Defence careers in India are not just about jobs but also about honor and service to the nation. Whether it’s flying fighter jets or leading an army unit, there are many opportunities for you. Many students are looking forward towards defence career options India, and they are targeting exams like CDS, AFCAT and Territorial Army.
And if you are also looking for information about these exams then you are in the right place. In this blog, you will explore indian army exam updates, indian defence jobs 2026, latest defence exam pattern, syllabus of CDS, AFCAT and Territorial Army and many more.
CDS 2026:
The Combined Defence Services (CDS) is a popular choice among students for those who want to join the Indian Army, navy and Air Force and UPSE Conducts it twice every year.
Following are CDS important dates:
| Event | CDS I 2026 | CDS II 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| CDS 2026 notification | 10 Dec, 2025 | 26 May 2026 |
| Last date to apply | Jan 2026 (1 week) | Jun 2026 (1 week) |
| Admit card Release | March 2026 | August 2026 |
| Exam Date | 12th April 2026 | 13th September 2026 |
CDS 2026 eligibility:
1. Age: Your age should be between 20-24 years (It varies with the organisation).
2. Education: You should be a graduate from a recognised university.
3. Gender: Both male and Female can apply. (Females are needed for mainly OTA)
4. Fitness: It depends. It is as per military medical standards.
CDS Exam Pattern and Syllabus:
| Paper | Marks | Duration | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 100 | 2 hours | Grammar, Comprehension, Vocabulary, synonyms/antonyms, error correction, etc |
| General Knowledge | 100 | 2 hours | Current affairs, defence news, history, politics, geography, economics |
| Mathematics (not for OTA) | 100 | 2 hours | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Differentiation |
AFCAT 2026:
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is targeted by those who want to go to the Air Force. From flying fighter jets to managing technical branches, this is a very amazing career option.
AFCAT 2026 exam date:
| Event | AFCAT I 2026 | AFCAT II 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notification | Nov-Dec 2025 | May-June 2026 |
| Exam Date | Feb 2026 | Aug 2026 |
| Admit card | JAn2026 | Jul 2026 |
AFCAT 2026 Eligibility:
1. For Flying Branch the age should be between 20-24 years and the education should be a Graduation with Physics + Maths at 10+2 or BE/BTech
2. For Ground Duty (Non-Tech) the age should be between 20-26 years and the graduation can be in any stream
3. For Ground Duty (Tech) the age should be between 20-26 years and the graduate should have an engineering degree.
AFCAT 2026 syllabus and exam pattern:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 30 | 90 | Comprehension, Vocabulary, Error Correction, Synonyms/Antonyms, Sentence Completion |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 | History, Geography, Politics, Economics, Defence, Current Affairs |
| Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest |
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude | 35 | 105 | Verbal and Non-verbal reasoning, Pattern Recognition, Logical Deduction |
Territorial Army 2026:
The Territorial Army (TA) allows you to serve the nation while still pursuing your civilian career.
The dates for the exam aren’t announced. But keep checking on their website
Territorial army recruitment 2026 and syllabus:
1. Age: Age should be between 18 to 42 years
2. Education: Should be a graduate in any stream
3. Employment: Should be gainfully employed and NOC (No Objection Certificate) is required.
4. Gender: Open to both men and women.
Territorial army 2026 syllabus and exam pattern:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Topics/Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| English | 25 | 25 | Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Synonyms/ Antonyms |
| General Knowledge | 25 | 25 | History, geography, Politics, Economics, Defence, Current Affairs |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | Verbal and Non-verbal reasoning, coding and decoding, puzzles |
| Elementary Mathematics | 25 | 25 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Simple Calculations |
Remember that there is NEGATIVE MARKING for each exam. So answer carefully.
Defence Career Options India:
1. CDS: This exam can lead you to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA).
2. AFCAT: This can lead you to Flying and Ground Duty Branches.
3. Territorial Army: This can lead you to an officer role in TA.
Latest Trends in Defence Exams 2026:
1. There is high competition in the defence field and so the cutoffs are rising due to rising competition.
2. The exams have now been shifter more towards Computer Based Test (CBT)
3. Since defence is about serving the people, it is necessary to know about current affairs. So, there is heavy focus on current affairs and defence news.
4. There is also more weight on Reasoning skills and English
5. Now, Application Correction Windows are more common.
Defence preparation tips 2026
1. Know what your syllabus is in detail and start preparing according to it.
2. Since current Affairs are very important, spend at least 30 minutes per day on general knowledge.
3. Combine mock test with theory and practice thoroughly
4. Prepare short notes so that it will help you for last-minute or quick revision.
5. Start early so that you build confidence and you can communicate your answer easily
6. Also train yourself physically to build endurance, stamina, strength.
7. You need to remember that time management is very important. So prepare accordingly.
8. Analyze your mistakes and learn from them and try to avoid them next time.
FAQ’s
1. Which is the best defence coaching 2026?
Ans: There are many that you can go for, like, Centurion Defence Academy (Lucknow and Dehradun), Doon Defence Academy (Dehradun), Minerva Academy (Punjab), etc.
2. When is CDS I and CDS II?
Ans: CDS I likely to start on 12 April 2026, and CDS II from 13th Sept 2026.
3. Is EKT still in AFCAT 2026?
Ans: It is likely merged or dropped.
4. When is AFCAT and Territorial Army 2026?
Ans: AFCAT I starts from Feb 2026 and AFCAT II starts from Aug 2026. The dates for the territorial army is not yet announced.