CDS and AFCAT

I deadly want to join an Indian Air force so I come across CDS and AFCAT? What is the difference between the CDS and AFCAT? Which way I should choose to get into the Indian Air force? Please share the decent path for me?

Can you tell me about the difference between AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) and CDSE (Combined Defence Service Examination)?

[pawan]

AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test and CDSE stands for Combined Defence Service Examination. Both are written exams which are followed by a SSB in order to select for the Defence forces of India.

AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force twice an year whereas CDSE is conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) twice an year.

AFCAT makes the girls and boys to join the Indian Air Force in Flying, Technical or Ground Duty course. CDSE makes a way for the young boys to join the IAF for the Flying course only, girls can join only OTA i.e. SSC for Non-Technical course of Army and no other wing of the Defence through CDSE.

Both of these exams differ from each other. Some major differences between the two exams:

Eligibility:
For both one must be a graduate at least (BA, B.Com, B. Tech etc.) further qualification depends on the type of service one want to join. There is also a difference in age for both exams.
For AFCAT Age limit is:
Flying: 19-23 years
Technical: 18-28 years.
Ground Duties: Graduate (20-23yrs), PG (20-25yrs), LLB (20-26 yrs.), MEd/PhD/CA/ICWA (20-27yrs).

For CDSE the age limit is:
Indian Army 19-24 years
Indian Air force 19-23 years
Indian Navy 19-22 years

Exam Pattern:
The exam pattern differs for the two exams in a great deal.
AFCAT exam consists of 1 paper which comprises of English, GA, Mathematics and reasoning making a total of 100 questions to be done in 2 hours.
CDSE exam consists of 3 papers English, GA and Mathematics (optional for OTA candidates). Each paper consists of 120 questions each and time is 2 hours each.