Have you seen Lakshya, Border, LOC or any other flick recently, so are you a new defence lover now, with a zeal of joining Indian armed forces, this post will help you to understand few very important and crucial stages related to ssb interview preparation. Preparation for Indian defence forces is somewhat different from other preparation. Lets talk more about it.
How to become an officer in Indian Defence:
- Step 1: Choose from various entries according to your age, gender and qualification.
- Step 2: Prepare for written test and clear it.
- Step 3: Prepare for SSB Interview [5 days] and get recommend (do coaching).
- Step 4: Prepare for Medical examination [ 6- 8 days, only for recommended candidates](be healthy).
- Step 5: Wait for all India merit list (do prayers).
- Step 6: Join the academy, if in merit.
Step-1: Various Defence Entries During Schooling and Graduation :
Your initial stage starts when you realize that you actually wanted to join Indian armed forces. When you start searching for the defence interviews and related preparation methods. Some of you might enter this stage in 11th or 12th standard on the other hand some may realize it in graduation or after graduation. Let’s see what are the option available for you to apply.
1. Entry in NDA: It stands for National Defence Academy, This is still the most common and the most preferred entry into the forces. The NDA is the most prestigious institution in the country. The officers commissioned from the NDA get the highest respect during and after the completion of course. NDA examination is conducted by UPSC twice every year. Age limit for this examination remains between 16 to 19 years, training happens for 3 years at NDA and then 1 year at IMA, Dehradun. Aspirants can get more details from www.upsc.gov.in.
Vacancies Per Course – 300 (195 Army, 66 Air Force, 39 Navy)
Age – 16 ½ to 19 yrs(at the day the course is expected to begin). Born Between 2nd Jan to 1st Jul for Dec Course and 2nd Jul to 1st Jan for Jul Course
Qualification – 12th Class of 10+2 for Army and with Physics and Maths for AF/Navy
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – Jan and Jul
Training Academy – NDA , Khadakwasla, Pune
Duration of Training – 3 Years at NDA and then 1 Year at IMA, Dehradun
Note: NDA graduated officers have a higher chances of getting promoted to higher ranks, and they are always treated with respect even if their rank is lower. It is said that the NDA graduate is the REAL army man, the rest are just men.
2. TES (For High School Science Graduates): It stands for Technical Entry Scheme, this entry is basically for school science stream students( maths, physics, chemistry). This can fetch you a direct call for SSB interviews, candidate with 70% aggregate is required to fill the TES forms and they get will shortlisted for SSB interview on the basis of their aggregate percentage in maths, physics and science. This entry is conducted by Army and Navy, both may have different cut off % but it mostly remains up to 80 -85 % in both. Age limit for this is same like NDA, training happens for 5 years (1year in OTA gaya & 4 years at CTWS).
Vacancies Per Course – 85
Form availability – Apr and Sep Notified by Additional Directorate General of Recruiting
Age – 16 ½ to 19 yrs ie. Born Between 1st Jul to 1st Jul for Jan Course and 1st Jan to 1 Jan for Jul Course
Qualification – 10+2 Physics, Chemistry & Maths (aggregate 70% and above to apply)
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – Jan and Jul
To get some idea on TES do check: TES Notification-Army and 10+2 Btech Entry Navy
Note: This entry is same like TGC and SSC which happens after graduation, but this is one is better option. Also the training for Navy Tech happens at Navy training base, both have different notification, criteria and procedures.
3. Indian Military Academy (For Graduates): This is an entry scheme for the graduates. Graduates from any background and stream can opt for it provided they have a degree and not a diploma. This is the preferred entry for students who had age problems and missed the NDA entry. This is also one of the easier ways to enter the forces as the training in IMA is only for one and half year. Candidates need to appear for the CDS exam, the selected candidates appear for the SSB followed by merit selection.
Vacancies Per Course – 250
Age – 19 to 24 years ie. Born Between 2nd Jan to 1st Jan for Jan Course. 2nd Jul to 1st Jul for Jul Course.
Qualification – Graduation from Recognized University.
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – Jan and Jul
Training Academy – IMA Dehradun
Duration of Training – 1½ Yrs
Form availability – Notified by UPSC under the aegis of CDSE.
4. CDSE: It stands for Combined Defence Services, conducted by UPSC twice every year. Any graduate can write this test to join Indian armed forces. This test is conducted for the recruitment in army, navy and airforce. There are four options you can select for viz. IMA, OTA, NA, AFA. these are four major defence training academies in Indian. Men can apply for all but women can only apply for OTA. Though their are certain eligibility criteria for each of them.
IMA: Indian Military Academy- Dheradun
OTA: Officer Training Academy- Chennai
NA: Naval Academy- Kerala
AFA: Air Force Academy- Hyderabad
Note: This is one of the top entries for graduates to join defence, in this entry there is a very less chance of getting merit out.
5. UES (For final year Engineer Students): It stands for University Entry Scheme, students doing their engineering can opt for UES in their third or fourth year. It is also a very lucrative entry scheme for candidates, but army may stop this entry in future and they are focusing more on TGC and SSC tech entries. Navy also conducts UES, they may differ in procedure with army.
Vacancies Per Course – 60
Form availability – Notified by Additional Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch in May
Age – 19 to 25 yrs for Final Year, 18 to 24 yrs for Pre Final Year ie. Born Between 2nd Jul to 1st Jul for Jul Course.
Qualification – Final and Pre Final year students of Engineering Degree Course
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – July
Training Academy– IMA
Duration of Training -1 year
6. TGC: It stands for Technical Graduate Course, this is the entry for graduate engineers who want to work in the technical units of the Army just like the TES candidates. Just like other entries, TGC entry is also open twice a year. There is not written test for this at present but direct interview and candidates gets shortlisted based on their aggregate marks in engineering.
Vacancies Per Course – Depends, usually 50
Form availability – Notified by Additional Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch in Apr and Oct
Age – 20 to 27 years ie. Born Between 2nd Jan to 1st Jan for Jan Course. 2nd Jul to 1st Jul for Jul Course
Qualification – BE / B Tech in notified streams of Engineers
Marital Status – Unmarried / Married
Date Commencement of Training – Jan and Jul
Training Academy – IMA
Duration of Training – One Year
7. Short Service Commission (For graduates who want to serve for 10 to 14 years): This entry is same like TGC entry with some differences, its a short service commission entry and both men and women can apply for it.
There are several types of entries in SSC. They are:
- SSC Technical for Men
- SSC Non Technical for Men
- SSC Technical for Women
- -SSC Non Technical for Women
8. AFCAT: It stands for Air force common admission test, which is conducted by IAF personally twice every year for flying, technical and GDOC entries. Both men and women graduates in any field can apply for it. Airmen can also apply for AFCAT from respective channel.
Qualification– Graduation / Post Graduation from Recognized University.
Notification Time: Dec and July
AFCAT Written: Feb and August
9. Navy Direct Entries: Navy also do recruitment directly for entries like Pilot/Observer, Logistics, General, Electrical branch and etc. One who meets the criteria can directly apply for these entries and attend ssb interviews if shortlisted. However navy keep a strong cut off marks for direct entries.
All such entries can be tracked by candidates from Navy official career website nausena-bharti.nic.in
10. NCC Entry (For NCC Cadets): NCC cadets also have a special entry scheme for them. Both men and women can join the forces through NCC.
Requirements for Men:
Vacancies Per Course – 50
Form availability – Notified by Additional Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch in Apr / Oct
Age – 19 to 25 yrs ie. Born Between 2nd Jan to 1st Jan for Apr Course. 2nd Jul to 1st Jul for Oct Course.
Qualification – Graduate in any field with 50% Aggregate marks, 2 Yrs service in NCC Senior Div Army with minimum ‘B’ Grade in ‘C’ Certificate Exam.
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – Apr and Oct
Training Academy – OTA, Chennai
Duration of Training – 49 Weeks
Requirements for Women:
Vacancies Per Course – Depends
Form availability – Notified by Additional Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch in Apr / Oct
Age – 19 to 25 yrs ie. Born Between 2nd Jan to 1st Jan for Apr Course. 2nd Jul to 1st Jul for Oct Course.
Qualification – Graduate in any field with 50% Aggregate marks, 2 Yrs service in NCC Senior Div Army with minimum ‘B’ Grade in ‘C’ Certificate Exam.
Marital Status – Unmarried
Date Commencement of Training – Apr and Oct
Training Academy – OTA, Chennai
11. JAG Entry[Judge Advocate General ]: Lawyers too are welcome to join the forces. Their job is to fight cases for and against officers and jawans who face a court of inquiry Army has its own courts and its own lawyers.
Vacancies Per Course – Depends
Form availability – Notified by Additional Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch
Age – 21 to 27 yrs ie. Born Between 2nd Oct to 1st Oct for Oct Course. 2nd Apr to 1st Apr for Apr Course
Qualification – Graduate with LLB / LLM with 55% marks. Registered with Bar Council of India / State
Marital Status – Un Married / Married
Date Commencement of Training – Apr and Oct
Training Academy – OTA
Duration of Training – 49 Weeks
Also Check: 5 days process of ssb interview
So friends these are various entries from where you can choose what you want to be in defence. That is our Step-1, luckily we all have many options to join Indian defence forces. Soon the part-2 will come, in which we will talk more about which all entries have written tests and how can we prepare to pass them.
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