How to Join Indian Army

Table of Contents

How to Join Indian Army

CDSE Entry (Combined Defence Services Examination)

How to join Indian Army: CDS (Combined Defense Services) is the common entrance exam to recruit unmarried male and female (including widows and divorcees who haven’t remarried) candidates in all the three spheres of the Indian defence services, i.e. Indian Military, Navy, and Air Force. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is responsibility to conduct the CDS exam at all India level.

The CDS Exam is held twice in a year in February and November for which the official notification is published in November and August respectively.

CDS Eligibilty:

Candidates applying for CDSE must be citizen of India
Candidates from Nepal, Bhutan and Tibetan refugee, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or Vietnam are also eligible but only after subject to fulfilment eligibility criteria as the rule of Government of India.
Candidate must be a graduate from a recognized university
Candidates must be physically fit
Candidate must be unmarried

Type of Commission: Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission
Training:

Indian Military Acadeny , Dehradun for Indian Army (PC/Men)
Indian Naval Academy , Ezhimala for Indian Navy
Airforce Academy , Dundigal for Indian Airforce
Officers Training Academy , Chennai for Indian Army (SSC/ Men & Women )

AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)

AFCAT is a national level competitive exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to select officers for all its branches, except for the medical and dental branches. The mode of examination is online.

Eligibility:

Eligibility varies with branches opted by the the candidate. For detailed knowledge of the eligibility criteria.

Check Eligibility Here

Type of Commission: Permanent Commission

Training: Airforce Academy, Dundigal

TGC Entry (Technical Graduate Course)

How to join Indian Army: Applications are invited from unmarried male engineering graduates for permanent commission twice a year. This is a direct entry course. There is no written examination for this course. Eligible candidates are directly called for the SSB interview. Notification is issued by Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch in Mar/Apr and Sep/Oct.

Eligibility: BE / B Tech in notified streams of Engineering

Type of Commission: Permanent Commission

Training: Indian Military Academy, Dehradun

SSC Tech Entry

How to join Indian Army: Applications are invited from unmarried Male and unmarried Female engineering graduates and also from Widows of Defence Personnel for grant of Short Service Commission in the Indian Army in all Arms/Services ,notified by Directorate General Recruiting / AG Branch twice a year in Jun / Jul and Dec/Jan. This is also a direct entry which means there is no written examination and the only thing matters is your calibre to clear SSB.

Eligibility: Engineering Degree in notified stream

Type of Commission: Short Service Commission

Training: Officers Training Academy, Chennai

ACC Entry (Army Cadet College)

How to join Indian Army: It is one of the entries which focus on the upliftment of soldiers already serving the country as a NCO. This entry provides an opportunity to become an officer in indian army directly from a soldier rank. It is notified by MP Directorate / AGs Br through Units in Mar and Aug. It is also conducted twice a year.

Eligibility: 10+2 Pattern Class 12th pass or Equivalent. Should have qualified ACC written test.
20 to 27 years , minimum service two years can apply
Type of Commission: Permanent Commission

Training: Indian Military Academy, Dehradun