The Indian Army has Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) entries. Selection to Permanent Commission is done after 10+2, after any graduation and after any professional degree completion (like Engineering, Law, Education, Veterinary Science, Medicine, etc). For Permanent Commission one must join the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadak-wasla, Pune or the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun. Selection to Short Service Commission is only for those who have completed their graduation.
Permanent Commission: Cadet Entry to National Defence Academy
The Cadet Entry is through the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam held during April and August every year through which 390 cadets are selected to the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune. After completion of the three-year course at NDA, the cadets are then sent for a year’s training to Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
*Eligibility: Unmarried male candidates.
*Age: 16 ½ to 19 years.
*Educational Qualification: Pass in 10+2.
*Notification: The notifications are issued during March and October every year. Applications are received between April 10-15 and November 10-15.
*Commencement of Training: January and July.
Permanent Commission: Direct Entry to Indian Military Academy
Candidates can join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun through any 4 entries listed below. The cadets passing out of IMA are commissioned as Lieutenants in the Indian Army.
Direct Entry after 10+2 (PCM)
*Eligibility: Unmarried male candidates.
*Age: 16 ½ to 19 years.
*Educational Qualification: Pass in 10+2 with PCM. (aggregate 70 per cent and above).
*Notification: The notifications are issued during March and October every year in Employment News and major dailies across India. The applications are received between April 10-15 and November 10-15.
*Examination: No written exam. Only Service Selection Board Interview.
*Commencement of Training: January and July. The training will be for one year at Indian Military Academy and then four years at cadet training wings leading to Permanent Commission in the Indian Army.
Direct Entry after Gradua-tion through Combined Defence Service Examination
The Combined Defence Service Exam (CDSE) is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission twice a year.
This is a written exam consisting of intelligence and reasoning test, picture perception and description test and a group discussion. Those who pass the screening test are then put through a 5-day test consisting of psychological tests which include Thematic Apper-ception Test, Word Association Test, Situation Reaction Test, Self Description and Group tests.
*Eligibility: Unmarried male candidates.
*Age: 19-24 years.
*Educational Qualification: Graduation (any discipline) from any university. Candidates who have yet to pass the final year degree exam may apply, but they will have to provide the proof of passing the degree examination or its equivalent by the specified dates published in the UPSC notification.
*Exam Notification: Issued in all major dailies and Employment News during Sep/Oct and Mar/April. Exams are conducted during Feb/Mar and Sep/Oct.
*Commencement of Training: January and July. The training will be for 1 ½ years at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
Direct Entry through Univer-sity Entry Scheme (UES) for Pre-Final and Final Year
Engineering Students
The University Entry Scheme (UES) is for those who wish to apply to the Indian Army when they are in Pre-Final and Final Year Degree course. The selection is done through campus interviews at the University/College. Later, they must face the SSB Interview.
*Eligibility: Unmarried male candidates.
*Age: 19-25 years for final year; 18-24 years for pre-final year.
*Educational Qualification: Final year & pre-final year engineering degree course.
*Exam Notification: Issued in all major dailies and Employment News in May every year.
*Commencement of Training: July. The training will be for one year at the Indian Military Academy.
Direct Entry to Technical Graduates Course (TGC) at IMA
The Technical Graduates Course at the IMA is offered to engineering graduates and post graduates (non-engineers) leading to Permanent Comm-ission in the Indian Army.
Engineering graduates who complete TGC are eligible for induction into the following Technical Arms and Services:
*Corps of Engineers
*Corps of Signals
*Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
*Armoured Corps
*Artillery
*Infantry
*Intelligence Corps
Post Graduates (non-engineers) are eligible for induction into the:
Army Education Corps (AEC)
Army Ordnance Corps (AOC)
Military Farms
*Eligibility: Unmarried/ Married male candidates.
*Age: 20-27 years for engineering graduates; 23-27 years for AEC and AOC; 20-27 years for Military Farms.
*Educational Qualification:
For Engineering: BE/ B.Tech in the notified streams.
Post Graduates (non-engineers): For Armed Education Corps (AEC)– MA/ MCA/ MSc in notified subjects. (For instance, Political Science, History, Geography, Chinese, Burmese, Physics, etc.)
For Military Farms: Degree in dairy farming or agriculture. Preference will be given to those who have an MSc or have carried out research in dairy farming or fodder crops.
*Exam Notification: Issued in all major dailies and Employment News in April and October every year.
*Commencement of Training: January and July. The training will be for one year at the Indian Military Academy. After successful completion of the training, candidates will be inducted as Lieutenants into the Indian Army.
Short Service Commission (SSC)
Joining the Short Service Commission in the Indian Army gives one an opportunity to serve the nation for a short period and later be in public life and pursue one’s chosen profession. The SSC is generally for 10 years and after completion one can choose Permanent Commission or retirement. A maximum of 4 years’ extension is given to those who are not selected for the Permanent Commission.
SSC–Technical/ Non-Technical at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
Candidates can take up the Short Service Commission (SSC) Technical Course at the OTA, Chennai through
a. Combined Defence Service Exam (both male and female candidates) or
b. Direct Selection through Service Selection Board (SSB) interview followed by medical examination.
After successful completion of training at OTA, Chennai the candidates are inducted into the Indian Army in the following areas:
Technical Course
*Eligibility: Unmarried/ married men.
*Age: 20-27 years.
*Educational Qualification: Engineering degree in notified discipline.
*Exam Notification: April and October every year.
*Commencement of Training: April and October. The training will be for duration of 49 weeks at the OTA, Chennai.
Non-Technical Course (Men & Women) at OTA, Chennai
*Eligibility: Unmarried/ married men.
*Age: 20-27 years.
*Educational Qualification: Graduation / Post Graduation from a recognised university.
*Exam Notification: April and October every year.
*Commencement of Training: April and October. The training will be for duration of 49 weeks at the OTA, Chennai.
SSC – Direct Recruitment of Law Graduates
The Judge Advocate General’s Department of the Indian Army offers Short Service Comm-ission to Indian male law graduates and advocates.
*Eligibility: Unmarried/ married men.
*Age: 21-27 years.
*Educational Qualification: Graduate with LLB/ LLM with 55 per cent aggregate and registered with Bar Council of India/ State.
*Exam Notification: April and October every year.
*Commencement of Training: April and October. The training will be for duration of 49 weeks at the OTA, Chennai. After successful completion of the training, the candidate is granted SSC in the rank of Lieutenant.
SSC–Direct Entry for Women Graduates and Post Grad-uates
The Indian Army offers Short Service Commission to graduate and postgraduate women in the following services:
Non Technical
Army Ordnance Corps (AOC),
Army Service Corps (ASC),
Army Education Service (AEC),
Intelligence Corps (INT), Signal Administration Officers (SIGS) and Engineering Admini-stration Officer (Engrs).
Technical Engineers
Signals
Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (AME)
*Eligibility: Unmarried women, issueless divorcees or issueless widows.
For Non-Technical Entry:
Age: 19-25 years with 60 per cent marks in BA/ BCom/ BCA/ BBA/ BSc (non PCM); 21-27 years with 50 per cent marks in MSc in Chemistry, MCA, MA English/ Economics, MCom.
For Technical:
Age: 19-25 years with pass in BE/ BTech (Electronics)/ Telecom/ ECE/ Civil/ Electrical/ Mechanical/ Architecture, BSc (PCM).
*Exam Notification: June and December every year.
*Commencement of Training: March and September. The training will be for duration of 49 weeks at the OTA, Chennai.
SSC–Direct Special Entry for NCC Graduates (Men & Women)
The Indian Army offers Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) to graduates with ‘C’ certificate in NCC Senior Division.
*Eligibility: Unmarried men / women.
*Educational Qualification: Graduate with LLB/LLM with 50 per cent aggregate marks, 2 years’ service in NCC Senior Division Army with minimum ‘B’ Grade in ‘C’ Certificate Exam.
*Exam Notification: April and October every year.
*Commencement of Training: April and October. The training will be for duration of 49 weeks at the OTA, Chennai.
SSC–Direct Recruitment for Doctors in Army Medical Corps and Dentists in Army Dental Corps
The Indian Army offers Short Service Commission as Medical Officers in the Army Medical Corps for MBBS graduates. Doctors in the Armed Forces Medical Services will be granted the rank of Captain. The SSC is for 5 years which is extendible to another 5 years.
However, on completion of 2 years of service as SSC officer, they are eligible to apply for Departmental Permanent Commission, pro-vided they have not attained the age limit set by the Indian Army.
Permanent Commissioned Officers are eligible for time- scale promotion up to the rank of LtCol/ Colonel (TS) thereafter up to the rank of Lt General by selection.
*Age limit: The candidate must not have attained 45 years of age on December 31 of the selection year.
*Educational Qualification: For Army Medical Corps: The applicant must possess medical qualification included in First/Second Schedule or Part II of the Third Schedule of IMC Act, 1956. The applicant must have permanent registration from any State Medical Council/MCI. Post graduate degree holders — MD/ MS/ MCh/ DM — may also apply. Those with a PG degree in following subjects will be given preference: (a) Anaesthesia (b) Surgery (c) Obstetrics & Gynaecology (d) Medicine (e) Orthopedics (f) Respiratory Medicine. Applicants who have taken more than two chances in final MBBS need not apply.
For Army Dental Corps
Candidate must have a BDS degree with minimum 55 per cent marks in final year/ MDS from a recognised college/ university. He/ she should have completed one year rotary internship recognised by the Dental Council of India at the time of submission of appli-cation and be in possession of Permanent Dental Registra-tion Certificate.
*Selection Process: Eligible candidates will be called for interview by the Service Selection Board and put through a medical examination in New Delhi. The interview board with assess their suitability, final year marks for grant of Short Service Commission in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
*Exam Notification: Army Medical Corps – February, Army Dental Corps – August.
Entry into Indian Army as a soldier
Candidates who aspire to join the Indian Army as soldiers can do so after completion of Class 10 or Class 12, or after grad-uation. The selected soldiers can become Commissioned officers subject to certain conditions.
Soldier — General Duty
*Exam: Indian Army Soldier General Duty (NER) Exam.
*Educational Qualification: SSLC/ Matric.
*Age: 16-21 years.
Soldier — Technical
*Exam: Indian Army Soldier Technical (MER) Exam.
*Educational Qualification: SSLC/ Matric (Maths, English & Science). 45 per cent aggregate marks in Class 10.
*Age: 16-23 years.
Soldier Clerk/ Store Keeper Technical
*Exam: Indian Army Soldier Clerk’s Exam.
*Educational Qualification: SSLC/ Matric (English & Maths) 45 per cent aggregate marks in Class 10.
*Age: 16-23 years.
Soldier Nursing Assistant
*Exam: Indian Army Soldier Nursing Assistants (MER) Exam.
*Educational Qualification: SSLC/ Matric (Maths, English & Biology) 45 per cent aggregate marks in Class 10.
*Age: 16-23 years.
Soldier Tradesman — Gene-ral Duties & Specified Duties
*Educational Qualification: Non Matric. Need not have passed Class 10.
*Age: 16-20 years & 16-25 years.
Havildar Education Group ‘X’
*Educational Qualification: Post Graduate/ Trained Graduate.
*Age: 20-25 years.
Havildar Education Group ‘Y’
*Educational Qualification: BA/ B.Sc (10th std with English & Maths)
*Age: 16-25 years.
Religious Teacher (JCOs)
*Educational Qualification: Graduate in any discipline. In addition, qualification in his own religious denomination.
*Age: 27-34 years.
JCO (Catering)
*Educational Qualification: 10+2 with Science and one-year cookery diploma/certificate from a recognised Food Craft Institute.
*Age: 21-27 years.
Surveyor Cartographer
*Educational Qualification: BA/B.Sc with Maths having passed Matric & 12th (10+2) with Maths & Science.
*Age: 20-25 years.
For more details, go to: http://indianarmy.nic.in
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