Defence Exam Calendar 2027: NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer and CAPF Dates

Missing a defence exam notification by a week means waiting six months to try again. For NDA, that gap can cost you an entire eligibility year. This guide consolidates every major exam into one reference so you can plan from January through December without scrambling across a dozen websites, and that matters most when it comes to NDA 2027 exam dates notification.

Why You Need a Consolidated Defence Exam Calendar for 2027

The UPSC exam calendar 2027 official release confirmed dates for NDA, CDS, and CAPF AC simultaneously, yet AFCAT and Agniveer Vayu timelines are published separately by the Indian Air Force. Most aspirants check one source and miss the others entirely. The same blind spot applies to the CDS 2027 exam schedule.

Overlapping notification cycles are the real problem. NDA I notification drops in January while AFCAT 1 registration is still open, and CDS I falls in the same window. Without a single reference, it is easy to confuse a notification date with an exam date and miss the application deadline entirely. This post maps every defence entrance exam notification schedule India has for 2027 into one place, covering UPSC-controlled defence exams and IAF-controlled exams alike. Keep this handy for AFCAT 2027 registration dates and the CAPF AC 2027 notification date as well.

Sources including Goodreturns and Careers360 confirm the UPSC calendar is now official.

UPSC Defence Exam Calendar 2027: Official Confirmed Dates

The UPSC calendar 2027 official release covers all three major UPSC-controlled defence exams. The table below draws from confirmed data in the official schedule.

NDA 2027 Exam Dates, Notification and Application Timeline

NDA I 2027 notification is expected in January 2027, with the exam scheduled for April 2027. Candidates must apply within approximately 28 days of the notification release, which makes monitoring upsc.gov.in from the first week of January non-negotiable.

The NDA application window 2027 is short by design. Once it closes, no extension is granted. NDA 2027 exam dates notification for the second cycle follows the same rhythm, with NDA II notification in June and the exam in September.

The NDA 10+2 eligibility unmarried male rule requires candidates to have passed Class 12 from a recognised board and to be unmarried at the time of application. The age bracket is 16.5 to 19.5 years for both cycles.

CDS 2027 Exam Dates: CDS I and CDS II Schedule

Both CDS I and CDS II 2027 are UPSC-controlled. CDS I notification was released in late November 2026, with the written exam in April 2027. CDS II notification arrives around May 2027 and the exam follows in September 2027.

The CDS 2027 exam schedule covers four entry routes:

• IMA, Indian Military Academy, for male graduates joining the Army.

• INA, Indian Naval Academy, for male graduates joining the Navy.

• AFA, Air Force Academy, for graduates with Physics and Maths at 10+2 level.

• OTA, Officers Training Academy, the only CDS entry open to women (OTA CDS entry for women), and also available to male graduates seeking Short Service Commission.

Unlike NDA, CDS requires a graduation degree. Final-year candidates can apply but must produce the degree certificate before the SSB interview.

CAPF AC 2027 Exam Date and Notification Schedule

The CAPF AC 2027 notification date is confirmed as July 04 2027, per Careers360's official CAPF 2027 page. The written exam is expected in August 2027, consistent with previous years.

CAPF AC is the gateway to Assistant Commandant posts across five paramilitary organisations: BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB. This BSF CRPF CISF ITBP SSB paramilitary exam gets overlooked by aspirants focused solely on Army, Navy, or Air Force routes, but it offers officer-level entry with comparable pay and career prospects.

Eligibility requires a graduation degree, and the age limit runs from 20 to 25 years. One practical upside is that CAPF AC preparation overlaps significantly with CDS in General Studies and English, making a dual-attempt strategy efficient for both exams.

AFCAT 2027 Exam Dates: AFCAT 1 and AFCAT 2 Registration Timeline

AFCAT 1 2027 registration typically opens in December 2026, with the exam held in February 2027. AFCAT 2 registration opens around June 2027, with the exam in August 2027. These AFCAT 2027 registration dates are controlled entirely by the Indian Air Force, not UPSC.

IAF AFCAT eligibility graduation 60 percent is the minimum academic threshold. Candidates must hold a graduation degree with at least 60% marks in aggregate. Flying Branch candidates additionally need Physics and Maths at 10+2 level.

Registration happens through the official IAF portal. The exam tests English, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning, so the subject overlap with CDS and CAPF preparation is easy to work with.

Agniveer 2027 Exam Dates: Army and Vayu Separate Timelines

Agniveer Army and Agniveer Vayu follow completely different timelines and registering bodies. The Agniveer 2027 exam date for Army recruits is announced regiment-wise by respective Army Recruiting Offices. Candidates must check joinindianarmy.nic.in rally dates regularly, as notifications are region-specific and roll out across different months.

Agniveer Vayu recruitment 2027, managed by the Indian Air Force, uses a centralised online exam. Registration happens through the airmenselection.cdac.in registration portal. The 2026 cycle saw the exam scheduled in late March, and a similar timeline is expected for 2027, though the IAF had not confirmed 2027 dates at the time of publication.

Both Agniveer schemes require candidates to be between 17.5 and 21 years of age and to have passed Class 12 with specified subject combinations depending on the trade applied for.

How to Plan Your 2027 Defence Exam Preparation Strategy

A defence exam overlap preparation strategy is not optional for serious aspirants. GK, English, and Maths appear across NDA, CDS, AFCAT, and CAPF AC, so a unified study block covering all three subjects serves multiple exams at once.

Aspirants attempting both NDA and AFCAT should note that NDA requires 10+2 while AFCAT requires graduation, so the dual-attempt window opens only for candidates in their final year or who have already graduated.

Exam Eligibility Quick-Reference: Age, Education and Nationality

If you are weighing multiple paths, our detailed guide on Indian Army vs Navy After 12th: Which Career Is Better in 2026? can help you narrow down your priority service before committing to a calendar slot.

FAQs

What is the complete Defence Exam Calendar 2027 with NDA, CDS, AFCAT, Agniveer and CAPF exam dates?

The Defence Exam Calendar 2027 includes NDA I (April), NDA II (September), CDS I (April), CDS II (September), CAPF AC (July), AFCAT 1 (February), and AFCAT 2 (August). Agniveer Army dates are rally-specific; Agniveer Vayu is expected around March 2027.

When will the NDA 2027 notification be released, and how long is the application window?

NDA I 2027 notification is expected in January 2027. The NDA application window 2027 stays open for approximately 28 days from the notification date. NDA II notification follows in June 2027.

How should I plan preparation if I want to attempt both NDA and AFCAT in 2027?

NDA requires 10+2 while AFCAT requires graduation with 60% marks. For candidates who have graduated, map subject overlaps across GK, English, and Maths. Use Q1 for AFCAT 1, Q2 for NDA I, and Q3 for AFCAT 2 and NDA II as your primary milestones.

What are the AFCAT 1 2027 registration dates and eligibility conditions?

AFCAT 1 2027 registration typically opens in December 2026. IAF AFCAT eligibility graduation 60 percent is mandatory, along with Indian nationality and an age of 20 to 26 years at the time of course commencement.

Is the UPSC Calendar 2027 officially released, and which defence exam dates are confirmed?

Yes, the UPSC exam calendar 2027 is officially released. NDA I, NDA II, CDS I, CDS II, and CAPF AC dates are all confirmed. AFCAT and Agniveer timelines remain under IAF control and are published separately.

What is the difference between Agniveer Army and Agniveer Vayu timelines in 2027?

Agniveer Army rally dates are published regiment-wise on joinindianarmy.nic.in and vary by region. Agniveer Vayu recruitment 2027 uses a centralised exam with registration through airmenselection.cdac.in. The two schemes share no common timeline or application portal.