;Resize=(440,270))
Our hearts fill with pride when we talk about the Indian Army. Discipline, bravery, honour, strength, patriotism, courage, confidence etc., are all the words that come to our mind when we hear the word Army!
Many of us are willing to join the Indian Army but are unsure how to go about it. To make any stream our career, we need proper education and training. Getting the rightcareer guidance is also very important.
Let's see how we can make our Defence dream come true...
What is a Defence exam?
All the army troops that fight on land, water and air are called The Indian Armed Forces . Being a part of the Indian Armed Forces is considered of great honour and respect. They are also known as the defence forces as they defend or protect the country from enemies.
To become a part of it, you need to give the defence exams and match all the eligibility criteria. To check out the free defence online test series, click here. After passing the test, you get admission to different schools for defence training. After which, you are employed in the armed forces according to your specialisation - Indian Army, Indian Navy or Indian Air Force.
Like Defence, there are manyexciting job options available today.
Types of Defence exams:
There are different types and sub-types of Defence exams. Some of the major exams are:
v CAPF - Central Armed Police Force:
It is an All India level exam held every year. To hire different Group A and Group B officers for various paramilitary forces like Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) etc.
v NDA/NA - National Defence Academy/ Naval Academy:
It is an All India level exam held twice every year. Students who pass the exam and interview get admission for a 3-year NDA & Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC). Here they can select from Army, Navy and Air Force.
v CDS - Combined Defense Services:
It is an All India level exam held twice every year - CDS I and CDS II. Students who pass the exam and interview can become officers. Women can also apply but only for OTA - Officers Training Academy (Short Service Commission).
v AFCAT - Air Force Common Admission Test:
It is an All India level exam held twice every year. Students selected are hired for different posts in the Air Force such as Flying Branch, Officers in Ground Duty -- Technical and Non-Technical Post etc. You also need to give the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) for the Ground Duty-Technical post.
v IAF - Indian Air Force Group X & Y:
It is an All India level exam held every year. Students who pass are selected as Airmen in Group X and Y of the IAF.
v ICG - Indian Coast Guard:
Students who pass the written exam and interview are selected for the Indian Coast Guard Assistant Commandant post.
Who conducts these Defence exams?
v Defence exams are mostly Government exams conducted by UPSC -- Union Public Service Commission .
v Some private organisations also conduct their own exams for certain positions.
v CAPF, NDA, NA and CDS exams are conducted by UPSC.
v AFCAT exam is held by the Indian Air Force.
v UPSC and Indian Air Force decide the exam pattern and syllabus for these exams.
Apart from UPSC, there are many otheronline government job exams.
Most defence exams follow the pattern as given below:
v Physical fitness test
v Written exam 1
v Written exam 2
v Interview
v Medical test
This is a general observation. The pattern can vary from exam to exam.
If you want to understand how these exams are, click here to check out sample papers for defence exams.
Subjects widely covered in the army entrance exams are:
v General knowledge
v English
v Maths
v Intelligence
v Reasoning
v Military Aptitude Test
v Computer Science
v General Ability
v Mechanical & Electrical Engineering etc.
Eligibility criteria:
In Defence, the eligibility to give any defence entrance exam is based on 4 main points -- age, educational qualification, medical & physical fitness. The exact criteria for each vary from exam to exam. Specific details can be found in the official notification for each exam. Let's look at the general expectation for each:
AGE
ü Minimum age: ranges from 16 to 20 years.
ü Maximum age: ranges from 19 to 27 years.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
ü NDA/NA: 12th STD or HSC pass.
ü Others: Graduation or Bachelor's degree from any Government recognised college.
ü Technical role: could require an Engineering or Master's degree in Science or Computer Science.
PHYSICAL FITNESS
ü 1.6 Km Run
ü Pull-Ups
ü Balancing
ü Long Jump
MEDICAL TEST
ü Overall should have good physical and mental health.
ü Other criteria include -- height, weight, hearing ability, eyesight, healthy gum & teeth, no diseases, coloured vision etc.
ü Some criteria are different for men and women.
Where to look for official information about the exams?
The exam conducting body sends out official notifications to candidates about all the important updates on:
v Exam dates -- also on the official exam calendar
v Exam vacancies
v Exam syllabus
v Exam pattern
v Exam result date and result -- result mostly announced 1 month after the exam
v Exam eligibility criteria
v Exam tips
v Other guidance and important notices etc.
Some quick tips for the exam:
v Make a timetable to study.
v Understand the exam pattern and syllabus before you start studying.
v Make short and quick notes while studying; they will also help you revise last minute, just before the exam.
v See previous years question papers.
v Give mock tests regularly. There are many online defence mock tests available for free.
v Connect with other students preparing for the same exam or already selected. Talk to them about the methods they follow for studying or ask any doubts you have.
v Make it a habit to hear the news or read a newspaper daily.
v Do some quick online courses for subjects covered in the exam.
v Learn some memory building exercises.
v Dedicate time every day for your physical fitness.
v Do breathing exercises or meditation regularly.
v Do not study till late at night, just before the exam. Make sure you sleep well and go for the exam with a fresh mind.
Why is it important to take online mock tests for Defence?
Today, as the world moves forward so fast, everything is online. Right from buying a toy gun to giving a defence exam, everything is readily available online.
Today many streams and sub-streams are available in every field. This has increased competition and pressure everywhere. Nowadays, giving any competitive exam is as important as topping it.
Every year, lakhs of students try to give the UPSC exams across India. But not all are selected. Those selected get admission in different Indian Defence Academies like Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Officer's Trainer Academy (OTA) in Chennai and Gaya, etc. There they are trained to serve the country. They join the academy as an immature youngster and leave as a mature soldier!
The Indian Military exams have multiple options within them. You should know what exactly you want to choose. You should also be at par with the latest syllabus and pattern. It is very important to keep giving online mock defence exams.
**Let's see some of the benefits of taking online mock tests for Defence at Glow and Lovely Careers: **
v It gives you a real-time experience of the exam paper.
v Expert opinion -- papers set and marked by experts in the field.
v Real-time feedback -- instant feedback, no need to wait for any teacher to check your papers and give feedback.
v You get detailed feedback after you complete the test.
v The exam is based on the latest syllabus and trends.
v You can write the same test multiple times.
v It saves your results. You can compare your new results with older saved results anytime.
v Free Of Cost -- no fees or hidden costs.
v Confidentiality -- only you can access your results.
v Every test has a certain validity. Individual dates can be seen when you open the test. You can give the test as many times as you want till it's open.
v You can access the tests and results anywhere and anytime you want.
v You only need a computer or phone and an internet connection to access the tests.
v A lot of time, effort and energy is saved. Since you don't need to go to the library, search for old papers and take printouts.
v It is a very eco-friendly option. Since everything is online -- it saves trees/paper and doesn't cause pollution.
Here are a few mock tests you can take online for free:
v Airforce Group X Official Mock Paper
Reasons to join the Indian Army:
v Good career growth
v Financial stability
v Job security
v Respect in the society
v Job satisfaction
v Quality of life improves
v A mixture of different job roles
v Involves a lot of adventure
v Post Retirement Benefits
v Various training programs in India and abroad
v Can get a chance to relocate to another city or country etc.
Awards:
Apart from the salary and benefits you get being a part of the Army, some awards and medals hold the highest importance. They are:
v Param Vir Chakra
v Maha Vir Chakra
v Vir Chakra
v Ashoka Chakra
v Kirti Chakra
v Shaurya Chakra.
They are awarded by the President of India for one's exceptional courage and bravery during war or any other situation. Many of the medal winners are from the Indian Armed Forces.
Women and the Indian Army:
v 1888: Indian Military Nursing Service formed
v Women joined the Indian Army as nurses and worked for World War I and II
v 1992: Indian Army introduced women officers in non-medical roles
v 2014: women appointed in all three segments -- Indian Army, Navy and Air Force
v 2015: women appointed as fighter pilots for the first time by the Indian Air Force
Since then, there has been no looking back for women and girls willing to join the armed forces. The mentality of people has changed a lot today, and there is barely any difference between men and women applying in the armed forces.
There are special schemes and programs for women to apply, such as the Short Service Commission (Technical & Non-Technical) scheme, NCC (SPL) Entry Women scheme, University Entry Scheme (UES) etc. Many young girls and women across India have chosen these schemes and made a successful defence career.
Taking a bold decision is a big step. Join the Glow & Lovely Careers community for women, where you can interact with like-minded women and get advice.
If you are brave and bold enough to do it, just go for it!
Jai Hind!