Indian Army Officer : Recruitment
Recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Armed Forces is mainly through
the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under Permanent Commission.
For Technical Branches, Women special entry scheme and NCC special entry
scheme and service, recruitment is made directly through the respective
Recruiting Directorates for the Army under Short Service Commission.
The permanent commission provides opportunities for men with 10+2 /Intermediate,
graduates and engineering graduates as officers.
10+2 (Through NDA)
One has to take an entry level exam conducted by Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC) to join NDA (National Defence Academy). This exam is
conducted twice a year in all major cities throughout India. It is restricted
to boys between the ages of 16 1/2 and 19. The months of commencement
of the course each year is January and July. Applications are to be sent
in response to the advertisement which will be published in leading newspapers
during March /April. NDA exam conducted by UPSC is based on the CBSE syllabus.
Those who clear the written exam go through a five-day interview process
with the State Selection Board. On completion of the NDA course, candidates
are sent to the respective service academies for their pre- commission
training. The IMA (Indian Military Academy) trains Gentlemen Cadets (GCs)
for commission into the Army.
More details of NDA exam
Graduates (Direct Entry)
The UPSC holds an all-India competitive examination, known as the Combined
Defence Services Examination (CDSE), twice a year for University graduates
or equivalent. Successful candidates can join Indian Military Academy
for their pre- commission training after the interview conducted by the
Service Selection Board and if finally selected, depending on their merit
list ranking, are sent to Indian Military Academy. Candidate should
be in the age of 19-24. The course commences each year in the month of
January and July. Interested candidates can apply in response to advertisement
in March /April & Oct. Nov. To know the eligibility, selection,
application and Syllabus of the CDSE exam in detail, Click
here
Engineering Graduates (Direct Entry)
An Engineering graduate can join the Indian Military Academy directly.
They only need to attend the Service Selection Board interview. Age at
the time of joining should be between 20-27 years. The course commences
every year in the month of January and July. One can apply directly to
Addl. Directorate General of Recruiting (TGC), Army HQ, West Block
III, RK Puram, New Delhi -110066 in response to advertisement published
in March/April & Oct./Nov.
University Entry Scheme
Students who are in final and pre-final years of engineering degree course
can also apply to Indian army as an officer. They are eligible for induction
into technical branches/services of the army as commissioned officers
under the University Entry Scheme. Age should be between 19-25 years for
final year engineering students and 18-24 for pre-final year engineering
students. Month of commencement of course in each year is July. Selection
is Based on campus interview and Service Selection Board (SSB) interview.
Applications should be sent in response to the advertisement published
in July.
10+2 PCM (Tech)
There is an another option for 10+2 PCM (Tech) candidates through which
one can enter directly to Indian Military Academy. Age limit falls between
161/2-191/2 years.
Month of commencement of course in each year is January and July. One
has to apply directly to the Recruitment Directorate in May and November.
Other recruitments
Government has approved the creation of a 6,000 strong Support Cadre
of Special Commissioned Officers. These posts will be filled up by eligible
Junior Commisioned Officers (JCO) and OR. Under this entry, serving JCOS/NCOs/OR
in age group of 30-35 years, with an Army Senior School Certificate Pass
(Class XI CBSE Pattern) Qualification, will be eligible for commission
after screening /selection through Service Selection Board and Medical
Board. They will undergo a pre-commission training of one year duration.
The officers so commissioned will earn promotion up to the rank of Colonel.
The rules for substantive promotion and acting promotion will be the same
as for regular officers. These officers will be employed in units as sub
unit Cadres/ QM JOb/ERE appointment etc. up to the rank of Major. They
will retire at the age of 57 years after serving about 20-25 years as
officers.
Medical graduates from the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune are directly
inducted as permanent Commissioned Medical officers in the Armed Forces.
For recruitment of Regular Commissioned /Short Service Commissioned Medical
Officers from the graduates /Post graduates of Civil Medical Colleges,
the Director General of the Armed forces Medical services conducts an
all India competitive exam.
Indian army has an alternative career, called short service commission
which gives an option of joining in the Indian Army and serving as a Commissioned
officer for 5 years. The short-service commission is for those who
are not certain about committing to a permanent position in the forces.
At the end of the period, you are allowed to opt for a permanent commission.
Alternatively you can also choose for another 5 years and also can choose
to resign from your post at any time during this period. The short-service
commission is also open to women.
Officers Training Academy
Short Service Commission facilitates recruitment of qualified technical
graduates through the SSBs, to attend the Officers training Academy (OTA),
Chennai, after medical tests, for a ten month course. Candidate should
be in the age group of 19-24. The course commences each year in the month
of May and Oct/Nov. Interested candidates should apply in response to
advertisement published in March /April and Oct. /Nov. On completion
of training, the successful candidates are inducted as Short Service Commissioned
Officers in the technical branches of the army.
Women's Special Entry Scheme
Women recruits are usually taken into the support services, with a large
number serving as medical officers and nurses. The WSES for officers offers
non-technical, technical and specialist entry for unmarried females or
issueless widow or divorcee candidates not below 19 years and above 27
years and having B A, B Com, BCA, B Sc in physics, chemistry and maths
with a minimum aggregate of 60 per cent and above marks. Moreover, students
with 50 per cent marks and holders of NCC `C' certificates with `B' or
higher grade can also apply in this category.
For Technical Entry BE, B Tech or equivalent or a higher
qualification in civil or electrical or mechanical or electronics engineering,
computer science, telecommunications engineering and architecture is needed.
Specialist entry is for those with 50 per cent marks in:
* Graduate B Sc with a minimum one-year diploma in computer
science
* Graduate with a minimum one-year diploma in communication or journalism
or public relations or psychology
* B E in remote sensing
* P G degree in earth science/ computer science/ English/ geography/ maths/
physics/ computer applications/ botany/ zoology/ biochemistry/ organic
chemistry or statistics
Month of commencement of course in each year is March and
September. Selection is based on written exam and SSB Interview
and medical examination. Candidates should apply directly in response
to advertisement in June/December. Women officers receive training at
Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
In women special entry scheme, the initial contractual period
is five years but in case any candidate is found unfit or unsuitable within
first six months, her commission can be terminated any time before the
expiry of the five year period. The scheme further provides that all the
lady Officers granted commission under this scheme would serve the Indian
Army for a period of five years from the date of grant of Commission subject
to fulfillment of other conditions. In addition, the lady officers carry
reserve liability to serve the Indian Army for a period of five years
plus two years on voluntary basis, or upto 37 years of age, whichever
is earlier. It means that after their release, the lady Officers remain
on reserve for five years and can be recalled for duty during this period
in case of emergencies. This period could be extended by two more years
if the Officer so desires or upto 37 years of age, whichever is earlier.
WSES(O), however, does not have any provision for permanent commission,
although this matter is said to be under consideration of the Government
of India. Lady Officers in the two entries other than WSES(O), like AMC,
ADC, etc, however, have the provision for permanent commission.
The advertisement for recruitment of lady Officers under
the WSES(O) appears from time to time as per requirement, normally twice
every year in most of the national and important regional newspapers.
The candidates are required to apply to the Additional Directorate General
of Recruiting (Women Entry Section), West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110066.
Short-listing of eligible candidates is done at the Additional Directorate
level and the short-listed candidates are then required to appear before
the Service Selection Board (SSB). The selected candidates are then required
to undergo a medical examination which is usually done by a special Medical
Board at the nearest Military Hospital. The broad indications of medical
standards are that the height and weight should not be less than 36 kgs
and 142 cms respectively for women candidates. Corrected distance vision
should be at least 6/6 for better eye and 6/18 for the worse eye and Myopia
of not more than minus 5.5 D including
NCC Special Entry Scheme
Unmarried male graduates from a recognised university with a total of
50 per cent marks and above and between 19 and 25 years of age who have
obtained a minimum of `B' Grade in NCC `C' Certificate may apply for Short
Service Commission. These graduates are exempted from appearing in the
CDSE conducted by the UPSC and are selected through the Service Selection
Boards in Allahabad, Bhopal and Bangalore. The course commences in May
each year. Candidate should be in 19-25 years. Apply directly and
the initial short listing of applications will be done at Additional directorate
General recruiting, Army Headquarters. Candidates short listed will be
called for SSB interview by Additional directorate General of Recruiting.
Candidates recommended by the Service Selection Board will undergo medical
examination by a board of service medical Board.
Short Service Commission Technical
Short Service commission (Technical) giving opportunities to unmarried
Male engineering graduates. Educational qualification of the candidate
should be a degree in Engineering or equivalent degree from a recognised
University in Civil /Electrical/ Mechanical/ Tele- Communication/ Electrical
& Electronics/ Computer Science/ Engineering/ Technology/ Architect/
Industrial/ Production (c). Candidates who are yet to pass the Technical
Degree examination can also apply but they will be required to submit
proof of passing the Degree/Provisional Degree certificate to Recruiting
Directorate (TGC Entry), West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi-110 066.
Age limit is 20-27 years.
The selection process includes initial screening and the short-listing
of applicants will be done at the Recruiting Directorate of the Army headquarters.
Those short-listed will be required to appear before the Service Selection
Board (SSB) where they will have to undergo group test, psychological
test and interview. Candidates who qualify at the SSB and are found medically
fit by a Medical Board will be placed in the order of merit. The final
selection will be made in that order up to the number of vacancies available
at that time. Selected candidates for Short Service Commission (Technical)
will be sent to the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai. The training
last for 49 weeks at government expense.
Officers will be required to serve for five years and may be considered
for grant of permanent commission thereafter as per existing rules.
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