In 1992, an important landmark in the history of the Indian Army was the induction of women into the officer cadre, and the onerous task of training them was undertaken by the Officers Training Academy through various women entries.
So far, more than 1200 Lady Cadets have already been commissioned into the various Arms and Services of the Indian Army. For women, it is compulsory for you to be a graduate to apply.
The various ways in which women can join the Indian Army after graduation can be classified into 3 categories: UPSC, Non-UPSC and Technical Entries.
- UPSC Entry/SSCW(NT): In UPSC entry, the women can join the army only through Short Service Commission Women (Non-Technical) Entry Scheme.
- Eligibility: Any unmarried graduate aged between 19-25 years is
- eligible to apply.
- Education and Examination: She has to clear the Combined Defence Services Examination which is held twice a year in July and November.
- SSB: Candidates who are successful in the examination are shortlisted for SSB to be held in June-July and November-December every year.
- Selection: 12 (Twelve) women are selected every six months for the beginning of training based on the merit list.
- Training: The training is of 49 weeks held at OTA Chennai beginning every April and October.
- Non-UPSC Entries: In Non-UPSC entries, there are two entries: NCC Special Entry and JAG Entry, both of which are Short Service Commission and for Women.
SSCW NCC (SPL) Entry Women:
- Eligibility: Any unmarried graduate aged between 19-25 years having an NCC ‘C’ certificate is eligible to apply.
- Education and Examination: There is no need to attend any CEE for this entry except for a minimum of 50% in graduation with a valid NCC ‘C’ certificate with minimum ‘B’ grade.
- SSB: Candidates are shortlisted for SSB to be held in June-July and December-January every year through respective directorates.
- Selection: Every six months, 4 (Four) women are selected from the merit list to undergo training at OTA Chennai.
- Training: The training is of 49 weeks held at OTA Chennai beginning every April and October.
SSCW Judge Advocate General:
- Eligibility: Any unmarried LLB graduate aged between 21-27 years is eligible to apply.
- Education and Examination: There is no need to attend any CEE for this entry except for a minimum of 55% in LLB.
- SSB: Candidates are shortlisted for SSB to be held in June-July and December-January every year through Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch.
- Selection: Every six months, 4 (Four) women are selected from the merit list to undergo training at OTA Chennai.
- Training: The training is of 49 weeks held at OTA Chennai beginning every April and October.
- SSCW(Tech): This is a technical entry for the women engineering graduates. Women with an engineering degree can join the army as Short Service Commission officers.
- Eligibility: Any unmarried engineering graduate aged between 20-27 years is eligible to apply.
- Education and Examination: There is no need to attend any CEE for this entry and minimum cut off varies as per latest notification.
- SSB: Candidates are shortlisted for SSB to be held in June-July and November-December every year.
- Selection: 20 (Twenty) women are selected every six months for the beginning of training based on the merit list.
- Training: The training is of 49 weeks held at OTA Chennai beginning every April and October.
Apart from the above mainstream entries, there are few other entries like Army Medical Corps, Army Education Corps and Military Nursing Service which inducts women on a direct entry basis depending on the availability and requirement. These entries are non-periodic. However, women are also commissioned into these corps once they complete their training through one of the above entries.
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