How to Join Indian Army?

UPDATE: Indian Army is considering about 'Tour of duty' program.I have written a separate post on this.Visit the post to know more about ToD!

There are various modes to get into the Indian army.

First of all, we will be discussing about entry for commissioned officer's rank for Permanent Comission.

Entries for Permanent Comission(PC):

¶ NDA Entry:

NDA entry is for 10+2 pass candidates for admission into most prestigious National Defence Academy, Dehradun

This exam is conducted two times a year.

Selection procedure comprises of two stages:

Written test followed by a 5-day long SSB interview.

I will be explaining the interviewing procedure of SSB interview in a separate blog. The candidates who qualify SSB interview are then medically examined. Merit list is prepared of selected candidates. Selected candidates are then admitted to NDA where they completes their graduation along with training.

Science students are awarded B.Sc. degree while Arts candidates are awarded B.A. degree after passing out from NDA.

Pass out candidates are then trained at Indian Military academy (IMA) Dehradun for a 1 year training as gentleman cadets(GC). After that, they are commissioned into Indian Army as Lieutenant.

¶ Direct Entry (CDS Entry):

  In this entry Graduate candidates from any stream are recruited. It is also a two stage process just like NDA. 

WRITTEN test followed by SSB interview.

After preparation of merit list candidates are admitted to IMA for a 72 weeks rigourous training. After completion they are commisioned into Indian Army as Lieutenant.

¶ ACC Entry:

This entry is applicable for the soldiers currently serving in the Indian Army as soldiers or Other Ranks(OR) officers and are in the age bracket of 20-27 years. Candidates must be 10+2 passed.

They need to qualify the entrance exam followed by an SSB interview.

Selected candidates then need to do 3 year graduation from Army Cadet College followed by 1 year training at Indian Military Academy.

Then they are recruited as regular Permanent Commisioned Officers. 

¶ TGC Entry:

Technical Graduate entry is for the graduates in different Engineering Streams. They are shortlisted as per the percentage in their graduation. Generally cutoff percentage is around 65-75%.

Then they are called for 5-day long SSB interview.

Selected candidates are then admitted to IMA for 1 year training.

¶ AEC & MF entry:

This entry is applicable for the postgraduates in MA/Msc for AEC(Army Education Corps) and MBA/Mcom for MF.

After shortlisting they are interviewed following the procedure of SSB.

Then they are admitted to IMA for 1 year training.

¶ UES Entry:

University entry scheme is applicable for the students studying in the prefinal year of their B.Tech in different streams.

They are first interviewed in a preliminary interview in their respective college or University. Selected Candidates are then have to appear for the 5-day long SSB interview.

After selection they are commissioned as short service commission officers on probation when they are admitted to final year.

After the completion of their degree they are then sent to IMA for 1 year training.

After clearing it they are given permanent commission in Indian Army as a lieutenant.

¶ PC(SL) Entry:

This entry is for NCO's/JCO's/OR's currently serving in Indian army for more than 10 years. Age limit is 40 years for record officers and 45 years for Engineers.

The candidates need to be 10+2 qualified.

Candidates are screened by staff selection board.

Selected candidates are then trained at AEC centre & College, Pachmari for 8 weeks and then 4 weeks orientation at IMA.

Then they are commissioned into Indian army as lieutenant.

¶ SCO entry:

This entry is applicable for the NCO's/JCO's/OR's who are currently serving in the Indian army for more than 5 years. Age Bracket is 28-35 years.

They are screened by Staff Selection Boards and after selection they are given 8 weeks communication capsule at AEC centre & College,Pachmari and then are trained at OTA Gaya for 1 year.

¶ TES entry:

This entry is applicable for 10+2 (PCM) candidates. Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their percentage in PCM in 12th which is around 80-85%.

The selected candidates are then screened by Staff selection board.

Selected candidates are then sent to three technical institutions, i.e. College of Military Engineering (CME), Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) for pre commission training for four years.

After that they have to complete 1 year post commission training.

Entry Type	Educational Qualifications	Training	Remarks
NDA Entry	10+2	Four Years (Three years at NDA, one year at IMA)	Awarded Graduate Degree from NDA
Direct Entry(CDS)	Graduate	72 Weeks training at IMA
ACC Entry	10+2 (Serving soldiers with 2 year experience)	Four Years (Three years in ACC Wing and one year at IMA)	Graduate Degree from ACC Wing
Technical Graduate Course(TGC) and Post Graduate Entries (AEC & MF)	Technical Graduate (B.Tech) and Postgraduate (AEC & MF)	One Year at IMA	Awarded 1 years ante date seniority only to Tech Graduate
University Entry Scheme (UES)	Pre final year students of Engineering Degree	One Year at IMA	Awarded 1 years ante date seniority only to Tech Graduate
PC (SL) (Special List)	Higher Secondary (12th Pass) Only for serving NCO's/JCO's	Eight weeks at AEC Centre Four Weeks at OTA
SCO (Special Commissioned Officers)	10+2 CBSE pattern Only for serving NCO's/JCO's	Eight weeks at AEC Centre One year at OTA,Gaya
10+2 Entry TES(Technical Entry scheme)	10+2(PCM)	Pre-Commission Training four years and Post Commission Training one year.	Awarded B.Tech degree after 4 years in 3 military colleges

Entries for Short service commission (SSC):

• SSC (Non-Tech) Men/Women: For this entry candidate need to apply for CDS/JAG/NCC entries. After clearing CDS/JAG cutoff candidate is shortlisted for SSB interview. After clearing SSB interview, medical exam and clearing merit list candidate is admitted to Officer's Training Academy, Chennai for 49 Weeks Training. After Completion of Training, candidate is commissioned into Indian army as Lieutenant. SSC tenure is of 10 years and can be extended upto 14 years. The pay and allowances to SSC officer is same as that of a PC officer. The difference is that a SSC officer is not entitled to any pension after retirement. However he/she can apply for Permanent Commission basis on the vacancies available and his/her performance. 

• In this entry women can also apply. Currently women can only apply for SSC. Age Bracket for this entry is 19-25 years for CDS entry, 21-27 for JAG(Law Graduate entry).

JAG Entry: This entry is applicable for Law Graduates(Male or female) only. Candidate must have passed LLB Degree( 3- year duration after graduation or 5- year duration after 10+2) with 55% Marks. Shortlisted candidates from SSB interview are sent to OTA for 49 weeks pre-commission Training. After completion of training, candidates are awarded with Post graduate Diploma in defence management and strategic studies. Then They are entitled as Lieutenant in Indian Army. JAG Officer in Indian Army advises military personnels on different aspects and advises the presiding officers of courts-martial on military law.

• SSC(Tech) Men/Women: In this entry any B.Tech(Engineering) graduate can apply. Candidate need not to appear for any written exam. They are shortlisted on the basis of their percentage in B.Tech.

• They are screened through Staff Selection Board.Selected candidates are then sent to IMA for 49 weeks Training. They are then commissioned as lieutenant in Engineering corps of Indian Army.