDS). Both NDA and CDS are the gateways to the defence service and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts all-India NDA and CDS exams to recruit potential youth. NDA and CDA, however, have varying structures, patterns, requirements and objectives. Aspiring individuals must therefore identify the path more suitable to their goals Let us break down the two different examinations in detail.
The Union Public Service Commission conducts the National Defence Academy exam twice a year, in two sessions -NDA 1 and NDA 2. This examination is conducted to recruit officers in three different services in Defence: Indian Army, Indian Navy and Air Force.
The commission usually releases the notification and application to NDA 1 in January and the written examination for the same is held usually in April. The Notification for NDA 2 comes in July and the written exam is then conducted in September. Both NDA 1 and NDA 2 follow the same exam structure, pattern, eligibility criteria, syllabus and selection process. Successful candidates in the NDA written exams have to sit for the service selection board (SSB) interview, which is a crucial step after the exam. Selections are made based on the performance of the candidate both in the written and interview. A candidate is therefore required to qualify for the written exam and the interview and be physically fit to come out successful. Candidates who make it to the final merit list undergo rigorous training for three years at the National Defence Academy.
Towards the end of the NDA training, candidates are given the choice to choose their preferred service- Army, Air Force, or Navy. This decision will depend on the candidate's career goal, personal preference and most importantly individual strengths.
After NDA, officers are again given specialized training in the service they have selected. This training is specifically designed and provided to distil down the skills necessary for their respective roles. Officers get to build skills and tact to tackle carried challenges concerning their roles.
The exam is divided into two parts:
The NDA written exam syllabus includes two major areas:
Mathematics: 300 Marks
The core topics in the Mathematics section include:
General Ability Test (GAT): 600 Marks
The GAT section comprises topics across various subjects and is divided into two major sections- English paper carrying 200 marks and General Knowledge 400 marks.
The English section tests candidates in the following areas:
The General Knowledge section carrying 400 marks covers subjects, including:
Written Exam Duration: 5 Hours ( 2 hours & 30 Minutes for each Section- Math and GAT)
Question Types: Objective Types ( Multiple Choice Questions)
The NDA is typically the right track for candidates seeking entry into prestigious careers in the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force right after their 10+2. Candidates desiring to start early on in their lives may choose this path.
The Combined Defence Academy (CDS) is another route that aspiring candidates may take for entry into an illustrious career in defence. The Union Public Service Commission conducts the CDS exam twice a year, as CDS 1 and CDS 2. Successful candidates of the CDS exams get admitted into esteemed institutions of the Indian defence - Indian Military Academy (IMA), Air Force Academy (AFA), Indian Naval Academy (INA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Similar to NDA, the exams for CDS are conducted in two sessions with the first one taking place usually in February and the second in November. UPSC announces the recruitment for each session in December/January and May/June, respectively.
Candidates clearing the written examinations progress to the subsequent levels - interviews and medical examinations by the Services Selection Board. Successful candidates proceed to their respective academies for rigorous training, finally culminating in getting commissioned to the officer's roles. The training period for officers selected through CDS however undergo a shorter training program.
The exam pattern, selection procedure, structure, etc. for both CDS 1 and 2 are the same, just the variation in the time. The CDS trajectory is through three steps:
The CDS examinations are held offline across different centres in the country. The exam can be taken either in English or Hindi as per the candidate's preference.
The CDS written exam is a multiple choice questions format. A negative marking of 0.33 for every incorrect answer is deducted, while each correct answer carries 1 mark. There are typically 100 questions in each section. The question paper pattern however varies for the different academies, with slight variations in the syllabus.
For IMA, AFA and INA the written exam paper will have three different sections:
For OTA, the written exam paper will consist of two papers:
The syllabus and question patterns will be common, except that candidates appearing for the OTA are exempted from taking the Mathematical Section.
Candidates who cleared the written examination are called for intelligence and personality tests by the Service Selection Board (SSB). The interview consists of two stages and an extensive process that prolongs for 5 long days.
The final stage of the CDS is the medical examination which candidates must qualify for the parameters of being physically and mentally fit and must not have any syndromes, disabilities or diseases. The final merit list is announced by the UPSC taking into account all the scores in written tests, interviews and medical examinations.
Educational Qualification:
Gender: Both male and female candidates can go for OTA, but INA, IMA and AFA are limited to male candidates.
Age Limit: 19 to 25 years
Marital Status:
Entering the defence service takes effort, hard work and physical fitness, apart from other conditions of eligibility. Candidates may pursue any of the routes - NDA or CDS that suit their goals and eligibility. We have outlined all the necessary information for each path. Choose the track suitable to you and start preparing.
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