DRDO

Defence Jobs Latest 2026: Indian Army, Navy, Airforce & Defence Jobs Recruitment

Tens of thousands of youngsters from India aspire to wear the uniform each year. A career in defense is not just about being employed; rather, it provides an opportunity to dedicate your services to your nation while leading a purposeful and disciplined life. Every month, vacancies for various technical and non-technical and civilian positions in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, DRDO, Border Roads Organisation, Territorial Army, and Military Engineer Services are announced. This guide provided by Career Mitra helps you stay abreast of notifications, eligibility, selection process, and preparation.

Career Mitra started this guide after hearing from candidates who were training for several months but got confused during the last stage regarding whether to give CDS or AFCAT exams and also whether their physical standards met the requirements stated in the notification.

Defence Jobs Career Guidance

Working in defence is about far more than the battlefield. There's a whole world of roles behind every soldier, sailor, and pilot, and each branch hires for very different kinds of work.

Indian Army posts include Agniveer General Duty, Agniveer Technical, Agniveer Clerk or Store Keeper, Agniveer Tradesman, Soldier Technical, Nursing Assistant, Junior Commissioned Officer, and officer entries through NDA, CDS, and technical schemes. Civilian roles like Cook, MTS, LDC, and Tradesman also open up regularly.

Indian Navy recruits sailors through Agniveer SSR and MR, along with technical entries in Executive, Engineering, and Electrical branches, and officers through NDA and CDS. The Navy also brings on civilian staff, apprentices, and clerks from time to time.

Indian Air Force recruitment runs through Agniveer Vayu for non-officer posts and AFCAT for officers, with Flying, Ground Duty Technical, and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches. Some technical posts ask for Physics and Mathematics in Class 12.

Indian Coast Guard protects our coastlines and handles search and rescue at sea, recruiting for Navik General Duty, Navik Domestic Branch, Yantrik, Assistant Commandant, and other support posts.

DRDO, BRO, and MES don't get talked about as much, but they matter just as much. DRDO needs technicians, scientists, and apprentices for defence research. BRO hires drivers, mechanics, and supervisors to build and maintain roads in border areas. MES recruits draughtsmen, tradesmen, and engineering staff. The Territorial Army lets working professionals serve part-time as officers while keeping their regular jobs.

Beyond these, paramilitary and central armed police forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles are often grouped under defence jobs too, and are worth tracking if you're open to more options. Several of these overlap with state-level policing, so our state government jobs guide is worth a look if you want that side covered too.

Defence Jobs Eligibility & Qualification Guide

No two defence jobs follow the exact same rulebook. What you need depends on the organisation, the post, and the scheme it's hiring under.

Some technical and officer posts also ask for specific subjects like Physics and Maths, so check this before you apply.

One rule to always follow, read the eligibility section of the notification fully before filling the form. A single missed line about a required subject or certificate can cost you your chance.

Age Limit, Physical Standards & Selection Process

There is no generalization in age criteria for different defence forces. Some junior level vacancies start appearing from 17.5 years of age, whereas the graduate and officer positions are normally supposed to be applied by individuals in their late twenties. Whatever is written in each individual notification regarding age criteria, the cut-off date, relaxation, and everything else should be considered as authentic, and nothing else.

Physical and medical standards hold great significance when it comes to uniformed services. Almost all the jobs demand minimum height, weight, and chest measurements from the applicants. The candidate may also have to undergo a fitness test that includes running, push-ups, and sit-ups. Even the eyesight, colour blindness, and hearing are verified in some services. All these figures vary depending on the organisation, gender, region, and job.

The selection process unfolds in stages.

In case of officer positions, there’s an additional step at the beginning. Here, UPSC conducts a written test and only those who qualify appear in SSB interview and medical test.

The difference between Agnipath and Permanent Commission must be one of the most asked questions by every budding aspirant so here it is. Agnipath scheme is basically for 4 years and you join for a service period, earn money per month, learn self-discipline and acquire skills. After 4 years, up to 25% of candidates from each batch may be chosen based on their performance for permanent service. The others will get tax-free lump sum payment and will leave with a new civilian life. Permanent Commission comes through NDA, CDS and SSC entries where you start your career straightaway and get all sorts of advantages from pension, promotions to indefinite tenure without any cut-off period.

Career Mitra gets asked this question more than almost any other, so if you're still unsure which path fits you, it usually comes down to one thing, are you looking to test this life first, or are you certain a full career in uniform is what you want.

How to Prepare for Defence Recruitment

Entry preparation is not all about studying and revising. The tests and selection process test you physically, mentally, and on paper, thus requires preparing on all three fronts.

The first step should be to read the syllabus and exam format thoroughly before opening a book. Try and revise Maths, Reasoning, English, and General Knowledge every day, no matter how small a period. Follow the news every day, with focus on national security, sports, science, and government programs. Do not leave physical practice for a few days before the physical examination but prepare for it months in advance. Rest and have a healthy diet, both of which are equally important for good performance. Keep all certificates, ID proofs, and photographs sorted in advance. And apply for one post only at a time.

A career in defence services is so much more than a salary given by the Government. An Agniveer, as part of Agnipath scheme, gets an initial monthly income of about ₹30,000 per month in the first year, going up to ₹40,000 by the fourth year. Of this, the Agniveer takes home about ₹21,000 to ₹28,000, while the balance amount is deducted from the monthly income as a compulsion saving. In addition, an Agniveer is offered a tax-free one-time lump sum payment of around ₹11.71 lakh at the completion of four years. There is also life insurance cover during your tenure of service. Along with income, other allowances like dearness allowance, field allowance, medical facilities, housing facilities wherever required, and pension for permanent job positions, as per present service regulations.

But this career choice comes with its share of challenges as well. This calls for physical endurance, mental strength, and readiness to work in difficult environments, away from family. Defence services are more like a mission than just a profession. Take this profession only if you have the necessary preparation for the same.

Latest Defence Recruitment Notifications & Resources

Several major defence recruitment drives have launched or are expected through 2026. AFCAT 02/2026 is currently one of the most prominent, offering 379 vacancies for Commissioned Officer posts in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty branches of the Indian Air Force, with the written test scheduled for August 8, 2026, followed by AFSB interviews for shortlisted candidates.

UPSC CDS II 2026 has also been released, offering 451 vacancies across the Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Officers Training Academy, with the written exam set for September 13, 2026. Alongside this, UPSC NDA & NA II 2026 has opened 394 vacancies for admission to the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy.

Keep an eye out too for Indian Army Agniveer Recruitment 2026, Air Force Agniveer Vayu Intake, Indian Navy Agniveer (SSR/MR), Indian Coast Guard Navik and Yantrik, UPSC CAPF Assistant Commandant, Territorial Army Officer, BRO, DRDO, and Ordnance Factory recruitment, which release throughout the year based on service requirements.

Before you click on the 'submit' button, spend some time to make sure of a few things about yourself. Is your age between the notified age? Do you have the same qualification as is mentioned in the notification? Is your certificate issued by the board/Institute that is mentioned in the notification? Do you satisfy the physical/medical requirements of the post? Have you applied through the right portal? Are your photographs/signatures in the right dimension? Finally, have you paid your application fees?

There are certain good practices that one must adopt for a lifetime and one of these good practices is that one must not believe in any update of any job which comes through an email that has been forwarded to them or which has been posted on some website. The real notifications will definitely mention the name of the organization, will have a notification number and will refer back to the official website of the government.

Career Mitra has come across candidates appearing for a physical test, who were surprised to realize that they did not qualify for height or chest requirements as mentioned in the notification, which they skipped during a quick reading of the same.

One good practice to develop in life is to never believe in any job notifications sent to you through forwarded messages or from any websites. Career Mitra always verifies the notifications from its authentic source before posting them on this page, and it's always good to do the same for any other notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Defence Jobs in India? 

These are jobs within the Armed Forces and their supporting organisations, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, DRDO, BRO, MES, Territorial Army, and defence civilian departments. Not all of these are combat roles, many are in engineering, admin, logistics, and medical fields.

Who can apply for Defence Jobs in 2026? 

Any Indian citizen meeting the education, age, physical, medical, and citizenship norms in a specific notification can apply, with requirements ranging from 10th pass to engineering degrees depending on the post.

Which are the top Defence organisations that recruit every year? 

The Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, DRDO, BRO, MES, and Territorial Army lead recruitment, alongside central forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, and Assam Rifles.

What's the real difference between Agnipath and Permanent Commission? 

Agnipath is a four-year contract with a lump sum payout and a chance at retention, while Permanent Commission through NDA, CDS, or SSC offers a full career with pension and steady long-term growth from the start.

What qualifications are required for Defence Jobs? 

Requirements range from Class 8th or 10th pass for tradesman and support roles, to Class 12th for Agniveer and NDA entries, and graduation or an engineering degree for officer-level and technical officer posts.

What is the age limit for Defence Recruitment in India? 

It depends entirely on the post, some entry-level roles open from around 17 and a half years, while officer roles can go up to the late twenties, with the exact window and relaxation spelled out in each notification.

What is the selection process for Defence Jobs? 

Most posts include a written test, physical fitness test, physical measurement, medical check-up, document verification, and a final merit list, with officer entries adding an SSB or AFSB interview.

Which Defence Jobs are available after 10th, 12th, and Graduation? 

After 10th, tradesman, MTS, cook, and driver posts open up. After 12th, Agniveer, Navik, clerk, and NDA entries become available. After graduation, CDS, AFCAT, admin roles, and technical officer posts open further doors.

Can female candidates apply for Defence Jobs in India? 

Yes, women can apply across the Air Force, Navy, select Army entries, Coast Guard, and civilian posts, including SSC Technical entry for engineering graduates, with equal pay and benefits under Agnipath, though reserved seats and physical standards vary by entry.

Where can I find the latest Defence Recruitment notifications and apply online? 

Career Mitra tracks the latest defence recruitment updates, though applications should always go through official sources like Join Indian Army, Join Indian Navy, the Air Force career portal, UPSC, or the Coast Guard recruitment portal.