Defence Jobs Age Limit Comparison 2026 – Complete Detailed Guide

Overview

Defence jobs in India are offered through various entry routes such as NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Indian Army Soldier recruitment, Indian Navy SSR, and Air Force Agniveer intake. Each entry has a different age limit depending on qualification level, branch, and mode of entry.

Many candidates get confused because age criteria vary significantly between officer-level entries and soldier-level entries. Understanding the correct age bracket is critical because even a few months outside the limit can make a candidate ineligible.

This article provides a structured comparison of age limits across major defence job entries for 2026.

Important Dates

Defence recruitment notifications are released throughout the year by different authorities.

NDA 1 Notification: December 2025
NDA 2 Notification: May 2026

CDS 1 Notification: December 2025
CDS 2 Notification: May 2026

AFCAT Notifications: Typically twice a year

Army, Navy, and Air Force Agniveer Notifications: As per recruitment cycle

Candidates must regularly check official recruitment portals for exact birth date cut-offs.

Eligibility

For NDA entry, the age limit is generally between 16.5 to 19.5 years. Candidates must have completed 12th standard and remain unmarried.

For CDS entry, the age limit varies by academy but generally ranges between 19 to 25 years depending on whether the candidate is applying for IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA.

For AFCAT entry into the Air Force, the age limit for Flying Branch is usually 20 to 24 years, while Ground Duty branches typically allow candidates up to 26 years.

For Indian Army Soldier General Duty, the age limit is generally 17.5 to 21 years.

For Indian Navy SSR under Agniveer, the age limit is usually 17.5 to 21 years as specified in the notification.

For Air Force Agniveer Vayu intake, the age limit is typically between 17.5 to 21 years.

Age relaxation is limited in defence services compared to other government jobs. Most defence entries do not provide broad category-based relaxations except in certain technical or special cases.

Candidates must carefully verify the exact date-of-birth range mentioned in each official notification before applying.

Application Process

The application process for defence jobs is conducted online through respective official websites such as UPSC for NDA and CDS, and dedicated recruitment portals for Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Candidates must register, provide personal and educational details, upload required documents, and submit the application before the deadline.

Date-of-birth verification is strict, and incorrect information may lead to disqualification.

Applicants must ensure that their age falls strictly within the prescribed range mentioned in the official notification.

Selection Process

The selection process varies by entry.

For NDA and CDS, candidates must clear a written examination conducted by UPSC followed by the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview and medical examination.

For AFCAT, candidates must clear an online written exam followed by AFSB interview and medical examination.

For Soldier and Agniveer entries in Army, Navy, and Air Force, candidates must clear written exams, physical fitness tests, and medical examinations.

Age eligibility is verified at multiple stages including document verification and medical examination.

Final selection depends on performance in written exams, interviews, physical tests, and medical fitness.

Salary

Salary in defence jobs depends on rank and mode of entry.

Officers commissioned through NDA, CDS, or AFCAT start with a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month under Pay Level 10 after training.

Soldier-level entries such as Army GD, Navy SSR, and Air Force Agniveer receive fixed packages as per Agnipath scheme guidelines during the initial engagement period.

Permanent officers and personnel receive additional allowances such as Military Service Pay, Dearness Allowance, and field allowances depending on posting location.

Direct Official Link

Candidates must refer only to official recruitment websites for accurate and updated age limit details.

UPSC Official Website: https://www.upsc.gov.in
Indian Army Recruitment: https://joinindianarmy.nic.in
Indian Navy Recruitment: https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in
Indian Air Force Recruitment: https://agnipathvayu.cdac.in

Always verify exact date-of-birth criteria from the official notification before applying.