<p>The Indian Armed Forces has the reputation of being one of the finest forces in the world. It is a matter of pride and honour to have a career in the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces render invaluable service to the country, in times of war as well as in times of peace, protecting the security of the nation. It offers a very challenging and attractive career for the Indian youth. Today, even women are welcome in the Armed Forces in education, logistics, air traffic control and legal branches.<br /><br />The three branches of the Armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) work in close co-ordination, together with the paramilitary forces.<br /><br />An overview<br /><br />The Armed Forces consist of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. All three forces have their own methods of entry and have different structures.<br /><br />Indian Army <br /><br />The Indian Army is that wing of the Armed forces which defends the territorial borders of the country against all external forces and also plays an essential role in maintaining law and order within the country.<br /><br />The Indian Army is mainly divided into Combat Arms, Combat Support Arms and Services:<br /><br />*The Combat Arms are the Infantry, and the Armoured Corps. <br /><br />*The Combat Support Arms are the Artillery, Artillery Air Defence, Corps of Engineers and Corps of Signals.<br /><br />*Services include Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Postal Services, Army Medical Corps, Army Education Corps, and Intelligence Corps.<br /><br />Combat Arms are responsible for actual combat, with support of the Combat Support Arms, whereas services are responsible to ensure continuous flow of required ordnance and supplies, including food for men and animal, fuel for vehicles and tanks and ammunition.<br /><br />The Indian Air Force <br /><br />The Air Force is that wing of the Armed Forces that defends using air space to protect the country against all external forces. It is also responsible for the air defence of vital installations of strategic importance to the country.<br /><br />In the Indian Air Force, one can be an officer in the Flying Branch, Technical Branch or Ground Duty (or Administrative) branches. Post graduates who enter the Air Force are not eligible to be in the flying branch but can work in the technical branch and the ground duty branch.<br /><br />* The Flying branch includes fighter pilots who fly combat or fighter planes carrying ammunition and missiles; transport pilots who fly planes which carry men and materials and helicopter pilots who provide air support to a moving army, or are used for para-dropping men and supplies.<br /><br />*The Technical branch which includes engineering sections is responsible for engineering equipment and weapons systems of the Air Force.<br /><br />*The Administrative (or ground duty) branch includes all the departments that provide logistical, meteorological, educational and administrative support to the flying and technical branches.<br /><br />The Indian Navy is responsible for defending the extensive coastline of the country in times of war and peace. The navy also safeguards our maritime interests including defence of off-shore oil and gas installations, coastal shipping and fisheries rights, and to protect the vital trade links.<br /><br />In the Indian Navy, one can join to be an officer working as an executive, logistics and education officer or an engineering officer or an electrical officer.<br /><br />*The Executive branch manages the Navy's Warships and Submarines as instruments of tactical warfare.<br /><br />*The Engineering branch is responsible for the maintenance and service of engineering equipment and the propulsion systems on board including electrical and electronic systems, weapon systems, missiles, radar, and radio communication systems.<br /><br />*The Education branch ensures that the officers and men are updated in their technical knowledge and tactical skills.<br /><br />Entry route<br /><br />There are two main routes of entry into the defence services. Both are through the prescribed competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): The first is at the undergraduate level through the National Defence Academy Exam, the second is at the graduate / direct entry level through the Combined Defence Services Examination. <br /><br />Selection<br /><br />The selection process comprises of a written exam, SSB interview and a medical test. Those who qualify in the written exam – which consists of two papers, mathematics and general ability – are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB). The SSB test includes a personal interview, outdoor physical tests, psychological assessment and group tests. <br /><br />These test procedures are spread over 3-4 days and are structured to select candidates who have the potential to become officers in the Armed Forces. Candidates selected by the SSB undergo a medical examination and those declared fit are then admitted to the Academy. At the time of filling in the application form, it is necessary to indicate the sequence of your preference for the Army / Air Force / Navy. The final allocation however depends on the rank in the merit list.<br /><br />National Defence Academy<br /><br />Date of Examination: The examination conducted by UPSC is held twice a year in the months of April and September for which the notification is published in the Employment News in November and April respectively.<br /><br />Eligibility: Army Wing of NDA: 12th Std pass of the 10+2 pattern of the school education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.<br /><br />For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA: 12th Std pass of the 10+2 pattern of school education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.<br /><br />National Defence Academy is a premier training institution for training future officers of the Armed Forces. <br /><br />*The duration of training is three years. <br /><br />*On successful completion of the degree course, the cadets are awarded a Bachelor’s degree in arts, science and computer science by Jawaharlal Nehru University. Based on their academic profile and performance in the classification test, cadets have the option of joining the science or humanities streams. In addition to English, they are also required to learn Hindi and a foreign language. <br /><br />* Once the term is over the cadets join their respective service academies, Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.<br /><br />Technical Entry Scheme<br /><br />Eligibility: One can even look at entering the IMA after clearing 10+2 examination with an aggregate of 70% in the PCM stream, in the technical and engineering branch. The age specifications for the applicants is between 16 ½ -19 ½ years. <br /><br />Total training will be 5 years, details as under:<br /><br />*Basic Military Training: 1 year at IMA Dehradun<br />*Technical Training:<br /><br />Phase-I (Pre Commission training) – 3 years (CME Pune, MCTE Mhow and MCEME Secunderabad, depending on the selected branch)<br /><br />Phase-II (Post Commission training) - 1 year at CME Pune, MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad respectively. <br /><br />Combined Defence Services Examination <br /><br />Date of examination: This examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year in May and October for which the notification is published in the Employment News in November and April respectively.<br /><br />Eligibility: For IMA and Officers Training Academy: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent<br /><br />For Naval Academy: B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics<br /><br />For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent with Physics and/or Maths as subjects. Candidates who have passed their degree examination with subjects other than Physics and/or Maths are also eligible provided they have passed their Higher Secondary Examination or 12th standard examination under the 10+2 system or an equivalent examination with Mathematics and Physics, as subjects of the examination.<br /><br />For Eng Graduates:There is a direct SSB interview and other eligibility criteria includes engineering degree in the notified discipline, 20-27 years of age at the time of joining etc. Commencement of course is January and July every year. For final and pre-final year students of engineering course there is a campus interview and SSB interview and age at the time of joining should be 19-25 years (final year engineering students) and 18-24 years (pre-final year engineering students)<br /><br />Short Services Commission (SSC)<br /><br />The Short Services Commission (SSC) allows candidates to serve for a period of five years. Once the tenure is over, one can opt for a Permanent Commission. Alternatively, one can also choose for a 5 year extension and can choose to resign from one's post any time during this period.<br /><br />There are four modes of entry to the SSC:<br /><br />*There is the direct entry scheme for graduates who have completed a recognised degree. One has to appear for the Combined Defence Service Exam (CDSE) and then appear for the SSB interview.<br /><br />*For the technical post, one should be between 20-27 years old and needs to have completed an engineering degree. One has to appear for an SSB interview after that.<br /><br />*In the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Special Entrance Scheme for entry to the SSC, one needs to be a graduate with 50% aggregate marks, two years’ service in NCC senior division Army with minimum ‘B’ Grade in ‘C’ Certificate Exam. One needs to be between 19-25 years old in May. One only has to appear for an SSB interview in this method of entry.<br /><br />*The only section for women in the Indian Army is that of officers in the SSC. One needs to be between 19-27 years old and needs to have at least a graduate degree. One only has to appear for the SSB interview.<br /><br />For further information you can check:<br /><br />*The Indian Army has a website: http://joinindianarmy.nic.in<br />* The Indian Air Force has an excellent website: careerairforce.nic.in which deals with all career related queries about the Indian Air Force.<br />* The Indian Navy too has a detailed website: www.nausena-bharti.nic.in which deals with careers and opportunities with the Indian Navy.</p>
<p>The Indian Armed Forces has the reputation of being one of the finest forces in the world. It is a matter of pride and honour to have a career in the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces render invaluable service to the country, in times of war as well as in times of peace, protecting the security of the nation. It offers a very challenging and attractive career for the Indian youth. Today, even women are welcome in the Armed Forces in education, logistics, air traffic control and legal branches.<br /><br />The three branches of the Armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) work in close co-ordination, together with the paramilitary forces.<br /><br />An overview<br /><br />The Armed Forces consist of the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. All three forces have their own methods of entry and have different structures.<br /><br />Indian Army <br /><br />The Indian Army is that wing of the Armed forces which defends the territorial borders of the country against all external forces and also plays an essential role in maintaining law and order within the country.<br /><br />The Indian Army is mainly divided into Combat Arms, Combat Support Arms and Services:<br /><br />*The Combat Arms are the Infantry, and the Armoured Corps. <br /><br />*The Combat Support Arms are the Artillery, Artillery Air Defence, Corps of Engineers and Corps of Signals.<br /><br />*Services include Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Postal Services, Army Medical Corps, Army Education Corps, and Intelligence Corps.<br /><br />Combat Arms are responsible for actual combat, with support of the Combat Support Arms, whereas services are responsible to ensure continuous flow of required ordnance and supplies, including food for men and animal, fuel for vehicles and tanks and ammunition.<br /><br />The Indian Air Force <br /><br />The Air Force is that wing of the Armed Forces that defends using air space to protect the country against all external forces. It is also responsible for the air defence of vital installations of strategic importance to the country.<br /><br />In the Indian Air Force, one can be an officer in the Flying Branch, Technical Branch or Ground Duty (or Administrative) branches. Post graduates who enter the Air Force are not eligible to be in the flying branch but can work in the technical branch and the ground duty branch.<br /><br />* The Flying branch includes fighter pilots who fly combat or fighter planes carrying ammunition and missiles; transport pilots who fly planes which carry men and materials and helicopter pilots who provide air support to a moving army, or are used for para-dropping men and supplies.<br /><br />*The Technical branch which includes engineering sections is responsible for engineering equipment and weapons systems of the Air Force.<br /><br />*The Administrative (or ground duty) branch includes all the departments that provide logistical, meteorological, educational and administrative support to the flying and technical branches.<br /><br />The Indian Navy is responsible for defending the extensive coastline of the country in times of war and peace. The navy also safeguards our maritime interests including defence of off-shore oil and gas installations, coastal shipping and fisheries rights, and to protect the vital trade links.<br /><br />In the Indian Navy, one can join to be an officer working as an executive, logistics and education officer or an engineering officer or an electrical officer.<br /><br />*The Executive branch manages the Navy's Warships and Submarines as instruments of tactical warfare.<br /><br />*The Engineering branch is responsible for the maintenance and service of engineering equipment and the propulsion systems on board including electrical and electronic systems, weapon systems, missiles, radar, and radio communication systems.<br /><br />*The Education branch ensures that the officers and men are updated in their technical knowledge and tactical skills.<br /><br />Entry route<br /><br />There are two main routes of entry into the defence services. Both are through the prescribed competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): The first is at the undergraduate level through the National Defence Academy Exam, the second is at the graduate / direct entry level through the Combined Defence Services Examination. <br /><br />Selection<br /><br />The selection process comprises of a written exam, SSB interview and a medical test. Those who qualify in the written exam – which consists of two papers, mathematics and general ability – are called for the Services Selection Board (SSB). The SSB test includes a personal interview, outdoor physical tests, psychological assessment and group tests. <br /><br />These test procedures are spread over 3-4 days and are structured to select candidates who have the potential to become officers in the Armed Forces. Candidates selected by the SSB undergo a medical examination and those declared fit are then admitted to the Academy. At the time of filling in the application form, it is necessary to indicate the sequence of your preference for the Army / Air Force / Navy. The final allocation however depends on the rank in the merit list.<br /><br />National Defence Academy<br /><br />Date of Examination: The examination conducted by UPSC is held twice a year in the months of April and September for which the notification is published in the Employment News in November and April respectively.<br /><br />Eligibility: Army Wing of NDA: 12th Std pass of the 10+2 pattern of the school education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.<br /><br />For Air Force and Naval Wings of NDA: 12th Std pass of the 10+2 pattern of school education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.<br /><br />National Defence Academy is a premier training institution for training future officers of the Armed Forces. <br /><br />*The duration of training is three years. <br /><br />*On successful completion of the degree course, the cadets are awarded a Bachelor’s degree in arts, science and computer science by Jawaharlal Nehru University. Based on their academic profile and performance in the classification test, cadets have the option of joining the science or humanities streams. In addition to English, they are also required to learn Hindi and a foreign language. <br /><br />* Once the term is over the cadets join their respective service academies, Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy.<br /><br />Technical Entry Scheme<br /><br />Eligibility: One can even look at entering the IMA after clearing 10+2 examination with an aggregate of 70% in the PCM stream, in the technical and engineering branch. The age specifications for the applicants is between 16 ½ -19 ½ years. <br /><br />Total training will be 5 years, details as under:<br /><br />*Basic Military Training: 1 year at IMA Dehradun<br />*Technical Training:<br /><br />Phase-I (Pre Commission training) – 3 years (CME Pune, MCTE Mhow and MCEME Secunderabad, depending on the selected branch)<br /><br />Phase-II (Post Commission training) - 1 year at CME Pune, MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad respectively. <br /><br />Combined Defence Services Examination <br /><br />Date of examination: This examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year in May and October for which the notification is published in the Employment News in November and April respectively.<br /><br />Eligibility: For IMA and Officers Training Academy: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent<br /><br />For Naval Academy: B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics<br /><br />For Air Force Academy: Degree of a recognised University or equivalent with Physics and/or Maths as subjects. Candidates who have passed their degree examination with subjects other than Physics and/or Maths are also eligible provided they have passed their Higher Secondary Examination or 12th standard examination under the 10+2 system or an equivalent examination with Mathematics and Physics, as subjects of the examination.<br /><br />For Eng Graduates:There is a direct SSB interview and other eligibility criteria includes engineering degree in the notified discipline, 20-27 years of age at the time of joining etc. Commencement of course is January and July every year. For final and pre-final year students of engineering course there is a campus interview and SSB interview and age at the time of joining should be 19-25 years (final year engineering students) and 18-24 years (pre-final year engineering students)<br /><br />Short Services Commission (SSC)<br /><br />The Short Services Commission (SSC) allows candidates to serve for a period of five years. Once the tenure is over, one can opt for a Permanent Commission. Alternatively, one can also choose for a 5 year extension and can choose to resign from one's post any time during this period.<br /><br />There are four modes of entry to the SSC:<br /><br />*There is the direct entry scheme for graduates who have completed a recognised degree. One has to appear for the Combined Defence Service Exam (CDSE) and then appear for the SSB interview.<br /><br />*For the technical post, one should be between 20-27 years old and needs to have completed an engineering degree. One has to appear for an SSB interview after that.<br /><br />*In the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Special Entrance Scheme for entry to the SSC, one needs to be a graduate with 50% aggregate marks, two years’ service in NCC senior division Army with minimum ‘B’ Grade in ‘C’ Certificate Exam. One needs to be between 19-25 years old in May. One only has to appear for an SSB interview in this method of entry.<br /><br />*The only section for women in the Indian Army is that of officers in the SSC. One needs to be between 19-27 years old and needs to have at least a graduate degree. One only has to appear for the SSB interview.<br /><br />For further information you can check:<br /><br />*The Indian Army has a website: http://joinindianarmy.nic.in<br />* The Indian Air Force has an excellent website: careerairforce.nic.in which deals with all career related queries about the Indian Air Force.<br />* The Indian Navy too has a detailed website: www.nausena-bharti.nic.in which deals with careers and opportunities with the Indian Navy.</p>
