Want to Join Indian Army? Check (Eligibility – Age, Qualification, Selection Procedure etc.)

How to Join Indian Army?

If you are aspired to earn the honor of wearing a soldier’s uniform and if you have been dreaming of serving the country Indian Army is the best option in front of you.

Through this article, I am bringing you all the details you need to know about how to join Indian Army.

There are two ways to join Indian Army:

• Specific Entrance exam
• Direct entry through recruitment rallies.

How to Join Indian Army after 10^th?

A candidate securing an aggregate mark of at least 40% to 45%, they can apply for two posts:

• Soldier Tradesman
• General Duties

The selection will be based on physical fitness test followed by a written exam and a medical test conducted by Indian Army.

How to Join Indian Army after 12^th?

There are three ways to join Indian Army after 12^th:

• National Defense Academy (NDA)
• Technical Entry scheme (TES)
• Combined Defense Service Exam (CDS)

National Defense Academy

The selection procedure for getting selected in NDA is:

• Clearing the NDA written exam
• Clearing the Service Selection Board Interview Round
• After clearing the Interview Round, the candidate must appear for Medical Test.

After conducting all the tests, the final merit report is posted, and selected candidates are sent for training for a period of 3 years before sending them for 1 year training after which they are granted their commission.

Note: Only unmarried candidates between the ages of 16 ½ and 19 ½ can apply for this academy.

Technical Enter Scheme (TES)

Only unmarried male candidates who have passed their 12^th standard in Physics, Chemistry and Math’s can apply for this examination. The candidates are assessed based on 10+2 marks after that they must appear for the Interview round conducted by Service Selection Board.

Selected candidates are then enrolled in a B.E course in stream of their choice and then they trained for 4 years for the rank of lieutenant in the army.

Combined Defense Service Exam (CDS)

It is conducted by UPSC for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy, Indian Naval Academy and Indian Air Force Academy.

The examination is conducted twice a year and only unmarried candidates are eligible to sit in this exam. Selected candidates are enrolled in their respective academies after the Interview conducted by Services Selection Board (SSB).

Age Limit

Educational Qualification:

Degree from a recognized University or equivalent

Physical Standards:

The basic physical standard for a candidate is:

• The candidate should be physically as well as mentally fit.
• Permanent tattoos on the body are prohibited.
• No hernia anywhere on the body.
• No hearing impairment, deformities/disabilities in-ears vestibule-cochlear system.
• There is no active congenital venereal disease.

How can Women Join Indian Army?

Below are the ways in which women can also join Indian Army:

• UPSC Enter/ Short Service Commission (Non- Technical)
• Non UPSC Entry
• Short Service Commission (NCC)
• UPSC Entry (Technical)
• Short Service Commission (Judge Advocate General)

UPSC Entry/ Short Service Commission (Non- Technical)

After clearing the written exam candidates must have to appear for interview round conducted by Service Selection Board.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Unmarried Female candidates between the ages of 19 to 25
• They must pass the Combined Defense Service Examination which is conducted twice in a year by UPSC
• Based on merit, 12 women will be selected every 6 months and they are inducted into training. After clearing the CDS, selected candidates will undergo 49 weeks of rigorous training at the OTA (Officers Training Academy) in Chennai.

Non UPSC Entry

A women candidate can enter Indian Army through the NCC special entry or Judge Advocate General.

NCC Special Entry

It is a way of direct entry where candidate don’t need to give any entrance exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Unmarried female candidates between the ages of 19 to 25
• Must have a minimum of 50% in graduation with a valid NCC ‘C’ certificate with minimum ‘B’ grade.
• Four women are recruited and sent for training at the OTA in Chennai
• They will undergo a rigorous training of 49 weeks.

Judge Advocate General

Eligibility Criteria:

• Unmarried Female LLB between the ages of 21-27.
• The female must have graduated LLB with 55% marks and be a member of the Bar Council of India or passed a law course which is recognized by the Bar Council of India.
• Every six months, 4 women are selected by the Advocate General Branch
• After a brief Induction, they are trained for a period of 49 weeks

UPSC Entry (Technical)

It is a way of direct entry for those who come from engineering background. No written exam is mandatory.

Eligibility criteria:

• Unmarried Female between the ages of 21-27.
• The cut-off for merit varies from year to year.
• Twenty women are selected every 6 months based on the merit list.
• The training is of 49 weeks held at OTA Chennai and they will be joining as Short Service Commission Officers.

Military Nursing Service

Education Qualification-Women candidate should have passed MSc (Nursing)/ PB BSc (Nursing)/ BSc (Nursing) from INC recognized University and be a registered Nurse and Midwife from a State Nursing Council.

Method of Selection:

Women candidates who have successfully cleared the Written Examination must appear for Interview and selected candidates are subjected to Medical Examination.

Marital Status- Single/Married/Divorcee or otherwise legally separated /Widow.

Top Indian Army Training Academies in India:

• National Defense Academy (NDA), Pune
• Indian Military Academy (Dehradun) etc.