Entry Level in to Armed Forces
Indian Armed Forces has two type of commissioned Officer . One Permanent Commission and other is Short Service Commission. Permanent Commission is through NDA and IMA. Where as Short Service Commission is through OTA
Permanent Commission
Permanent commission means once inducted will serve till retire. Its through NDA after Intermediate or IMA , Dehradun after Graduation or OTA Gaya , after 10+2 for TES.
Short Service Commission
Most of other Commissioning is Short Service where one has to ask for Permanent commission after requisite compulsory service. Some percentage are given Permanent Commission depending on recommendation to continue in the service.
PERMANENT COMMISSION
National Defence Academy (NDA)
- NDA examination is conducted by UPSC twice in a calender year.
- One can appear in entrance examination while appearing or passed class XII from any recognised Board.
- One has option to join Army, Air Force and Navy subject to meeting the educational and medical parameter.
- After Clearing written examination are put to 5 days SSB at different centers.
- After clearing SSB , the individual go through Medical Test.
- In medical one may be Permanently or temporarily unfit.
- Temporary unfit candidates gets 42 days to reappear for medical at selected Military Hospital.
- Permanent unfit candidates gets 21 day to reappear for medical at selected MH.
- Based on written and SSB marks , merit list are prepared and published online and in daily newspaper .
- All candidates joins at National Defence Academy at Khadkwasla, Pune for 3 years basic grooming training along with Graduation Course
- On passing out Cadets are awarded with B.Sc/ B.Sc(Computer) or BA degree from Jawahar Lal University , Delhi.
- On Passing out from NDA, Army Cadets go to Indian Military Academy , Dehradun, Naval Cadets go to Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala where as Air Force cadets joins at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.
- At IMA, Dehradun cadets are put through one year of Military training and on completion are granted Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant
- At naval Academy , cadets are put through one year of training and on successful completion are commissioned in the rank of Sub Lieutenant.
- At Air Force Academy flying training is for one and half year. However at the end of one year they are provisionally commissioned in the rank of Flying Officer .
- At IMA cadets are entitled to stipend of Rs 21000/- per month.
Note: visit NDA website www.nda.nic.in
Indian Militay Academy
Indian Militay Academy at Dehradun is an Institution where Military training for various Entry Scheme are carried out to become commissioned in to Army. The Examination for the same is conducted by CDSE
Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE):Commissioned Officer
Combined Defence Service examination is conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The examination can be taken by candidates in the final year of graduation or passed the Graduation in any stream. Different Entry Levels are
Direct Entry (Commissioned Officer)
a Examination is conducted by UPSC twice in a year.
b Appearing for final semester exam of graduation or passed graduate can apply through CDSE
c Exam is conducted throughout India at selected centre.
d Total vacancies are generally 250
e Age should be between 19 to 24 years. DOB must fall between 2nd January to 1st January for January course . Similarly 2nd July to 1st July for July Course.
f Application submission date are in the month of May for July course and October for January course.
g SSB are in the month of March/April for July course and September /October for January course.
h Application Fee Rs 200/- for General /OBC. Rest no fee.
i Examination is offline . OMR sheet based.
j Total three papers for 2 hours each.
k Examination are for English, Mathematics and General Knowledge for 100 marks each.
l 100 question which carry 1 marks each. 1/3 marks is deducted for every wrong answer.
m Examination can be taken in English or Hindi.
n All candidates who clear the CDS examination are short listed for next stage that is SSB interview .
Service Selection Board
Reporting Date
1st Day (Screening ) – Successful candidates are retained for next stage of test on subsequent days after screening and unsuccessful are sent back.
Officer Intelligence Rating Test (Paper 1 and Paper 2)
Picture Perception
Discussion Test
2nd Day (Psychological Test)
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Word Association Test (WAT)
Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
Self-Description Test (SDT)
3rd Day (Group Testing – I)
Group Discussion
Group Planning Exercise (GPE)
Progressive Group Test (PGT)
Group Obstacle Race (GOR)
Half Group Task (HGT)
4th Day (Group Testing – II)
Lecturette
Individual Obstacles (IO)
Command Task (CT)
Final Group Task (FGT)
5th Day (Conference)
In the conference, all assessors will take collective decisions to shortlist candidates.
After the conference, the final result is announced and shortlisted candidates are retained for medical examination
Merit List is prepared based on Written and SSB marks. Medically fit candidates are eligible to join IMA for 18 months of Military training.
University Entry Scheme (Commissioned Officer)
- Students in Pre-Final year are recruited as Permanent Commission in Indian Army. Basically in technical branches.
- Age – Applicant should be between 18 to 24 years.
- Unmarried
- Education Qualification– Should have successfully completed their Pre-Final/Final year of the Engineering course in the relevant branches from any recognised University or institution.
University Entry Scheme Selection Process
Interested aspirants, who accomplish the above mentioned eligibility criteria successfully, may precede for the online application process. The link for online application is accessible at its official web page- joinindianarmy.nic.in
- Received online applications of candidates will be forwarded to respective Command HQs
- Preliminary Screening test will be held in respective Command HQ. Preliminary selection of prospective candidates studying in the Pre – Final Year (Engineering) will be made by selection teams detailed by Command HQ for holding preliminary interviews at University/ College.
- Shortlisted eligible candidates will be interviewed at different Selection Centres.
- The candidates will be put through two stages of selection procedure. Candidates who successfully qualifies stage – I are retained for stage – II.
- Selected Pre-final year students would be granted Short Service Commission on probation from the date of their joining the final year class.
After successful completion of degree course the candidates finally selected will be admitted for Pre- Commission training at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for a period of 12 months.
Medical Boards are held as per laid down norms.
Technical Graduate Course (Commissioned Officer)
- Candidates who have completed their BE/B Tech in notified streams can also join IMA in the Technical Graduate Course.
- Selection procedure is same as for Direct Entry through CDSE. The only difference is TGC candidate are exempted from written examination. They are directly called to selection Centre for Service Selection Board.
Technical Entry Scheme (Commissioned Officer)
Technical Entry Scheme is an opportunity to join Indian Army who have passed their 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and appeared in JEE(Mains)
Age- A candidate must not be below 16½ years and above 19½years on the first day of the month in which the course is due to commence.
Educational Qualification–
- Only those candidates who have passed 10+2 Examination or its equivalent with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics from recognized education boards .
- Candidate must have appeared in JEE (Mains).
Type of Commission– On successful completion of 4 years of the course, cadets will be granted Permanent Commission in the Army in the rank of Lt.
Selection Procedure– The selection procedure is as follows:-
(a) Shortlisting of Applications– Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) reserves the right to
shortlist the applications and to fix cut off without assigning any reason.
(b) Shortlisted candidates are intimated their Selection centre via email. SSB dates are allotted subsequently and intimated .
(c) Candidates will go through two stage selection procedure. Those who clear
Stage I on first day will go to Stage II. Those who fail in Stage I will be returned on the same day.
(d) Those who clears stage II will go through medical examination
(e) Candidates recommended by the SSB and declared medically fit, will be issued
Joining Letter for training in the order of merit.
Training. Total training will be of 5 years.
- Basic Military Training.1 year (Officer Training Academy, Gaya) or any other Training Institute decided by the Indian Army.
- Technical Training.
- Phase-I (Pre Commission Training): 3 Years (CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad)
- Phase-II (Post Commission Training) 1 Year at CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad
Defence Personnel as Commissioned Officer
Army Cadet College (ACC)
- Vacancies Per Course 75 (Twice in a Year)
- Notified by MP Directorate / AGs Br through Units in Mar and Aug
Eligibility Criteria
Age – 20 to 27 years , minimum service two years can apply
Qualification – 10+2 Pattern Class 12th pass or Equivalent.
Should have qualified ACC written test
Those candidates who passes written examination are called for SSB interview at selection centres.
Training – Four Years (Three Years in ACC Wing & One Year at IMA)
Permanent Commission (Special List)
Vacancies Per Course 100 (Once in a Year)
Tentative Month of Publication of Notification Notified by MP Dte / AGs Br through Units in Apr and Jul
Eligibility Criteria
Age– Maximum age 42 years, 45 years for Engineers & 45 years for IOB Minimum service 10 years
Qualification – Matric & Above
Likely Date of SSB – Sep and Oct for Jul Course
Training Academy – AEC Centre & College, Pachmarhi & IMA, Dehradun
Duration of Training Eight Weeks at AEC Centre & College, Pachmarhi & Four Weeks at IMA
SCO Entry
Vacancies Per Course 100 (Twice in a Year)
Tentative Month of Publication of Notification Notified by MP Directorate / AGs Br through Units in April and July
Eligibility Criteria
Age – Between 30 to 35 years. minimum service of five years can apply
Qualification – Matric with One Year Diploma or Above
Likely Date of SSB July/August for January Course & November/December for July Course
Training Academy – OTA, Gaya
Duration of Training – Eight Weeks at AEC Centre & College, Pachmarhi & One Year at OTA, Gaya