The Different Entrance Exams for the Different Defense Services

About Defense Services

The Defense Forces of India comprise of those forces which come under the control and administration of the Ministry of Defense. These are four in number, i.e., the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Indian Army, the Indian Navy. As the phrase ‘Defense Forces’ suggests, their work encompasses defending the country in case of an attack by an outside force/s. Their job is to protect the country against any threats from another country.

The Indian Air Force does so by protecting the aerospace which comes under the control of India. The Indian Army aims to defend the territory owned by India and the Indian Navy works towards safeguarding the Indian waters.

Defense Entrance Exams

To get into any of the wings of the Indian Defense Services, one has to sit for different entrance tests. Various entrances exams are organized by the different Defense Services.

They are modeled to test the Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, Logic, basic knowledge of English and General Knowledge of a person. On the basis of their results, the candidates are selected for the further selection procedure and sent to the different Services Selection Boards (SSBs).

The Different Entrance Exams for Defense Services

The Indian Navy:

• Indian Navy (Education Branch, Law and Logistics Cadre) Examination
• Indian Navy Artificer Apprentices Examination
• Indian Navy Direct Entry Artificer (Diploma Holders) Examination
• Indian Navy Dockyard Apprentices Examination
• Indian Navy Sailors (Direct Entry) Examination
• Indian Navy Sailors Matric Entry Recruitment Examination
• Indian Navy Short Service Commission (SSC) (Technical- Electrical / Engineering Branch) Examination
• Indian Navy Submarine Cadre Examination
• National Defense Academy (NDA) Examination
• Combined Defense Services (CDS) Examination

The Indian Air Force:

• Air Force Common Aptitude Test (AFCAT) for the selection of Officers for the Technical wing, the Flying wing or the Ground Duty wing
• Indian Air Force Women Pilot Trainees Examination
• Indian Air Force Aeronautical Engineering Officers Examination
• Indian Air Force Pilots Examination
• Indian Air Force Airman (Non-Technical Trade) Examination
• Indian Air Force Airman (Technical Trade) Examination
• Indian Air Force Airman (Education Instructor Trade) Exam
• National Defense Academy (NDA) Examination
• Indian Air Force Airman (Musicians) Examination
• Combined Defense Services (CDS) Examination

The Indian Army:

• Combined Defense Services (CDS) Examination
• National Defense Academy (NDA) Examination
• Indian Army Soldiers (Technical) MER Examination
• Indian Army Soldiers Nursing Assistant's MER Examination
• Indian Army Soldiers General Duty (NER) Examination
• Indian Army Soldiers Clerks Examination

Who Conducts Them?

Some of the entrance exams that lead one to the Defense Services like the Combined Defense Services (CDS) Examination are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) while others are conducted independently by the different Defense Forces.

Who is Eligible for Them?

The common eligibility criteria that holds true for all the entrance exams to the different Defense Services are that the applicant must be an unmarried citizen of Indi9a and be physically fit.

Apart from these, the criteria differ for the different exams.

Why Should One Go For Them?

A job in the Defense Services is regarded as the most prestigious and respected job in India. Besides the great salary packages and unlimited perks, one gets to enjoy a very high reputation and regard by all.

Which are the Academies the Selected Ones are Trained At?

• Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for the Indian Army
• Naval Academy, Goa for the Indian Navy
• Air Force Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad for the Indian Air Force
• Officers Training Academy, Chennai for the Indian Army