Join India Army on following ranks:

• Officers Rank
• Other Rank
• CDS
• NDA

Officer in the Indian Army

As an officer in the Indian Army, you will be heir to a glorious heritage. Blended perfectly with the latest in hi-technology, training techniques and strategic doctrines. You will be part of one of the world's finest Armies. Trained not just to be an officer, but a SOLDIER'S SOLDIER.

You are a Special Person

Every year, thousands apply to become officers. Only a handful get through. You could be one of the chosen few. Do you have it in you? The time has come. To tighten your belt. To brace yourself for the road ahead. To choose the right path. The path that will decide where your life goes from here. Are you ready for the decision that will change your life forever? The Indian Army is looking for a few good men & women. A few of the best and the brightest. A few with fire in their belly. A few with intellect, idealism and courage. If you have it in you, we’re looking for you.

We build Men and Women of Character

An Indian Army Officer is the hallmark of what every human being aspires to be….. a pillar of strength and courage, whose mettle has been put through the acid test time and again. A career in the Army. It will teach you to face the toughest of situations in life with panache you have never known before. It will help you become a multidimensional personality who will be a force to reckon with. Interested? UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES While the Indian Army trains you in the art of war the curriculum consists of academic subjects too. Besides it also gives you ample scope to acquire new skills constantly. You can participate in activities like river rafting, para jumping, rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering or even desert safaris. When it comes to adventure and sports, there’s no place like the army.

Unparalleled Education

The Indian Army is a place where you’ll never stop learning. Nowhere else can you get such phenomenal opportunities to constantly hone and upgrade your skills. NDA awards you a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Science or Computer Science on completion of your training. If you join the technical stream, you will be offered a Graduate and Post Graduate degree in Engineering from one of the finest institutes of technology in the country. If you are selected for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College course. You’ll be awarded a Master of Science degree in Defence and Strategic Studies. The Indian Army also runs some of the country’s most prestigious academies and institutes. This covers a wide range of subjects from engineering to medicine, administration to strategy, and armament technology to management. The choice is indeed limitless. In fact, you can even get into Research & Development, if you desire. That’s not all. You can also take a study leave amidst your tenure for an added educational qualification.

Unmatched Lifestyle

As an Indian Army Officer at 21, you’d be looking at a lifestyle that one cannot imagine in any other profession, so early in life. For all those of you who want to take the plunge, here’s how you can get into the Indian Army. You have several options. You can join right after school or after graduating. Read on to find out more.

PERMANENT COMMISSION
A Permanent Commission means a career in the Army till you retire. For a Permanent Commission you have to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA)).

How to enter?

SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION

The Indian Army has a wonderful alternative career for all those of you who aspire to serve it for a few years. It is called Short Service Commission. It gives you the option of joining the Indian Army and serving it as a Commissioned Officer for 5 years.

Once your tenure is over, you are allowed to opt for a Permanent Commission. Alternatively, you can also choose for a 5 year extension and can choose to resign from your post any time during this period. With a Short Service Commission you will have the best of both worlds. Even as it gives you the privileges and benefits of a full-fledged commission, you will be imbibing qualities that will make you an invaluable asset to any organisation that you join after the army - Analytical thinking skills - Planning ability - Administrative powers - Organisational talent, the works at the end of the day, it will train you to become a good leader and a successful manager

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Other Rank

Indian Army : A Unique and Dignified Career

Recruitment in Army for Other Ranks is broad based. Every male citizen, irrespective of caste, class, religion and domicile, is eligible for recruitment in the Army, provided the person meets the laid down age, educational, physical and medical standards.

For a career in other Ranks, what you need to do is:

Visit the nearest Branch Recruiting Offices (BRO) HQ Recruiting Zones and find out dates of recruitment rallies. These are also published in all local news papers.

You must carry a certified copy of your educational qualification certificate and six copies of your recent passport size photographs alongwith all original certificates on the day of the rally. Details of documents required should be ascertained from the BRO/ZRO office.

Children of servicemen, ex-servicemen and war widows can also report directly to the nearest Training Centre on the day of screening alongwith required documents in original. They will however be screened only if they fulfill laid down standards for recruitment.

Screening is mandatory before enrollment.

Recruitment Locations

Eligibility

~ CATEGORIES OF ENTRY AND THEIR ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS ~

Soldier Tradesman

Havildar Education

Religious Teacher

Note : Dispensation in Education for enrollment as Sol (GD) is permissible to some selected States/Region/Class & Communities by the Govt. Details may be obtained from nearest BRO/ZRO

Physical Standards

The Minimum physical standards have been laid down region wise and are as follows :-

Special Physical Standards

Note: Soldier Tradesmen - Normal Physical Stadards given above minus 2 CMS in height, 1 cm in Chest and 2 Kgs in Weight.

The following are eligible for relaxations in physical standards

Physical Fitness Tests (PFT)

To determine the Physical Fitness, the following tests carrying 100 marks are held :-

(a) 1 Mile Run
(b) Pull Ups
(c) Balance
(d) 9 Feet Ditch

Marking system is as follows :-

(a) 1 MILE RUN

(i) 5.40 Mins and below - 60 Mks
(ii) 5.41 Mins to 5.50 - 48 Mks
(iii) 5.51 Mins to 6.00 - 36 Mks
(iv) 6.01 Mins to 6.20 - 24 Mks

(b) PULL UPS

(i) 10 and above - 40 Mks
(ii) 9 - 32 Mks
(iii) 8 - 28 Mks
(iv) 7 - 21 Mks
(v) 6 - 16 Mks

(c) BALANCE & 9 FEET DITCH

These are qualifying tests hence no marks are awarded.

Written Examination

Common Entrance Examination (CEE) is conduct on last Sundays of each month for recruitment of Soldiers. It comprises of following two papers :

(a) Paper-I - Compulsory for all soldier categories
(b) Paper-II - For Sol. Technical, Sol. ClK (GD/SKT) and Sol. Nursing Assistant.

PAPER-I

It generally comprises of questions on IQ/Numerical ability general knowledge and current affairs. Duration of papers is 60 minutes. Total marks 100 Pass Marks 32.

PAPER-II

Paper II (Sol Tech) - 50 marks. It generally comprises of Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Duration - 30minutes, Pass marks-16.

Paper-II (Sol ClK/SKT) - 50 marks. It generally comprises of Maths & English (Language Proficiency) Duration - 30 minutes, Pass Marks-16.

Paper-II (Sol Nursing Assistant) - 50 marks. It generally comprises of Chemistry, Botany & Biology, Duration - 30 minutes, Pass marks-16.

Note : In addition to paper I, a Sol Tech, Sol Clk/SKT and Sol Nursing Assistant has to qualify in his respective paper NCC "C" Certificate holders seeking enrollment for Sol (GD) are exempted from appearing in written examination but have to fulfill other laid down criteria.

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NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY (NDA), KHADAKVASLA, PUNE

Date of Examination : The examination conducted by UPSC is held twice a year in the months of April and September for which the notification is published in the Employment News in November and April respectively.

Eligibility :

1. Army Wing of National Defence Academy : 12th Class pass of the 10 +2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.
2. For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy : 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent with Physics and Mathematics conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

Pattern of Examination :

You will appear for two papers comprising Mathematics and General Ability of 300 and 600 marks respectively. Both papers have objective type multiple choice questions. The duration for each paper is 2-1/2 hours.

The Mathematics paper consists of Arithmetic, Mensuration, Algebra, Geometry, Trignometry and Statistics. The General Ability paper is divided into two parts :

• Part A : English Usage (Maximum Marks 200)
• Part B : General Knowledge (Maximum Marks 400)

The General Knowledge paper broadly covers Physics, Chemistry, General Science, Social Studies, Geography and Current Events.

Interview : (900 marks)

In addition to the interview, candidates are given the following tests :

• Intelligence Test (verbal and non-verbal)
• Group Tests (group discussions, group planning, out-door group tasks)
• Brief lectures on specified subjects.

All these tests are intended to judge the mental calibre of the candidate.

The selected candidates are trained at the NDA for 3 years. After completion of training they are awarded a Bachelor\'s degree by the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Training

The selected candidates for the three services, viz., Army, Navy and Air Force are given preliminary training both academic and physical for a period of 3 years at the National Defence Academy which is an Inter-Service Institution. The training during the first two and a half years is common to the cadets of three wings. On passing out from the National Defence Academy, Army cadets go to the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, Naval Cadets to the Cadets Trainingship and Air Force cadets to AFA, Hyderabad/BFTS, Allahabad.

The Indian Military College (RIMC) prepares students for NDA.

• The candidates should not be less than 12 years of age but must not have attained the age of 13 years on 1st January (for terms commencing on 20th January) and 1st July (for terms commencing on 1st August).
• The candidates should have passed class 7th from a recognised school at the time of admission into RIMC.

For the prospectus and question papers for admission to RIMC you may contact the Administrative Officer at the following address :

The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) Dehradun Cantt. 248003, U.P.

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COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION (C.D.S.)

This examination is conducted by UPSC twice a year in May and October for which the notification is published in the \'Employment News\' in November and April respectively.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

Educational Qualification

1. For IMA and Officers\' Training Academy : Degree of a recognised University or equivalent
2. For Naval Academy : B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics
3. For Airforce Academy : Degree of a recognised University or equivalent with Physics and/or Maths as subjects. Candidates who have passed their degree examination with subjects other than Physics and/or Maths are also eligible provided they have passed their Higher Secondary Examination or 12th standard examination under the 10+2 system or an equivalent examination with Mathematics and Physics, as subjects of the examination.

Age :

• IMA : Unmarried male candidates. 18 years to 23 years
• Naval Academy : Unmarried male candidates. 18 years to 21 years.
• Airforce Academy : Unmarried male candidates. 18 years to 22 years
• Officers\' Training : Male candidates (married or Academy bachelor). 18 years to 24 years

Pattern Of Examination :

The competitive examination comprises :

a) A written examination
b) An interview

Written Examination :

I. For admission to Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy :

II. For admission to Officers Training Academy :

Following the written examination selected candidates are called for an interview. In addition to the Interview candidates are also given the following tests :

• Intelligence Test (verbal and non-verbal)
• Group Tests (group discussions, group planning, out-door group tasks)
• Brief lectures on specified subjects.

All these tests are intended to judge the mental calibre of the candidate. In broad terms this is really an assessment for not only one\'s intellectual qualities but also one\'s social traits and interests in current affairs.

CAREER PROSPECTS IN THE ARMED FORCES

Training and Promotion Avenues

Following your selection in one of the three services viz. Army, Navy and Airforce (through the NDA entrance examination), you are given preliminary training, both academic and physical, for a period of three years at the National Defence Academy (NDA) which is an inter-service Institution. The training during the first two and a half years is common to the cadets of the three wings.

On passing out from the National Defence Academy, Army cadets go to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Naval Cadets to the Cadets Trainingship and Air Force cadets to AFA, Hyderabad / BFTS, Allahabad. Here they are joined by those who have been selected through the Combined Defence Service (CDS) examination.

At the IMA, Army Cadets are known as Gentleman Cadets and are given strenuous military training for a period of one year aimed at turning out officers capable of leading infantry sub-units. On successful completion of their training, Gentleman Cadets are granted a Permanent Commission in the rank of 2nd Lieutenants subject to being medically fit.

The Naval Cadets are selected for the Executive, Engineering and Electrical branches of the Navy, on passing out from the National Defence Academy and are given sea training on the Cadet Trainingship for a period of six months on successful completion of which they are promoted to the rank of Midshipmen. After a further training of six months in the respective branches to which they are allocated they are promoted to the rank of acting Sub-Lieutenants.

Air Force Cadets receive flying training for a period of 1 - 1 1/2 years. However, at the end of one year of training they are given provisional commission in the rank of Pilot Officer. After successful completion of further training of six months they are absorbed as permanent commissioned officers on probation for a period of one year.

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