Careers in Indian Armed Forces

by Sudharsun L

When we see people in uniform, we see them with a lot of respect, we take pride when we have someone in our family who is/was part of armed forces. But most of us are not aware of the different ways through which we can join the services and the rewards it offers.

Let’s have a look at some entries that allows us to be part of this prestigious family.

After 12^th:

Entries	Details	Qualification
NDA (Written Exam + SSB)	Conducted by: UPSC Commission: Permanent Degree Offered: BA or Bsc (Only for male candidates)	10+2 – Indian Army 10+2(With Math and Physics)- Indian Army, Air Force and Navy
TES (Direct SSB)	Conducted by: Indian Army Commission: Permanent Degree Offered: BE (Only for male candidates)	10+2(PCM) – Indian Army (minimum aggregate of 70% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics)
10+2 B.Tech Cadet Entry (Direct SSB)	Conducted by: Indian Navy Commission: Permanent Degree Offered: BTech (Only for male candidates)	10+2(PCM)-Indian Navy (minimum aggregate of 70% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) and at least 50% marks in English either in class 10 or class 12

Cadets undergoing training in National Defence Academy, Pune, will be awarded bachelor’s degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University after the successful completion of three years course. Then, Army cadets are proceeded to Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, Naval cadets to Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala and Air Force cadets to the Air Force Academy at Hyderabad for one year of training, after which they are commissioned as Officers into respective services.

Cadets joining the Indian Army through Technical Entry Scheme will be undergoing a total of 5 years of training which includes one year of basic military training at Officer Training Academy, Gaya, and four years of technical training at CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad. After the successful completion of training, candidates are awarded the engineering degree and permanent commission in Indian Army Engineering Core to start as Lieutenant.

In 10+2 B.Tech Entry Candidates are shortlisted for SSB based on JEE main score and on successful clearing of SSB and medical they will be inducted for four years B. Tech Course in applied Electronics & Communication Engineering (for Executive Branch), Mechanical Engineering (for Engineering Branch including Naval Architect specialization) or Electronics & Communication Engineering (for Electrical Branch) as per Naval requirements at Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala, Kerala. On completion of the course, B. Tech Degree will be awarded by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

After Engineering:

Entries	Details (Commission / Gender Eligible)
CDS (Written Exam + SSB) Indian Army, Airforce and Navy	Permanent / Male and Female
TGC (Direct SSB) Indian Army	Permanent / Male
SSC Tech (Direct SSB) Indian Army	Short Service / Male and Female
UES (Direct SSB) Indian Navy	Short Service / Male
AFCAT (Written Exam + SSB) Indian Airforce	Short Service / Male and Female
INET (Written Exam + SSB) Indian Navy	Permanent or Short Service / Male and Female

After graduation, armed forces open you lots of opportunities which can be broadly segregated as technical and non-technical entries. Depending on the gender, type of entry, choice of service the training period, place of training, and type of commission varies.

Few technical entries allow candidates to join the forces after one year of training, while other entries usually have training for one and half years and also candidates get one-year ante date seniority from the date of commission in specific technical entries. Defence Aspirants are advised to go through the official advertisement of each entry to know more details about it.

Other than the above-mentioned entries there are a lot more opportunities like, JAG (For Law Candidates), NCC, SSC ATC, SSC Logistics which engineers and other graduates can check on the respective armed forces website.

Service Selection Board (SSB) conducts 5 days interview process where shortlisted candidates are checked for certain qualities which are termed as OLQ’s (Officer Like Qualities), after which medical tests will be conducted and then merit list will be published.

Indian armed force is the only career that will equip you with all the qualities (let it be communication, leadership, technical and what not…) which will allow you to have a much more healthy and empowered life.

Indian armed force is definitely a career you should think of pursuing if you believe you have it in you.

Jai Hind!

Links to refer about the entries available to join Indian Armed Forces: https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/types-of-commission.htm ; https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in/; https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/en/page/selection-procedure.html.