Ways to become Indian Army Officer

Hey guys,
 today I will show you how you can join Indian Army as an Officer.

    1. The National Defence Academy (NDA)

You can appear for the NDA exam while you are pursuing class XII or either you have completed your class XII.

Through this exam you have a choice of optiong Army, Navy, Airforce and Naval Academy.After clearing exam you will have to appear for Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. It is a five day interview which tests candidate's aptitude, reasoning, OLQ's (Officer Like Qualities) and other qualities.

Eligibility Criteria

 Nationality:

• The appearing candidate must be a citizen of India, Nepal or Bhutan.
• A Tibetan refugee came to India before 01 January 1963 with a mindset to become a permanent resident of India are also eligible.
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, SriLanka, Pakistan & East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India are also eligible to apply.

Candidates other than the citizen of India and Gorkha subjects of Nepal have required a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.

Age Limits, Gender & Marital Status:

• Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for NDA examination. Girls are not allowed for the NDA entrance examination.
• Age limit: 16 1/2 to 19 1/2.

Qualification Criteria:

The minimum qualification required for Indian Army wing, Navy and Air Force is as follows:

Eligibility for Indian Army:

• The candidates want to apply for Indian Army must have completed 12th (10+2 pattern) or its equivalent exam from a well-recognized board.
• The 12 class appearing candidates can also apply.

Eligibility for Indian Navy and Air Force:

• Those seeking for Indian Navy and Air Force must have passed their 12^th/appearing (10+2 pattern) from a recognized board or University with Physics and Mathematics as a compulsory subject.

Physical Standards:

• Candidates must be physically & mentally fit as per the physical standards maintained by the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2019.
• A candidate who has resigned or withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from any of the training academies of Armed Forces is not eligible to apply.

The detailed physical standards are mentioned here:

Candidates are required rectify minor defects/ailments in order
to speed up finalization of a medical examination conducted at the Military Hospital after being recommended at the SSB. Few of such commonly found defects/ailments are listed below:

• Wax (Ears).
• Deviated Nasal Septum.
• Hydrocele/Phimosis.
• Overweight/Underweight.
• Under Sized Chest.
• Piles.
• Tonsillitis.
• Gynaecomastia.
• Varicocele.

Body Tattoos:

• Permanent body tattoos are accepted only on the inner face of a forearm. Tattoos on the inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/back (dorsal) side of hand/Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable.
• Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing custom and traditions will be permitted on a case by case basis.
• Comdt Selection Centre will be competent authority for clearing such cases.

Height Standards:

• The minimum height measurement is 157 cms (162.5 cms. for Air Force).
• For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of North-Eastern areas of India, Garhwal, and Kumaon, the minimum heights will be 5 cms. less.
• In case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum height can be reduced by 2 cms.

 2.Combined Defence Service Examination (CDSE)

You can take the CDS Entrance Exam conducted by UPSC while you are in final year of Graduation / possess any Graduate Degree. Clear the SSB interview, be medically fit and join IMA as a Direct Entry subject to meeting all eligibility conditions and availability of vacancies. For details of exam dates / Notification visit UPSC website upsc.nic.in

Candidates finally selected will undergo Military Training for a period of 18 Months at IMA. Candidates will be enrolled under the Army Act as Gentlemen Cadets. On successful completion of training gentlemen cadets are granted permanent commission in the rank of Lt subject to being medically fit in SHAPE – I. The final allocation of Arms/Services will be made prior to passing out of Gentlemen Cadets from IMA.

The other entries are Non UPSC entries and there is no written exam for them. You are directly called for SSB interview and details are as under:

 3.University Entry Scheme (Pre Final Year Students Only)

This entry is for those of you who wish to apply for Army in Pre-Final Year of Engineering. Look out for the advertisement published in leading newspapers/employment news in May every year.

Selected candidates for UES Course will be detailed for training at Indian Military Academy, Dehradun according to their position in the final order of merit, discipline wise upto the number of vacancies available at that time. Duration of training is one year. Selected candidates will be granted Short Service Commission or probation in the rank of Lieutenant (Lt.). from the date of their final selection in the case of final year students and from the date of their joining the final year class in the case of pre-final year students. The commission will be effective upto the date of completion of their pre-commission training at the Indian Military Academy.

Candidates during the period of probation will be given stipend at the rate of minimum basic pay of Lieutenant. However the entire stipend will be paid in lump sum only on reporting for training at IMA. From the date of joining IMA they will be entitled to full pay and allowances and other benefits as admissible to regular officers. Engineering graduates who possess the prescribed qualification will be granted one year ante-date for purpose of seniority, promotion and increments of pay.

 4.Technical Graduate Course

Those who are studying in final year/ have completed BE/B Tech in notified streams can also join IMA through Technical Graduate Course.Selected candidates will be granted Short Service Commission on probation in the rank of Lieutenant from the date of commencement of the course or the date of reporting at IMA, whichever is later and will be entitled to full pay and allowances admissible to Lt during training period. Pay & allowances will be paid after successful completion of training.

 5.AEC (Men)

Candidates who have passed Post Graduate Degree MA/M.Sc in subjects as per Notification /M.Com/MCA/MBA with 1st or 2nd Division are only eligible. Final Year appearing/Result awaiting students are not eligible. For details of Notification visit Recruiting Directorate Website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in

Selected candidates will be granted Short Service Commission on probation in the rank of Lieutenant from the date of commencement of the course or the date of reporting at IMA, whichever is later and will be entitled to full pay and allowances admissible to Lieutenant during training period. Pay & allowances will be paid after successful completion of training.

 6. 10+2 (TES) Entry

You can apply after passing your 12th Exams. Minimum aggregate of 70% is mandatory in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. You will be detailed for SSB interview based on the cut off as decided by Recruiting Directorate. 

Duration of training for TES Entry is 5 years and details are as under:

• Basic Military Training: 1 year (Officer Training Academy Gaya).
• Technical Training: Technical Training will be conducted in two phases:Phase-I: Pre Commission Training for 3 Years at any of the three CTWs (Cadet Training Wings i.e. CME Pune, MCTE Mhow and MCEME Secunderabad).Phase-II: Post Commission Training for 1 year at CME Pune, MCTE Mhow and MCEME Secunderabad. The candidates will be awarded Engineering degree after successful completion of training.

The candidates will be given a stipend of Rs. 21,000/- p.m. (Rs 15,600/- as pay in Pay Band plus Grade Pay of Rs. 5,400/-) as is admissible to NDA cadets on completion of 3 years training. On completion of 4 Years training they will be commissioned in the rank of Lieutenant and entitled to pay as admissible to the rank.

I suggest you to please register yourself at joinindianarmy.nic.in