TOEFL ® Registrations 2025
ApplyAccepted by 13,000 universities worldwide | Offered in 200+ countries | 40 million people have taken TOEFL Test
How to join Indian Air Force 2025 - Know the best ways to join IAF here
Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Jul 15, 2024 02:05 PM IST | #NDA
Many people across India aspire to join the defence services. Being a part of the Indian defence services (such as the Army, Navy, and Air Force) is considered a very honourable profession.Candidates typically join the Indian Air Force through exams and other schemes such as the through exams like NDA, AFCAT, CDS and University Entry Scheme (UES).
NDA Exam: Sample Papers | Preparation Tips | Syllabus
Don't Miss: Month-wise Current Affairs | Upcoming Government Exams
This Story also Contains
- How To Join the Indian Air Force?
- Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
- AFCAT Exam Pattern 2025
- Combined Defence Services (CDS)
- CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025
- CDS Exam Pattern 2025
- National Defence Academy (NDA)
- NDA Exam Pattern 2025
- Indian Air Force Group X & Y
- IAF Group X and Y exam pattern 2025
- Indian Air Force NCC Entry
Posts in the Indian Air Force are very sought after. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that many lakhs of candidates attempt to get recruited by the Indian Air Force on a yearly basis. On this page, we discuss the best ways a candidate can get recruited into the Indian Air Force. Candidates wondering how to join the Indian Air Force can consult the material below for information about which exams to take and their respective eligibility criteria.
How To Join the Indian Air Force?
Applicants can check the table below for the different ways to join the Indian Air Force and the minimum educational qualification required to appear for that particular exam.
Know how to join IAF and the eligibility
Qualification | Name of entry |
10th (Diploma) and 12th pass | Air Force Group X & Y |
12th Pass and appearing | NDA & NA |
Graduation | UPSC CDS |
AFCAT | |
UES | |
NCC Special Entry |
Various IAF exam dates 2025
Entry | Notification/Application | Exam |
AFCAT 1 | To be announced | To be announced |
AFCAT 2 | To be announced | To be announced |
CDS 1 | December 11, 2024 | April 13, 2025 |
CDS 2 | May 28, 2025 | September 14, 2025 |
NDA 1 | December 11, 2024 | April 13, 2025 |
NDA 2 | May 28, 2025 | September 14, 2025 |
Airmen Group X &Y | To be announced | To be announced |
NCC Special Entry | To be announced | Direct Entry |
Different ways to join IAF
Below are six different ways to join the IAF and some other details about each of the IAF exams.
Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
Indian Air Force is the exam conducting body for the AFCAT exam. The AFCAT exam is the most preferred competitive exam to join the Indian Air force as an officer. AFCAT is conducted twice every year. The AFCAT 2025 application form is released on the IAF official website.
The AFCAT selection process consists of a written test, an AFSB interview and a medical test. Candidates clearing all the stages of the AFCAT 2025 recruitment will be commissioned in the Flying Branch and Permanent Commission/ Short Service Commission in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches of the Indian Air Force.
AFCAT exam overview
Conducting Body | Indian Air Force |
Name of the exam | Air Force Common Admission Test |
Frequency | Twice a year |
Exam type | Graduation |
Mode of exam | Online |
Mode of application | Online |
Application fee | 250/- |
AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
Branch | Age limit | Educational Qualification |
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) | 20 to 24 years | Graduation |
Flying branch | 20 to 26 years |
AFCAT Exam Pattern 2025
IAF prescribes the AFCAT 2025 syllabus for the AFCAT and EKT exams. The AFCAT and EKT exams will be conducted online at various centres across the country. Check the AFCAT 2025 exam pattern in the tables below.
AFCAT exam pattern
Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Max Marks |
General Awareness | 120 minutes | 100 | 300 |
Verbal Ability in English | |||
Numerical Ability | |||
Reasoning and Military Aptitude |
EKT (For Ground Duty Technical Branch only) exam pattern
Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Max Marks |
Mechanical | 45 minutes | 50 | 150 |
Computer Science | |||
Electrical and Electronics |
Combined Defence Services (CDS)
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the exam conducting authority for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) examination. Candidates fulfilling the CDS eligibility criteria 2025 can fill the CDS 2025 application form on the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in. The CDS selection process 2025 consists of a written test and SSB interview. Candidates clearing the CDS exam's recruitment process will be recruited to any one of the three defence services i.e. Indian Army, Navy or Air Force.
CDS exam overview
Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission |
Name of the exam | Combined Defence Services |
Frequency | Twice a year |
Exam type | Graduation |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Mode of application | Online |
Application fee | Rs 200 |
CDS Eligibility Criteria 2025
Courses | Age limit | Educational Qualification |
Indian Military Academy (IMA) | 19 to 24 years | Graduation |
Indian Naval Academy (NA) | ||
Air Force Academy (AFA) | 20 to 24 years | |
Officers' Training Academy (OTA - Men) | 19 to 25 years | |
Officers Training Academy (OTA - Women, Non-Technical) |
CDS Exam Pattern 2025
UPSC prescribes the CDS 2025 syllabus for the CDS written exam. The UPSC CDS written exam will be conducted in offline mode at various centres across the country. Check the CDS 2025 exam pattern in the tables below.
CDS Exam Pattern For INA, IMA & IFA
Subject | Number of questions | Maximum marks | Duration |
Elementary Mathematics | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
English | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
Total | 340 | 300 | 6 hours |
CDS exam pattern for OTA
Subject | Number of questions | Maximum marks | Duration |
English | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
General Knowledge | 120 | 100 | 2 hours |
Total | 240 | 200 | 4 hours |
National Defence Academy (NDA)
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the exam conducting authority for the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. Applicants fulfilling the NDA 2025 eligibility criteria can fill the UPSC NDA 2025 application form online on the UPSC website - upsc.gov.in. The NDA 2025 selection process consists of a written exam and SSB interview. Applicants qualifying all the stages of the NDA recruitment process will be recruited as officers in the Indian Defence Services.
NDA exam overview
Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission |
Name of the exam | National Defence Academy |
Frequency | Twice a year |
Exam type | 12th passed |
Mode of exam | Offline |
Mode of application | Online |
Application fee | Rs 100 |
NDA Eligibility Criteria 2025
Exam | Age limit | Educational Qualification |
NDA 1 and 2 | 16.5 to 19.5 years | 12th passed or appearing |
NDA Exam Pattern 2025
UPSC prescribes the NDA syllabus 2025 for the National Defence Academy written exam. The NDA written test will be conducted in offline mode at various centres across the country. Check the UPSC NDA 2025 exam pattern in the tables below.
NDA exam pattern
Subject | Number of questions | Maximum marks | Duration |
Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2 hours 30 minutes |
GAT | 150 | 600 | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Total | 270 | 900 | 5 hours |
Indian Air Force Group X & Y
After completing their class 12th exams candidates can also join the Indian Air Force through the Airmen Group X and Y entry. This exam is also conducted twice every year. Candidates fulfilling the Airmen Group X and Y eligibility criteria can fill the Airmen Group X and Y application from. The upper age limit to appear for this exam is 21 years. For more information on the IAF Group X and Y entry eligibility check the table below.
IAF Group X and Y eligibility criteria
Group | Eligibility |
Group X (Except education instructor trade) | Passed Intermediate/ 10+2/ Equivalent examination with Maths, Physics and English |
Group Y (Except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF(P), Musician and IAF(S) | Passed Intermediate/ 10+2/ Equivalent Exam in any stream with minimum 50% marks and 50% marks in English |
Group Y (Medical Assistant Trade) | Passed 10+2/Intermediate/ equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum of 50% marks and 50% marks in English |
IAF Group X and Y exam pattern 2025
Indian Air Force Group X and Y syllabus is prescribed by the IAF. Check the tables below for the IAF Group X and Y exam pattern 2025.
IAF Group X and Y exam pattern
Group | Subjects | Number of questions | Duration |
Group X | English | 20 | 60 minutes |
Physics | 25 | ||
Mathematics | 25 | ||
Group Y | English | 20 | 45 minutes |
Reasoning & General Awareness | 30 | ||
Group X & Y | English | 20 | 85 minutes |
Physics | 25 | ||
Mathematics | 25 | ||
Reasoning & General Awareness | 30 |
Indian Air Force NCC Entry
It is a special entry provision provided to candidates for joining the IAF. Candidates with a NCC Grade C certificate and 60% marks in graduation are eligible for NCC entry. Candidates fulfilling the NCC entry eligibility criteria will be called for the SSB interview directly. Candidates can check the NCC IAF entry eligibility criteria in the table below.
IAF NCC entry eligibility criteria
Particulars | Eligibility |
Nationality | Indian |
Age limit | 19 to 23 years |
Marital status | Single |
Educational qualification | Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 60% marks and passed class 12th with Physics and Mathematics |
BE/ B.Tech from a recognized University with minimum 60% marks | |
NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ certificate |
University Entry Scheme (UES)
Indian Air Force conducts University Entry Scheme (UES) recruitment process for the final year candidates to join the IAF as officers in the different cadres. It is one of the best opportunities for candidates to join the Indian Air Force while completing their academic degree. Applicants need to fulfill the UES eligibility criteria to be eligible for UES recruitment. Applicants must also note that they should not have any backlogs at the time of SSB interview. Applicants must have 60% marks to be eligible for UES entry on completion of their degree. The IAF UES selection process comprises a group discussion round. The shortlisted applicants from UES GD round have to appear for SSB interviews followed by a medical test.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What posts is the AFCAT exam conducted for?
AFCAT exam is held for recruitment of eligible and qualified applicants to Flying Branch and Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches.
2. Is the CDS exam conducted in online mode or offline mode?
CDS exam is conducted in offline mode for all the UPSC CDS courses.
3. How many stages does the AFCAT exam have?
AFCAT 2025 exam has three stages. They as follows:
Online Test
AFSB Interview
Medical Test
4. What is the NDA 01/2025 exam date?
UPSC NDA 01/2025 exam date is April 13, 2025.
Articles
May 03, 2025
Apr 28, 2025
Upcoming Competition Exams
Application Date:12 April,2025 - 11 May,2025
Application Date:25 April,2025 - 24 May,2025
Advertisement Date:27 May,2025 - 27 May,2025
Certifications By Top Providers
Access to Justice
Via National Law University, New Delhi Geography XII Part-I
Via National Council of Educational Research and Training Improving Global Health Focusing on Quality and Safety
Via Harvard University, Cambridge Home Science-Extension and Communication Management Level-2
Via English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad Human Rights and International Criminal Law An Introduction
Via University of Padua, Padua Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQUniversity College London, London
Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BTThe University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Post Code EH8 9YLUniversity of Bristol, Bristol
Beacon House, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QUUniversity of Delaware, Newark
Newark, DE 19716University of Nottingham, Nottingham
University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RDPTE Speaking Mock Test with Answers - Check Here!
11 min ⋆ Mar 11, 2025 14:03 PM ISTPTE Speaking Practice Test: Format, Question Types, Tips and Benefits
8 min ⋆ Mar 11, 2025 14:03 PM ISTPTE Listening Practice Test: Format, Question Types, Tips and Benefits
10 min ⋆ Mar 11, 2025 12:03 PM ISTMBBS Fees in Germany for Indian Students 2025: Cost of Top Medical Colleges
10 min ⋆ Jan 06, 2025 05:01 AM ISTUSMLE Scores 2025 - How to Check, Passing Marks, Results Availability
9 min ⋆ Jan 20, 2025 04:01 AM ISTPTE Exam Fees in India in 2025: Registration, Rescheduling, Cancellation
5 min ⋆ Mar 10, 2025 05:03 AM ISTQuestions related to NDA
Have a question related to NDA ?
According to the updated age requirements, you are qualified for NDA II 2025 if your birthday is April 2006 (however there is some disagreement among sources). According to the most recent revisions, applicants born between January 2, 2006, and January 1, 2009 (age 16.5–19.5 years), including April 2006, are eligible. However, other sites mention January 2, 2007–January 1, 2010, therefore check the formal announcement (anticipated by April–May 2025) for exact dates.
Swayam 01 May,2025
No, you're not eligible for NDA 2 2025 since you were born on 13th December 2006. The age limit for NDA 2 2025 is between 2nd January 2007 and 1st January 2010.
However, you're eligible for NDA 1 2026.
harsh singh 29 April,2025
Cracking the NDA (National Defence Academy) exam in the first attempt requires a well-structured preparation strategy, unwavering dedication, and a positive mindset. It's a competitive exam, but with the right approach, success is achievable.
Firstly, understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. The NDA exam consists of two main papers: Mathematics and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT is further divided into English and General Knowledge. Go through the detailed syllabus for each subject, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and plan your study schedule accordingly. Knowing what to study is the foundation of your preparation.
Next, focus on building a strong foundation in the fundamentals. Ensure your basic concepts in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Economics, and English grammar are clear. NCERT books for classes 11th and 12th are invaluable resources for this. Consistent and regular study is key; aim for daily study sessions rather than last-minute cramming.
Practice previous years' question papers extensively. This will familiarize you with the exam pattern, the types of questions asked, the difficulty level, and the time constraints. Solving these papers will also help you identify your weak areas so you can focus on improving them. Time management is crucial in the NDA exam, so practice solving papers within the stipulated time limit.
Develop effective time management skills. During your preparation, learn to allocate time wisely to each subject. In the exam hall, stick to your planned schedule and don't spend too much time on a single question. Accuracy and speed are both important. Regular mock tests that simulate the actual exam environment will help you hone these skills.
Stay updated on current affairs and improve your general knowledge. Read newspapers, magazines, and follow reliable online sources to stay informed about national and international events, science and technology, sports, and other relevant topics. A good grasp of current affairs is essential for scoring well in the General Knowledge section.
Finally, maintain a positive attitude and take care of your physical and mental well-being. Believe in your preparation and stay motivated. Get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly. A healthy mind and body are crucial for effective learning and performing under pressure. If needed, seek guidance from mentors or join study groups for motivation and support. Consistent effort and a strategic approach will significantly increase your chances of cracking the NDA exam in your first attempt.
SUKRITI GUPTA 29 April,2025
Yes, with a DOB of December 20, 2006, you are eligible for NDA 1, 2026 as you’ll be between 16.5 to 19.5 years old in April 2026.
NDA 1, 2026 Exam is in April 2026.
Application starts around December 2025.
harsh singh 29 April,2025
Hii,
Your birth date is September 26, 2008, and you are in Class 11. For NDA II 2026, you must have been born between January 2, 2008 and January 1, 2011. You are qualified depending on age, but you must be in Class 12 or have passed it.
You are also eligible for NDA I 2027, which requires a birth date between 02/07/2007 and 01/07/2010. You are now in Class 11, thus you cannot apply. You can apply while in Class 12 or after passing it.
Saurabh Yadav 28 April,2025
Applications for Admissions are open.
Manipal Online M.Com Admissions
ApplyApply for Online M.Com from Manipal University
News and Notifications
April 12, 2025 - 02:49 PM IST
April 03, 2025 - 04:41 PM IST
December 31, 2024 - 07:51 AM IST
December 30, 2024 - 02:51 PM IST
November 06, 2024 - 06:15 PM IST
October 25, 2024 - 11:49 AM IST
August 31, 2024 - 05:31 PM IST
Stay up-to date with NDA News
Back to top