NDA
NDA & NA Examination
The National Defence Academy exam is the primary route for 12th-pass candidates to become officers in all three services after three years at Khadakwasla and a year at the respective service academy.
Force profile
NDA & NA Examination Combined Defence Services Examination Air Force Common Admission Test Agniveervayu — Indian Air Force Agnipath Scheme Explained — Pay, Seva Nidhi, Retention and W Tejas Mk1A — Why the IAF's Smallest Fighter Is Its Most
Indian Air Force
The fourth-largest air force in the world with ~30 fighter squadrons, a large transport and helicopter fleet, and a layered air-defence network integrated through IACCS.
| Strength | ~1.4 lakh personnel |
|---|---|
| Commands | Western, South Western, Central, Eastern, Southern, Training, Maintenance |
| Key equipment | Su-30MKI, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Tejas, MiG-29, Jaguar; C-17, C-130J, IL-76, C-295; Apache, Chinook, Mi-17; S-400, Akash, Barak-8 |
| Entries | NDA, CDS (AFA), AFCAT (Flying, Technical, Non-Technical), NCC Special, Agniveervayu |
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How to join the Indian Air Force
All entries →CDS
Combined Defence Services Examination
CDS is the graduate-entry gateway to permanent commission via IMA, INA and AFA, and short service commission via OTA Chennai.
AFCAT
Air Force Common Admission Test
AFCAT is the IAF's own entry for short service commission in Flying branch and permanent/short service in Ground Duty branches.
Agniveervayu
Agniveervayu — Indian Air Force
The IAF's Agnipath intake for airmen-equivalent Agniveervayu, tested through the online STAR examination and a physical fitness test.
Key equipment
Database →Related reading
Careers
Agnipath Scheme Explained — Pay, Seva Nidhi, Retention and What Happens After Four Years
Everything a 17-to-21-year-old needs to know about the Agnipath model before registering — the money, the odds of retention, and the exit options.
Air Force
Tejas Mk1A — Why the IAF's Smallest Fighter Is Its Most Important Programme
180 aircraft on order, squadron strength at a historic low, and a GE engine bottleneck — the Mk1A story is the story of Indian air power for the next decade.