Entries in Indian Army as an officer

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Indian Army is the second largest army in the world. Its role is to mandate the safeguard of National interests from the external Aggression and Internal Subversion.

The distinguished history of Indian Army dates back more than thousand years. The two grand epics of ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ constitute the fundamental framework around which the edifice of Indian Army is built. Joining Army is possible both after school as well as after graduation.

Aspirants can join army as a Doctor in AMC/ADC/RVC, an Engineer in EME/Army Corps of Engineers known as Sappers, as a Teacher in Army Education Corps and as a Nurse in Military Nursing Service. The Indian Army promises both professional and personal growth at every stage of the career. But joining Indian Army as an officer is not an easy task, an aspirant has to work very hard from his/her Senior Secondary school and according to that an aspirant has to choose the Stream of their interest in 10+2 level.

There are a number of ways in which one could join Indian Army as a Commission Officer and can join through Direct Entry and Indirect Entry through UPSC NDA/CDS Examination followed by extensive interview of five days Services Selection Board except for Medical Entries.

SSB Interview covers general aptitude, psychological testing, team skills as well as physical and social skills along with medical tests.The selection procedures are impartial, objective and are uniformly applied to one and all and have one aim–to “select the best”.

Army offers both Permanent Commission (PC) which means a career in the Army till he retire and Short Service Commission (SSC) which means serving for a short period of time range from 7 to 14 years after that they can opt for Permanent Commission according to their merit.

Permanent Commission (PC) Entries:

National Defence Academy (NDA) Exam: UPSC conducts NDA Entrance Exam twice a year for Unmarried Male Candidates. NDA is the joint defence service training institute of Indian Armed Forces and is located in Khadakwasla (Pune). An aspirant aged between 16 ½ and 19 years can apply after clearing class 12 exam from any Stream.

NDA also provide three years BA/BSc Degree to all the Cadets, which is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Army Cadets who are accepted and successfully complete the three years program or training are sent to Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for one year of training before granting of commission.

Combined Defence Service Examination :

UPSC conducts Combined Defence Service Examination (CDSE) twice a year for Direct Entry (DE) into Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for Unmarried Male Candidates only followed by SSB Interview and Medical. Any Graduate from 19 to 24 years of age are eligible to apply for CDSE for IMA course.

In IMA, Cadets are known as Gentleman Cadets (GC). NDA Pass out GC’s are trained for one year and DE GC’s are trained for one and half year in IMA before their commission.

10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (10+2 TES): TES is one of the entry schemes to join Indian Army. It is for unmarried male candidates who has passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects and aged between 16 1/2 tand 19 1/2 years. India has officially declared that passing in the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) is now mandatory criteria for recruitment through TES followed by SSB Interview and Medical.

The duration of this course is 5 Years (1 Yr at Officer Training Academy (OTA), Gaya and 4 Yrs at Cadet Training Wings (CTW) in CME Pune/MCTE Mhow/MCEME Secunderabad.

Technical Graduates Course (TGC) : A candidate who has engineering degree and aged between 20 and 27 are eligible to apply for TGC course. Only shortlisted eligible candidates depending on the cut off percentage will be interviewed at one of the SSB selection centers followed by Medical. Selected candidates will be trained at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun for 49 weeks.

University Entry Scheme : A candidate who has BE/B Tech, Engineering Degree students in Pre-Final year, who wish to join Indian Army as Permanent Commissioned Officer through direct SSB Interview without written exam and aged between 19 and 25 Years can apply for UES. Selected candidates will be trained at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun for 1 year.

Permanent Commission Entries for Soldiers (OR/JCO) in Indian Army

Army Cadet College (ACC) Exam :

Indian army conducts ACC Entrance Exam twice a year for its soldiers in Indian Army as Permanent Commissioned Officers. The eligible Other Ranks (OR) in age group of 20 to 27 years and minimum of two years of service and having 10+2 pass qualification can apply.

After qualifying in written examination conducted by the Military Training Directorate, the aspirants are screened by SSB Interview and the Medical Board. Successful candidates are trained at Army Cadet College Wing of Siachen Battalion (IMA, Dehradun) for three years at the end of which they get a graduation degree and is affiliated to JNU, Delhi followed by one year pre-commission training at IMA, Dehradun.

Special Commissioned Officers (SCO) Scheme: Under this entry JCOs/OR in the age group of 28 to 35 years, with Senior School Certificate Pass (10+2 pattern) qualification are eligible for Permanent Commission after screening by SSB and Medical Board. They have to undergo pre-commission training at OTA, Gaya for 1 year.

Permanent Commission (Special List) (PC SL) : Under this entry, JCOs/OR up to 42 years of age and minimum 10 years of service, with a Senior School Certificate Pass (10+2 pattern) qualification are eligible for Commission after screening by SSB and Medical Board. They are granted PC (SL) after successful completion of four weeks orientation training at the OTA, Gaya.

Short Service Commission (SSC) Entries

UPSC Combined Defence Service Examination (CDSE)/(SSC-NT) : UPSC conducts CDSE exam for both Male and Female Candidates twice a year for any graduate who want to serve in Indian Army for a short period of time known as Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCO) and aged between 19 and 25 can apply followed by SSB Interview and Medical Board. The duration of training is 49 week at Officer Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.

SSC Technical: A candidate who has B.E./B. Tech, Engineering Degree for both Male and Female aged between 20 and 27 Years can apply for SSC Tech course for 49 weeks of pre-commission training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai through direct SSB Interview without written exam followed by Medical. Widows of Defence Personnel who died in harness only can apply but must have Graduation or B.E./B. Tech in any engineering stream and aged below 35 years.

NCC Special Entry Scheme: Any graduate, both Male and Female aged between 19 and 25 years who have NCC ‘C’ Certificate with Minimum B grade and have minimum 50% Marks in graduation can apply for 49 week pre-commission training at OTA, Chennai through direct SSB Interview without written exam followed by Medical. Wards of Battle Causalities of Army Personnel can also apply in this NCC Special Entry Scheme.

Judge Advocate General (JAG) Entry: Any candidate who have minimum 55% aggregate marks in LLB degree from College/University recognized by Bar Council of India and aged between 21 and 27 years can apply for 49 week pre-commission training at OTA, Chennai through direct SSB Interview without written exam followed by Medical.

Miscellaneous Entry:

Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune: A candidate both Male and Female who passed 10+2 with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology can apply for AFMC through qualifying NEET Entrance Exam for Permanent/Short Service Commission Officer as a Doctor in Army Medical Corps (AMC). It is a graduate wing for MBBS course with the aim of inducting medical graduates to the Armed Forces Medical Services.

AFMC is affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Science, Nashik and is recognized by the Medical Council of India. The duration of MBBS course is 4 ½ years followed by compulsory rotating internship training of one year.

SSC in Army Medical Corps (AMC) : A candidate both male and female who have MBBS degree or MD/MS/MCh/DM under IMC and aged below 45 years can apply for SSC Officer in AMC. Eligible Candidates will be called for Interview by Board of Officers at Army Hospital (Research & Referral) New Delhi followed by Medical Board (DGAFMS). The Post commission training will be held in AMC Centre & College, Lucknow and after completing the course candidates will be commissioned in the rank of Captain.

SSC in Army Dental Corps (ADC): A candidate for both male and female who have minimum 55% marks in BDS or MDS degree from a college/university recognized by the Dental Council of India (DCI) and aged below 45 years can apply for SSC Officer as a Dental Surgeon in ADC. Candidates are shortlisted for direct interview on the basis of the marks score in the NEET (MDS) at Selection Board, New Delhi followed by Medical Board.

Selected Candidates/Civilians Dental Surgeons will be granted SSC in AD Corps in the rank of Captain. The duration of training is 13 weeks in AMC Centre & College, Lucknow.

SSC in Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC): A male candidate who has BVSc/MVSc& AH degree under Indian Veterinary Council and aged between 21 to 32 can apply for SSC Officer in RVC. Shortlisted Candidates will be called for SSB Interview followed by Medical Board. The Post commission training will be held in RVC Centre & College, MerrutCanttfor three months and after completing the course candidates will be commissioned in the rank of Captain.

Territorial Army (TA) : TA is a voluntary force of civilians donning the uniform for few months every year without joining regular army. TA is a part of Regular Indian Army and offers Part-time and Full-time opportunity. Well-settled and employed Male and female candidate aged between 18 and 42 years can apply for TA entry followed by Written Exam, PIB Interview, SSB Interview and Medical for Civilians Candidates except for Ex Commissioned Officers of Indian Armed Forces.

TA also recruits officers from IOC, Railways, ONGC etc. for its departmental units of IOC, Railways, ONGC. The duration of training is 30 days Recruit Training in respective TA Battalion, two month Annual Training Camp in each training year, 90 days of post commission training within two years of their commissioning at ACC Wing of Siachen Battalion, IMA, Dehradun and 30 days post commission training at respective Regimental Centers within two years of commissioning is compulsory for all Departmental TA Officers, except Medical Officers of Railway (TA) units.

Military Nursing Service (MNS): Only Female Candidate who has passed 10+2 (Physics, Chemistry & Biology)/ MSc (Nursing)/PB BSc (Nursing)/BSc (Nursing) from INC recognized University and be registered Nurse and Midwife from State Nursing Council and aged between 17 to 24 years are eligible to apply for Short Service Nursing Officer. The training of nursing officer is conducted at the college of Nursing, Pune after that candidate will be granted SSC Nursing Officer in the rank of Lieutenant.

Female candidates can alsoapply for NDA written Exam and can get a Permanent Commission in Indian Army. If a candidate is looking for Professional Advancement, Job Satisfaction, Job Security, Economic Stability, Social Status, Quality of Life, Variety and Adventure then Indian Army is the best Career option.

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