Preparing for a defence exam raises the same practical questions again and again. Am I eligible? Which exam should I aim for? How do I practise for the SSB? When is the next notification? What will a course cost? We have built a small set of free tools to answer these questions quickly, without a sign-up. They are designed for aspirants and for parents who want a clear first answer before they decide.
Everything here is a starting point. The official notice of each exam is the final authority, and we link to it wherever we state a fact. Each tool sits on its own page so that it is easy to bookmark and share.
The tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility checker | Shows which defence entries fit your class and gender | Eligibility checker |
| SSB practice | A timed WAT practice tool and home methods for PPDT, OIR, TAT and SRT | SSB practice |
| Exam calendar | Official dates for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, RIMC, AISSEE and more | Exam calendar |
| Fee estimator | Gives a planning estimate for a course, with an optional hostel add-on | Inside the tools panel on the pages above |
Eligibility checker
Most families begin with one question: what can I join after my present class? The eligibility checker takes your class or qualification, and your gender where it matters, and lists the entries that match. A student in Class 7 sees the RIMC route, a Class 12 student sees the NDA, and a graduate sees the CDS and AFCAT.
The checker is paired with a plain table of official age limits. For the NDA, the age is a date-of-birth window printed in the UPSC notice, and the page shows the two latest windows and worked examples. The page also tells you what the checker cannot decide, such as medical fitness and vacancies, so that you do not mistake a first filter for a final answer.
Who should use it:
- Students in Class 5 to 12 who want to know which exam to prepare for.
- Parents comparing options for a child.
- Graduates who are unsure whether they have crossed an age limit.
SSB practice
The SSB is a five-day process, but your preparation can begin at home. The SSB practice page has a free Word Association Test tool. It shows a word, gives you a limited time, lets you type your response, and then shows all your responses in a review. It also explains how to practise the Picture Perception and Description Test, the Officer Intelligence Rating tests, the Thematic Apperception Test, the Situation Reaction Test and Self Description with nothing more than paper, a timer and a few friends.
We are clear about what the tool is. It is a practice aid, and the real board follows its own instructions. What the tool gives you is repetition and a way to see your pattern: do your sentences show action, a positive outlook and a consistent personality? If you want to understand the full process first, read our SSB interview process guide.
Exam calendar
Dates change from year to year, and wrong dates cost aspirants a whole cycle. The exam calendar lists dates only when an official body has published them, and it links to the source. It currently covers the UPSC calendar for NDA, CDS and CAPF in 2027, the cycle of AFCAT advertisements, the RIMC entrance examination and the AISSEE for Sainik Schools.
The page also shows a countdown to the next exam date that our team has entered from an official notice. If a date is not out yet, we say so rather than guessing.
Fee estimator
Parents often want a rough idea of cost before they visit. The fee estimator works inside the same tools panel that appears on the eligibility checker and SSB practice pages. You pick a course and a duration, and the estimator reads the fee rows published for that course. You can add the hostel and mess range for the duration, and the estimator adds the registration amount. A split into three equal parts is available as a planning aid.
Two cautions apply. First, the estimate is not a bill. The footnote on the estimator explains what is and what is not included. Second, payment terms are agreed at counselling, so confirm them with our team. For the current course-wise fee tables, see the fee structure page and the hostel and mess page.
A four-week plan using the tools
If you are starting from scratch, this order works well.
| Week | Tool | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eligibility checker | Confirm your entry, and note your date-of-birth window and the education needed. |
| 1 | Exam calendar | Write down the notification and exam dates for your target exam. |
| 2 | Guides | Read the exam guide for your entry, such as how to prepare for the NDA. |
| 3 | SSB practice | Do three WAT rounds, one PPDT story and one OIR set. Share them with a mentor. |
| 4 | Fee estimator | Estimate the cost of a course, then visit or call for counselling. |
Repeat the SSB practice weekly, and recheck the calendar whenever a new notice is published.
Guides that go with these tools
Our guides explain the exams in more depth, with sources for every exam fact:
- How to join the NDA after 10th and 12th
- NDA eligibility criteria
- How to prepare for the NDA from Class 11
- NDA for girls: eligibility and life at the academy
- NDA vs CDS vs AFCAT
- SSB interview process
- 1 AFSB Dehradun reporting guide
- RIMC admission process
- Sainik School admission through AISSEE
How we keep these tools accurate
We read the official notices before we publish, and we put the source under the facts. For the UPSC exams, those are the examination notices and the yearly calendar on the UPSC website. For the Air Force, it is the AFCAT website. For school entry, it is the RIMC website, the NTA pages and the Sainik Schools Society. Whenever a source cannot be checked, we leave the fact out.
Notices change. If you find something that looks outdated, tell us on WhatsApp and we will check it against the latest notice.
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppAre these tools free?
Yes. You can use the eligibility checker, the SSB practice tool and the exam calendar without paying or signing in.
Can the eligibility checker confirm that I will be selected or accepted?
No. It shows which entries match your class and gender. Eligibility is decided by the official notice, and selection depends on the written exam, the SSB, the medical examination and vacancies.
Are the dates on the calendar official?
We list dates only from official calendars and notices, such as the UPSC programme of examinations. Official bodies can alter dates, so confirm on the source before you plan travel or payments.
Is the WAT tool the official test?
No. It is a practice aid. Your call-up letter and the board decide the actual format.
Does the fee estimator show a final fee?
No. It gives a planning estimate based on published fee rows. Final terms are shared at counselling.
Do you run online classes?
No. GS India Defence Academy teaches in the classroom only, in Dehradun. The tools are free to use online, but our courses are not online.
Want help turning these answers into a plan? GS India Defence Academy, at Street 1, Subharti Road, Nanda Ki Chowki, Lower Kolhupani, Dehradun, runs classroom coaching with separate boys’ and girls’ hostels and a mess. Call +91 70170 31757 or message us on WhatsApp for free counselling, or see all courses.
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