Here are some tips shared by Navaal Rai who is recommended for the Indian Military Academy, hope these tips will help the candidates looking forward to crack the SSB interview.
1) Be confident and bold – Pack your bags for 10 days and be prepared to stay back for medicals.
2) Calm and Composed – Your actions and speech must be delivered in a calm and composed manner. Do not speak too fast or perform an action without thinking. In GTO, especially in CT, confirm your plan of action and your next step before starting to place the helping materials.
3) Switch on/off – As soon as the task starts, switch on every faculty that you have and as soon as it ends sit back, relax and chill with your batchmates.
4) Psych – Improve English and writing speed. Try to do as many as possible but with good quality responses. Let your responses be the first thought that comes to you.
5) SD – Your SD must match with your other Psych tests and PIQ. If you say you’re into adventure activities in your PIQ, your SD should mention “adventurous” or something similar and your stories must have an element of adventure if the picture allows.
6) Confidence – Be super confident and calm during all tasks. Answer to the point in the interview and do not panic on sensitive topics or questions you don’t know the answer to. Be honest and forthright.
7) Relax – Do not dominate in the GD, if someone is being dominating, sit back and wait for a chance to put in your point. More than your knowledge, your group adaptibility is being observed. Have a discussion the way you have a normal discussion with your friends. Do not take it to be a test.
8) Have fun – The SSB and especially the GTO tasks are super fun to perform and you probably won’t get such a chance again. Focus but also enjoy the challenge of the tasks and move through the tasks with the entire group. Your entire group can get recommended if good enough!
9) Forget about the OLQs once you reach the SSB. Focus on giving your best in each and every task. The assessors are well trained and will spot the right personality without you having to “show OLQs”.
10) Be passionate. Watch videos that will motivate you while you prepare for the SSB. Always keep the josh high!
The third and fourth day is full of exciting physical activity for the candidates in any SSB. After taking their breakfast as early as 0600 hours the candidates are rushed to the GT grounds by the armed forces personnel responsible for their activities. The candidates are briefed by the Group Testing Officer about all outdoor activities. Group tests do not require specialized individual skills on your part as logical thinking and coordinated team efforts to receive and give suggestions are what is looked at by assessors. The battery of GTO tests consists of nine tests/ tasks.
GTO testing determines major conclusions and assessment about any candidate and that’s why they get excited as it involved group activities based on group dynamics and of course, adrenaline rush. GTO tasks are different than other two testing techniques as here the candidate will bring out his true self through a series of activities where he will be put to pressure with or without his group and also his reasoning and logical ability will be put on a test. The leadership qualities will show in confirmatory tasks and his practicality will be assessed.
You will be with your group for 2 days and even after the testing hours and that’s why it is necessary to maintain a good group dynamics to ensure cooperativeness. You should be able to positively influence your group members and look sharp in front of GT officer. It is necessary to remain active, agile yet firm in certain terms which will enhance your performance and will boost your confidence.
The rules of the obstacle series that are applicable in HGT, FGT, GOR, IO, and CT are some basic rules to follow and are given below which will help the candidates to eradicate mistakes and go through the tasks easily.
Rules of the Task 1. Rule Of Colour – The structures are painted in different colours viz Red, Yellow, and White.
• White – Both the person and helping material can use this structure. White structures can be used by both candidates as well as helping material.
• Yellow/Blue – The person can stand on this structure but he cannot place the helping material on the structure coloured yellow. Blue/Yellow structures can be touched by the candidates, but not by the material. (Make sure that while standing on the blue structure, you can hold the helping material, but you can’t touch the helping material with the coloured structure.)
• Red – Both the candidate and the helping material should not touch the obstacle. All structures painted in red are not to be touched by man as well as the material.
2. Out Of Bound Area – The areas in the PGT which should not be touched are called out of bound areas. These areas include the mud surfaces and the colour code mentioned above.
3. Rule Of Rigidity – This rule states that no two rigid helping material like a phatta and a balli can be tied together. Instead, the helping material can be tied with a structure such as a phatta with a rope or a balli with a rope. Ground tasks normally have phattas and ballis as rigid helping material. So according to the rule, 2 phattas, 2 Balli or a phata or a balli can’t be tied together. Rather, they can be put one on others or can tie them with the structure (keeping the colour rule in mind.)
4. Rule Of Infinity – The rule of infinity describes that the starting and finish lines are extended to the infinity on both the side. This rule prohibits the candidates to cross the obstacle ground from the side and reaching the finish line. You have to cross the obstacles and reach the finish line. The group cannot pass these lines.
5. Rule Of Group And Load– The entire group along with the last person, helping material and load must move ahead in unison at any point in time through the entire course of the obstacle. No men should be left behind is the basic motto of this statement. Group rule is the most important rule that candidates must follow while attempting ground tasks like PGT, HGT and FGT. Snake race also has its usage. The rule implies the unity of the group i.e. the entire group will cross the single obstacle together and once the group has cleared the obstacle, they can move to the next one. The rule is made to check some of the qualities of the candidates like unity, coordination with the group and whether the candidate is selfish or not.
6. Rule Of Distance – It states that no distance greater than four feet can be jumped. The gap more than four feet has to bridge using the helping materials to shorten the distance and the less distance can be jumped, of course. Just cross it by bridging the gap using helping material. Take a rough estimate of 4 feet and judge yourself. Don’t ask the GTO again and again about the distance.
Some other rules to follow while attempting the ground tasks are as follows: 1. The first rule that every SSB aspirant must know is to follow the rules stated by the assessors. Stick to the rule and follow them.. Rules must always revolve in your mind.
2. Don’t speak or act more and never stay calm all the time. Be an optimum speaker and give chance to other candidates in speaking and attempting ground tasks. Supporting others’ plan shows a cooperative nature. Help them in arranging the plan. If someone seems to be an introvert in GD, give them a chance to speak up their ideas or views.
3. Don’t try to steal glances at the assessors while doing any tasks in GTO. Concentrate on the task and don’t bother about what GTO is observing or writing. Many candidates try to see assessors while discussing or while performing the ground task. This shows a lack of focus and confidence and an attempt to impress GTO. Concentrate on your tasks and focus on new ideas and points to get the group to you.
4. Whenever you are briefed about the next task, listen to it carefully. Whether you are a fresher or repeater, listen to it and make a mind map of it. Sometimes the solution of the tasks is hidden in the instructions and following the instruction shows your discipline.
5. The group which you have got for GTO is your responsibility. While performing the ground task, make sure that the entire group moves in a parallel way. Moving individually is non-cooperative. Your ultimate aim must be to take the group to the other side by arranging and giving plans.
6. The group has candidates with various moods and behaviours, so it will be better to stay away from conflicts and differences. Cooperate and support everybody and keep the mind calm and cool. Maintain optimum group dynamics.
You can prepare for defence entrance exams such as NDA, AFCAT, INET, and CDS by taking Written Online courses as they will not only give you access to full-length quality lectures but will also provide the facility to take standardized mock tests for better study and strategic growth in the exam. You can take multiple quizzes after each lesson to ensure the full understanding of the subject along with creating your customized lesson plans. You can check out the course content along with other important specifics at SSBCrackExams.
You can also access them through the SSBCrackExams app available in the google play store. Jai Hind
As published by the official twitter handle on Home Quarantine in Bengaluru Urban Region, SSB interview candidates reporting at SSB Bangalore from 31 July 2020 are not required to do 14 days home quarantine. The official statement says “Candidates coming to attend SSB interviews at SSB, Bengaluru, are exempted from 14 days Home-Quarantine, subjected to the condition that they shall stay inside the SSB campus. Any violation will lead to Institutional quarantine.“
Indian Army has published the TES 43 merit list and candidates can download the joining instructions as per the order of the merit list. The merit list is based on the candidates who were recommended till 18 Mar 2020. According to the official statement “Part Merit List For TES-43 Course (Candidates Recommended Till 18 Mar 2020) Has Been Published On The Website Under Merit List. The Consolidated Merit List Including Candidates Recommended After 18 Mar 2020 (For Whom The SSBs Have Re-Commenced From 06 Jul 2020) Will Be Published Subsequently. Joining Letters For TES-43 Course As Per Part Merit List Have Been Uploaded On Candidate’s Profile And Email Id.”
Hello Warriors! I, Navaal, was recommended in my first attempt for CDS/IMA-149 from 11 SSB, Allahabad on the 5th of March, 2020. Coming from a 100% “Civvie” background meant that everyone around me thought that my wanting to join the Army was a phase. Of course, I was just waiting for my final semester of Engineering to go for the SSB and had been building up my fitness and knowledge continuously. This is not just the story of my recommendation. This is the beginning of your recommendation story.
The goal in my mind was singular and focused- Get recommended in the first attempt. First let’s debunk a common SSB myth. You don’t need outstanding achievements in sports, academics, extra curriculars to clear the SSB. What you do need is the right personality type. Sports and extra curriculars simply help shape this personality.
Everyone planning to attend the SSB must know the complete procedure inside out and SSBCrack has multiple resources on the same, so I won’t delve into that.
Clearing the first day of screening tests is a simple matter of basic intelligence, creativity and confidence. Practicing OIR tests beforehand will give you the confidence needed to complete all the questions in the alloted time with good accuracy. Use your creativity to make a sensible story for the picture given in the PPDTand confidently narrate the same to your group. Now you’ve been screened in with a few other candidates who have shown potential. The next day brings with it the battery of Psych Tests for which a lot of Do’s and Don’ts are available online but the only Do’s and Don’ts that you must adhere to are the ones given by the psychologist right before the test. I aimed to give my first response (or second incase the first one was extremely foolish or juvenile) to every question in the psych tests and tried to solve as many as possible. Go with a mindset to attempt as many as possible while maintaining decent responses. At the end of the tests, I had managed to do each and every question. Improve your writing speed and read books to enhance your creativity which is much needed in these tests. What I noticed was that if you have done adventure activities or participated in sports/extra curriculars, when an image or word is flashed to you , the memory of your activities will help you to write the most natural and best fit story/sentence possible. Thus, there’s no quick fix to psychology. You must develop that mindset over time through your experiences. At the end of the Psych tests, I realised that if one of my friends had been given all my answer sheets without knowing that I had attempted these, they would have been able to guess that they had been written by me. The four tests when attempted honestly will together create a personality type which represents you.
The GTO tasks are basic problem solving outdoor tasks along with a few tasks to check your communication skills and knowledge. In all group discussions make sure to remain calm and composed throughout. Give your best points and let others give theirs too without trying to dominate the conversation. Imagine you’re already an officer and are simply having a discussion with your coursemates! Understand the basics of the outdoor tasks and you’ll automatically generate ideas when an obstacle is placed before you. Always remember that these are group tasks and you will only be able to tackle the obstacles through teamwork and cooperation. Have the mindset that your entire group must be recommended because it is possible. It always helps to have a basic level of fitness for the GTO tasks. There’s no need to try and portray OLQs or any other leadership qualities. If you do your tasks well, your best qualities will automatically show. Let the academy develop your OLQs and leadership qualities, that’s what training is for! Lastly, enjoy the group tasks with your group members and tackle all the obstacles with utmost self confidence! My personal interview went on for 15 minutes in which questions were asked from my degree syllabus, current affairs, armed forces knowledge and personal questions. Prepare your PIQ well without any false information and know yourself inside out. That means knowing your strengths and your weaknesses. Can’t find any weakness/strengths in you? Ask your family and friends and they will provide a comprehensive list of both! Introspection is the key to improving upon yourself and developing the right personality.
Do not prepare for the SSB. Prepare for life. Develop your personality to be kind, compassionate and thoughtful. Develop your mind to be disciplined, resilient and calloused. If you have the opportunity, speak to serving/retired officers. Not to get some secret cheat codes to clear the SSB but to understand how officers think, speak and act and how you can inculcate the same in your life. Together, a fit body and mind can achieve great things. Don’t play any sports? Start running a few times a week and see the changes that come with it. Don’t have any hobbies? Start reading and notice your knowledge and awareness grow. Start small and keep going till you find greatness, howsoever you define it. We’re all waiting to read your recommendation story!
Finally, wherever you are and whatever you might be doing; Always find an excuse to win. Because it pays to be a winner!
Indian Army soldier Dev Bahadur made the supreme sacrifice in Ladakh. He accidentally stepped on to a landmine while patrolling last night. He was just 24 year old and belonged Gauri Kala village of Kichha in Udham Singh Nagar of Uttarakhand. He had joined the Gorkha Regiment of Indian Army in 2016.
Soldier Dev Bahadur, aged 24, made the supreme sacrifice along the LoC in Kargil. He accidentally stepped on to a landmine while patrolling last night. pic.twitter.com/cIW51j8wLf
“IN LIFE EITHER YOU WIN OR YOU LEARN”. HEY ASPIRANTS!! I’m Sanjeev an Air Force brat. I am recently recommend for NDA-144 from 19 SSB Allahabad in my 3rd attempt. It took me an entire year to earn the ‘+’ on my chest.
The journey began at 22 SSB Bhopal on 22/07/19 for TES where the reporting was 250+ and just 14 were screened in (including me). Later that day the documentation and filling up of PIQ was done. Next day was psychology being a fresher I was unable to cope up with the required speed and my psych test were not that good, the same day after an hour my interview was there which was horrible, can’t project the real me in front of Interviewing Officer however the next two days of GTO were too good but that alone were not sufficient and ended up facing the first failure (1st conference out of my life).
The second attempt 32 SSB Kapurthala on 26/02/20 for TES where reporting was 350+ and 35 screened in (including me). The main catch of screening is good performance in OIR TEST whose ebookwas purchased from SSBCRACK and for PPDT your fluent flawless narration is necessary. Same except screening everything went bad because of casual attitude that I displayed after getting screened in and the result conference out.
The third attempt at Rejection Center for NDA. Earlier the reporting was 19 March but due to CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK it was pushed to 09 July. The screening was smooth as only 33 reported and seeing this small figure I was confirmed of getting screened in. The OIR was exceptionally well and PPDT was good too. Next day psych, this time I explored my complete personality during lockdown and therefore performed to the mark in psychology. Interview happened the same day and I provided logic to every answer of mine perfectly. One GK question was put forward to me and I answered it so perfect that no other GK questions came again. Then day 3-4 GTO, being a physically fit guy I was an asset to the group gave ideas when group was blank which were innovative in nature and utilised all the available resources keenly. In individual obstacles I did all and repeated one, where I strictly adhered to GTO’s instructions. In lecturatte I spoke very well and in CT I worked more and spoke less about my plans.
Thereafter the D-DAY came conference began and when the number flashed I went in and was asked about my stay and feedback, here I was not even asked to be seated on the chair and this made me sure that I was terrible this time and it’s time to book tickets. I was sad and after an hour the Tech Officer came with the results. I was not excited and was not paying any attention to him, he went with the results 21, 1, 2…….13(that’s me, I completely ignored him…..he stared at me and shouted again….13), I stood up shouted my name, roll number (which I forgot initially). There after two more candidates and the results were over just 6 were recommended in a NDA batch. I called my mom with tears of glory in my eyes and said……”HAHAHAHA” and she replied “Well done”. Later I got to know from JCO sir that because of my zeal and confident performance I was not asked to sit.
At last I want to say that “YES, I HAVE IT IN ME”.
Lieutenant Akash Chaudhary, a young officer in the Indian army, resident of Muzaffarnagar, Alawalpur village in UP, lost his life while patrolling along the China border in Assam. During the patrolling at night, he slipped from the hill and fell into a deep ditch. The army initiated the rescue operation at night and found him, he was admitted in military hospital where he scummed to his injuries.
Lt Aakash Chaudhary was a young officer and he was commissioned in the Indian Army just an year ago. He cleared the CDS exam to join the Indian army and after his training at OTA Chennai, he was posted near India-China border in Assam.
SSBCrack published his SSB interview success story in 2018, you can read his story here
Finally Indian Navy INET has published the SSB Interview dates for the INET 2020 Officer Exam 08 Feb 2020 across the country and both male and female defence aspirants appeared for it. The result of INET 2020 officer exam was published on 19 March 2020. Due to COVID19 lock down in the country, the INET SSB Interview dates were delayed, but on 14th July 2020 many candidates who cleared the INET 2020 written exam were allotted with the SSB Interview date.
Note: Some INET candidates are not able to see their SSB dates, kindly contact the official website in case of any such query related to your INET SSB interview.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to grant any interim relief to a senior army officer, who has challenged the Indian Army’s recent policy banning armed forces personnel from using social networking platforms like Facebook and Instagram, saying he has to either abide by the mandate of the organisation or put in his papers. The high court said he has a choice to make and asked him to delete his Facebook account as the policy to ban the use of social networking platforms for army personnel was taken keeping in view the security of the nation.
It said he can create a new social media account later. A bench of Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Asha Menon said that when it has not even found a reason yet to entertain the plea, “the question of granting any interim relief does not arise. Especially when the matter has the potential of concerning the safety and security of the country,” the bench said. Lieutenant Colonel P K Choudhary contended that once deleted all the data, contacts and friends in his Facebook account would be “irretrievably lost” and the loss would be “irreversible”.
“No. No. Sorry. You please delete it. You can always create a new one. It cannot work like this. You are part of an organisation. You have to abide by its mandate,” the bench said. It further said, “If you are so dear to FB, then put in your papers. See you have to make a choice, what do you want to do. You have other choices which are also irreversible.”
The army officer had sought an interim relief that he be allowed to retain his Facebook (FB) account in deactivated form till the next date of hearing when the court will decide whether to entertain his petition after going through the Army’s policy under challenge. According to the new June 6 policy, all Indian Army personnel have been ordered to delete their accounts from Facebook and Instagram and 87 other applications.
The counsel for the army officer said the only choice he has is whether to face departmental action for not deleting the account. The officer’s lawyer repeatedly urged the bench to allow him to retain the account in deactivated form, saying forcing him to delete it and the data therein amounts to violation of his right to privacy. The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, told the court that the policy decision was taken as “we found that Facebook was a bug. It was infiltrating as a cyber warfare and there were so many instances of personnel being targeted”.
ASG Sharma also said the petitioner’s grievance was that he needs Facebook to communicate with his family in the US, when there were other modes of communication like WhatsApp, Twitter and Skype which were available to him. After hearing him for some time, the bench said it finds no ground to grant the interim relief. It asked the ASG to file the policy document in a sealed cover for perusal by the bench and said the reasons for taking the decision be also filed.
With the direction, the court listed the matter for hearing on July 21. The petition has sought a direction to the Director General of Military Intelligence to withdraw its June 6 policy to the extent that it orders all the members of the Indian Army to delete their accounts from Facebook and Instagram and 87 other applications.
Lt Col P K Choudhary, who is currently posted in Jammu and Kashmir, said in the plea that he is an active user of Facebook and uses the platform to connect with his friends and family as most of them are settled abroad, including his elder daughter. In the petition, the officer has sought a direction to the Ministry of Defence to withdraw the June 6 policy to ensure that the fundamental rights of armed forces personnel are not abrogated amended or modified by arbitrary executive action which is not backed by the mandate of law, offends the provisions of the Army Act and Rules made thereunder and is unconstitutional.
The petition has alleged that the policy which bans social media platforms is illegal, arbitrary, disproportionate, violates the fundamental rights of soldiers including but not limited to the freedom of speech and expression, the right to life and the right to privacy. It has said the authorities have cited security concerns and risk of data breach as the basis of imposing the restrictions contained in the policy regarding usage of social media platforms but the act of banning it is a clear violation of Article 14 (Equality before law) of the Constitution.
The plea also seeks a declaration that the Director General of Military Intelligence is not empowered under the Constitution or under any other law to modify, amend or abrogate the fundamental rights of the petitioner and other members of the armed forces. Besides, the Centre and Director General of Military Intelligence, the petition has also made Chief of the Army Staff, who is the professional head, commander and the highest-ranking military officer of the Indian Army, party to the petition.
