Students aspiring to join the Defence Services have a plethora of career options available after completing their class XII exams. Whether one dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, engineer, nurse, or doctor, the defence services offer abundant opportunities. Key entry pathways include the NDA exam conducted by the UPSC, the Technical Entry Scheme (TES) by the Indian Army, the 10+2 BTech Cadet Entry Scheme by the Indian Navy, the MBBS course at AFMC Pune, the Military Nursing Service (MNS), and the Agniveer entry schemes. Below are some of the gateways leading students to prestigious roles within the three defence forces.
National Defence Academy (NDA)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam to select eligible male and female aspirants for admission to the NDA, located in Khadakwasla, Pune. The NDA is a joint defence service academy of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy receive rigorous training. The exam is conducted twice a year, and both male and female candidates who have either passed or are appearing for their class XII exams can apply. The age limit for candidates is between 16 and 19 years.
To join the Army wing of the NDA, candidates must have passed the class XII examination in any stream from a recognized board. For those interested in the Indian Air Force or Navy wings, passing the class XII examination with Physics and Mathematics is required. Students in the 12th grade who are yet to take their board exam can also apply for the NDA exam. The selection process includes a written exam conducted by the UPSC, followed by an SSB interview and a medical examination.
After completing three years of training at the NDA, cadets proceed to their respective service academies for specialized training. Upon graduation, army cadets are commissioned as lieutenants, Air Force cadets as flying officers, and navy cadets as sub-lieutenants.
Technical Entry Scheme (TES)
The Technical Entry Scheme (TES) offers an exciting career opportunity for students interested in joining the Indian Army in technical roles within the officer cadre. This direct entry scheme bypasses a written exam, and eligible candidates receive call letters for the SSB interview based on their qualifications. The notification for this entry is issued twice a year.
Only unmarried male candidates aged 16 to 19 years who have passed the class XII examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) with a minimum aggregate of 60% are eligible. Candidates must also have appeared in the JEE Main exam of the year in which the TES notification is published. Upon successful completion of the four-year course, cadets are granted a permanent commission in the Indian Army at the rank of Lieutenant and are awarded an engineering degree.
10+2 BTech Cadet Entry Scheme (Indian Navy)
The Indian Navy offers the 10+2 BTech Cadet Entry Scheme, which allows candidates to join the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kerala, for a four-year BTech degree course. This scheme is open to both unmarried male and female candidates aspiring to join the executive and technical branches of the Indian Navy.
Applicants must have appeared in the JEE Main exam of the year in which the notification for this entry is published. Similar to TES, this is a direct entry scheme with no written exam, and call letters for the SSB interview are issued to eligible candidates based on their All India Common Rank List (CRL) in the JEE Main exam.
Candidates applying for this scheme must have passed the class XII exam with at least 70% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and at least 50% marks in English.
Military Nursing Service (MNS)
Female candidates who have passed class XII with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) with at least 50% aggregate marks in the first attempt can apply for the Military Nursing Service (MNS). A NEET-UG qualification is essential for eligibility.
After NEET-UG results are declared, qualified female candidates may register for the MNS exam via the Indian Army’s official website. The selection process involves shortlisting based on NEET-UG scores, followed by a selection process at a base hospital in Delhi Cantt. The training includes a four-year BSc (Nursing) course, with 220 seats available across six nursing colleges under the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). Upon course completion, candidates join the Indian Army as Military Nursing Service officers at the rank of Lieutenant, with full pay and perks accorded to officers in the Indian Army.
MBBS Course at AFMC Pune
The MBBS course at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, is a prestigious pathway for students aspiring to become doctors in the Indian Armed Forces. Candidates must have at least 60% aggregate marks in class XII with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken simultaneously. Admission requires mandatory qualification in NEET-UG.
Selected candidates become medical cadets and undergo the MBBS programme, with an obligation to serve as medical officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services. Upon completion, these doctors are commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
Agniveer Scheme
For those interested in non-officer roles, the Agniveer scheme offers various entry points into the three defence services after class XII. Roles include technical, clerical, storekeeper positions, and more within the Indian Army, as well as technical and non-technical profiles in the Indian Air Force and Agniveer Senior Secondary Recruit (SSR) roles in the Indian Navy.
These diverse pathways provide students with multiple options to serve in the Defence Services, ensuring that there is a role for every interest and aptitude.
