Upcoming Defence Exams to Prepare in 2025 Complete List PDF: Defence exams are critical for individuals who want to serve the nation. Every year a myriad of students appear for defence exams to fulfil their long-term dream of joining the armed forces. These exams are aimed to evaluate the physical and mental aptitude of an individual.
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Upcoming Defence Exams 2025
Moreover, these exams are conducted to select the most eligible candidates to serve the Indian defence forces. So, if you are someone who wants to know what the upcoming defence exams are in 2025, make sure to read this article till the end.
Benefits of Defence Exams in India 2025
There are several benefits of having a career in the Indian defence field. A few of those benefits are demonstrated below.
Training and Skills
Joining the defence industry imparts technological and academic knowledge in you, which is one of the highest qualities required from the cadets having the required qualifications. The training you receive in defence not only develops you professionally but personally as well because it inculcates a sense of integrity, honour, self-discipline, and duty.
High Salary
This is one of the best benefits of this field. Candidates who joined the defence forces are entitled to attractive pay scales, right from the training period itself. Once the training is completed, they are entitled to salaries, according to the different defence ranks that they hold.
Opportunity to Travel and Explore
Joining the defence provides you with a massive opportunity to travel to different parts of the nation and explore them. Since India is a diverse nation, you get to meet a network with a lot of people around the nation. This provides you with an opportunity to make new friends who can be a big part of your life.
Job Security
Job security is another major benefit of joining the reference forces. Apart from job security, you also get free schooling for your children, excellent, excellent housing conditions, free medical facilities, and free air tickets for you and your family, once every year.
All these benefits will not only upgrade your lifestyle but will also provide you with greater well-being that can keep you happy and satisfied at work while encouraging you to work better to serve the nation and make your loved ones proud of you.
Further, you also get to learn new sports due to the different courses. They provide such as horse riding courses, golf courses, et cetera.
List of all Defence exams in India 2025
Here is a complete list of all Defence exams in India 2025:
Defence Exam Calendar 2025
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Eligibility | Selection Process | Exam Frequency | Upcoming 2025 Exam Date |
| NDA (National Defence Academy) | UPSC | 10+2 (Male & Female) | Written Test + SSB Interview | Twice a year (April & September) | April 13, 2025 & September 14, 2025 |
| CDS (Combined Defence Services) | UPSC | Graduate (Male & Female) | Written Exam + SSB Interview | Twice a year (February & November) | April 2025 & September 14, 2025 |
| AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) | Indian Air Force | Graduate (Flying Branch, Technical & Ground Duty) | Written Exam + AFSB Interview | Twice a year | To be Announced |
| Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Exam | Indian Coast Guard | 10+2 & Graduate (depending on post) | Written Test + Physical Test + Medical Exam | Twice a year | To be Announced |
| INET (Indian Navy Entrance Test) | Indian Navy | Graduate/Engineer | Written Test + SSB Interview | Once a year | To be Announced |
| Agniveer Recruitment (Army, Navy & Air Force) | Respective Forces | 10th & 12th Pass | Written Test + Physical & Medical Tests | Varies (Based on vacancies) | To be Announced |
| CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) | UPSC | Graduate | Written Test + Physical Test + Interview | Once a year | August 3, 2025 |
Defence Exams List 2025
Here is the complete list of defence exams that are coming in 2025:
AFCAT Exam
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is a country-level examination hosted by the Indian Air Force to recruit qualified professionals into the technical, grounded duty, and flying branches.
This exam is of major importance because it is concerned with determining the attitude of the candidates in different areas such as verbal ability, general awareness, reasoning, and numerical ability. Furthermore, all the candidates who are successful in this qualify for the selection process.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: Minimum 20 years (Flying Branch: 20-24 years, Ground Duty: 20-26 years)
- Nationality: Indian
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Educational Qualification:
- Flying Branch: Graduation (with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level) or B.E/B.Tech
- Ground Duty (Technical): B.E/B.Tech in relevant streams
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Graduation in any discipline
Exam Pattern
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 |
| Verbal Ability | 25 | 75 |
| Numerical Ability | 18 | 54 |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | 32 | 96 |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
Selection Process
- Written Exam (Objective-type)
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview
- Medical Examination
Physical Standards
Vision: 6/6 in one eye, 6/9 in the other (correctable)
Height: Minimum 162.5 cm (Flying Branch), 157 cm (Ground Duty)
CAPF Exam
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) AC exam is conducted by the UPSC and is a significant step for all aspiring candidates who want to become an assistant commandant. In this exam, there are several steps that the candidate has to go through such as a written exam, and a physical test which is further followed by an interview.
All these steps are focused on understanding whether the candidates possess the required mental and physical acuity to handle the CAPF AC role. As soon as the candidates clear this exam, they are provided with specialised training before taking on their final positions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: 20-25 years (Relaxation: OBC – 3 years, SC/ST – 5 years, Ex-Servicemen – 5 years)
- Nationality: Indian
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
| Paper 1 | General Ability & Intelligence | 250 | 2 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies, Essay & Comprehension | 200 | 3 hours |
Selection Process
- Written Examination
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- Medical Examination
- Personal Interview
Physical Standards
- Height: Male – 165 cm, Female – 157 cm
- Chest (Male only): 81 cm (unexpanded), 86 cm (expanded)
- Running: 100m in 16 sec (Male), 18 sec (Female)
- Long Jump: 3.5m (Male), 3.0m (Female)
Please note that there is a significant relaxation for the age requirements in the case of people belonging to different categories. This is because OBCs have a 3-year age relaxation.
Whereas, SC/STs have a 5 years of age relaxation. Further, people belonging to the J&K domicile are entitled to 5 years of relaxation and all the ex-government officials are also provided with a 5-year relaxation.
Suggested Read: How to Prepare For UPSC Exam
SSB Exam
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) head constable position is very reputed all over India. There are several positions in 2025 for this job that need to be filled out. The hiring process for this particular position includes several steps such as a written test, a physical efficiency test, and a medical exam.
Therefore, to pass this exam, the candidates need to fulfil all the eligibility criteria and ensure to pass the exam by studying correctly.
The syllabus for this exam compasses subjects like Mathematics, General Knowledge, English language, and Reasoning. Furthermore, the eligibility criteria for this exam are demonstrated below.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: 18-25 years
- Nationality: Indian
- Education: 10+2 from a recognized board
Exam Pattern
| Subject | Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| General Knowledge | 25 |
| English Language | 25 |
| Reasoning | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
Selection Process
- Written Exam
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
- Medical Examination
Physical Standards
- Height: Male – 170 cm, Female – 157 cm
- Chest (Male Only): 80 cm (unexpanded), 85 cm (expanded)
Suggested Read: List of Countries Accepting Low IELTS Score/Band in 2024-25
Defence Exams 2025 Eligibility
Please note that several age relaxations are permissible above the upper age limit. These age relaxations are listed in the table below.
| Category | Permitted Age Relaxation Above the Upper Age Limit |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 3 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Candidates domiciled in the Union Territory of J&K from 01/01/1980 to 31/12/1989 (General) | General: 40 SC/ST: 45 OBC: 43 |
| Candidates domiciled in the Union Territory of J&K from 01/01/1980 to 31/12/1989 (OBC) | 5 years |
CASB Exam
The Central Airmen Selection Board conducts an exam every year to evaluate the skills of all the candidates who have applied for the exam. All those candidates who qualify for the exam are likely to get a job. However, they need to ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility criteria that they are supposed to.
Overall, this exam is significant and is very reputable in India, providing efficient benefits. The eligibility criteria for this exam are provided below.
- The weight needs to be proportionate to the age and height of the candidate.
- The chest should have a minimum range of expansion of 5 cm.
- The candidate needs to have a good set of teeth and 14 dental points at minimum.
- The candidate needs to be between 17 years to 24 years of age while applying for the position.
- The candidate must have passed 10+2 and with a minimum of 50% of marks.
Suggested Read: Upcoming Government Exams to Prepare in 2024-25 Complete List
Indian Air Force Exam
This exam is very reputed in India and individuals, who want to join this field should have a primary mission to safeguard the Indian airspace while conducting aerial warfare during any kind of armed conflict.
If you qualify for this, you are entitled to receive several benefits which are a higher salary, a good reputation, opportunity to explore the nation and network with people. The eligibility criteria for this exam are provided below. Please have a look and check if you are the right candidate or not.
- You must have completed 10+2 intermediate with Mathematics, Physics, and English with an overall mark of 50% if you were a science student.
- If you are a non-science student then, you need to finish 10+2 intermediate qualification with 50% marks, overall.
- The minimum height requirement for this job post is 152.5 cm.
- The minimum expansion requirement is 5 cm.
Please ensure that you fulfil all the eligibility requirements of the different exams that have been discussed in the above sections. This is because if a candidate does not fulfil the eligibility criteria, then they will not be allowed to take the exam.
Preparation Tips & Best Books
Recommended Books
- Mathematics: Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
- General Awareness: Lucent’s General Knowledge
- English: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- Reasoning: Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
Study Strategy
- Focus on mock tests and previous year papers
- Stay updated with current affairs and defence-related news
- Improve physical fitness for PET/SSB rounds
- Practice essay writing and comprehension for CAPF
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Various organizations conduct defence exams:
UPSC (For NDA, CDS, CAPF)
Indian Air Force (For AFCAT)
Indian Navy (For INET)
Indian Coast Guard (For Coast Guard exams)
Indian Army (For TES, TA, etc.)ased in the upcoming months and a direct link will be shared to you.
Candidates must meet height, weight, and eyesight requirements. Common requirements:
NDA/CDS: Min height – 157 cm (Army), 162.5 cm (Air Force)
AFCAT: 162.5 cm (Flying Branch)
Vision: 6/6 or 6/9 (correctable with glasses)
NDA: 3 years (NDA) + 1 year (IMA, AFA, NA)
CDS: 1.5 years (IMA), 1 year (OTA), 3 years (AFA)
AFCAT: 1 year (AFA)
Focus on Mathematics, English, and General Awareness
Refer to NCERT books, newspapers, and previous year papers
Practice mock tests and SSB interview techniques
Conclusion
To sum up, we hope that by now, we have provided you with all the vital information about the upcoming defence exams in India in 2025.
Therefore, if you are someone who is looking forward to serving the nation, make sure to opt for these exams to protect your nation. Not only these exams will provide you with an adventurous job, but also a handsome paycheck.
