Graduates can join the army through Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission. Those who join through permanent commission can pursue their career in army until retirement. But in the case of short service commission, one can join the army under 5 year contract basis and continue their services thereafter according to his/her wish. The permanent commission scheme is open only for males whereas the short service commission is open to both males and females.

Opportunities for Engineers

Permanent Commission - Engineering graduates can join the Indian Military Academy after qualifying the interview conducted by Service Selection Board. The age of such graduates should be within 27 years and not below 20 years.

Short Service Commission - Engineering graduates can join the technical branch under short service commission. Male candidates applying for this technical post should have engineering or equivalent degree in any of the branches given below.

• Production Engineering
• Tele- Communication Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Architecture
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering

Only unmarried male candidates between 20 and 27 years of age can apply for this post. Applications of such candidates will be short listed by the Recruiting Directorate of the Army headquarters. The short listed candidates have to attend the group test, psychological test and interview conducted by the Service Selection Board. Those who get qualified in all these stages should undergo medical examination. The physically fit candidates will be considered for the available vacancies.

Women candidates who possess an engineering degree in any of the branches given below can also apply for the technical post available in Indian army.

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer science and Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Architecture
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Telecommunication Engineering

The age of such candidates should be within 27 years and not below 19 years. Also the female candidates should be either unmarried, issueless widow or divorcee. The selection will be based on written test and interview followed by a medical examination. The selected male or female candidates will be given training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

Opportunities for Non – Engineers

Permanent Commission - Graduates can join Indian Military Academy through the Combined Defense Services Examination (CDSE) conducted by Union Public Service Commission twice in a year. The candidates should not only qualify this competitive examination but also clear the interview conducted by SSB. They can join for pre-commissioned training after qualifying the interview. Those who are in the age group of 19-24 years can apply for this exam and join the training which starts in the month of January and July every year.

An All India Level competitive examination will be conducted by the Director General of the Armed forces Medical services for recruiting medical graduates. Those who graduate from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune can join the army directly as permanent commissioned medical officers.

Short Service Commission - Graduates can join the army through the NCC special entry scheme under short service commission. Unmarried male candidates having minimum of 50% percent marks during their graduation can apply under this scheme. But they should have to obtain minimum ‘B’ Grade in the NCC C Certificate. Only those who are in the age group of 19-25 years can forward their application for NCC special entry. Combined Defense Services Examination is not necessary for these candidates as they are recruited by the Service Selection Boards in Bangalore, Bhopal and Allahabad.

Women graduates can join the army through non-technical entry or specialist entry scheme under short service commission. Those who are applying for non-technical entry should have any of the degrees given below with a minimum aggregate of 60%.

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Science in Physics
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Computer Application
• If the candidates possess ‘B’ or higher grade in NCC `C’ certificate, then only 50% percent marks is required for the concerned degree.
• Minimum 50% percent aggregate is required for any of the degrees given below to apply for the specialist entry.
• B.Sc degree with a minimum one-year diploma in computer science
• Any undergraduate degree with a minimum one-year diploma in communication /journalism/public relations/psychology
• Bachelor of Engineering in remote sensing
• Post graduate degree in Biochemistry/Geography/Organic Chemistry/English/Maths/Computer science/Botany /Physics/Earth science/Zoology/Statistics/Computer applications
• Those who are in the age group of 19-27 years can apply for both non-technical and specialist entry. But the applicants should be unmarried, issueless widow or divorcee female candidates.

Application procedure for joining the Army

Interested candidates can apply for the Combined Defense Services Examination or direct entry scheme (engineering) according to the notification published in the month of March/April and October/November every year. Notification for the Women’s Special Entry Scheme under short service commission will be published in the month of June/December every year. Interested female candidates can forward their application as per the notification.

Those who are applying for NSS Special Entry Scheme can forward their application directly before the month of May every year. If the candidates are interested in joining the technical branch under short service commission, then they should forward their application as per the notification published in the month of March/April and October/November every year.