Career in ARMY

"Imagine a life without protection. Imagine that our borders are unprotected and we are vulnerable. We can sleep in peace because our Armed forces are guarding our borders.
It's indeed a career that requires not just great physical stamina and ambition but also demands great courage and fortitude."

People in army are trained to fight on land and consist of various divisions including the infantry, the artillery, the armoured corps etc. As an officer in the Indian Army, you will be part of one of the world's finest Armies. In order to enter into the army as an officer, one can choose either the permanent commission or the short-service commission. A permanent commission is for those who want to make a career in the army until retirement, while a short-service commission allows you to join on a five-year contractual basis, after which you can exercise the option to continue or not.

(A) Permanent Commission Entry routes:-

Undergraduates →

 10+2 → UPSC entrance exam to gain admission to the National Defense Academy → Interview and special tests, designed by the Service Selection Board → medical examination. On completion of the NDA course, candidates are sent to the respective service academies for their pre-commission training.
 10+2 → Armed Forces Medical College.

Post graduates →

 Graduates → Graduation in any stream → Combined Defense Service written examination → SSB interview → medical examination. NCC cadets are recruited directly through SSB interview.
 Engineering Graduates (Direct Entry) → An Engineering graduate → Service Selection Board interview → Indian Military Academy. Age at the time of joining should be between 20-27 years.

(B) Short - Service Commission Entry routes:-

Technical Graduates →

Graduation → Service Selection Board interview → medical examination → Officers Training Academy (10 months Course). Candidate should be in the age group of 19-24.

Women's Special Entry Scheme →

 Non - Technical Entry → B.A / B.Com / B.C.A / B.Sc physics, chemistry and maths with a minimum aggregate of 60 per cent marks.
 Technical Entry → B.E, B.Tech or a higher qualification in civil or electrical or mechanical or electronics engineering, computer science, telecommunications engineering and architecture.
 Specialist entry → It is for those with 50 per cent marks in: B Sc with a minimum 1 year diploma in computer science. → Graduate with a minimum 1 year diploma in communication/journalism/public relations/psychology. → B.E. in remote sensing. → P G degree in Earth Science / Computer Science / English / Geography / Maths / Physics / Computer Applications / Botany / Zoology / Biochemistry / Organic Chemistry or Statistics.
 Written exam → SSB Interview → medical examination. Women officers receive training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai.

NCC Special Entry Scheme → Unmarried male graduates with 50 per cent marks and above and between 19 and 25 years of age who have obtained a minimum of 'B' Grade in NCC 'C' Certificate can apply. These graduates are exempted from appearing in the CDSE conducted by the UPSC and are selected through the Service Selection Boards.

 Mental & physical fitness,
 Personal discipline & commitment to the nation,
 Adventurous nature,
 Capacity for hard work,
 Sporting spirit,
 Intelligence, courage & sense of responsibility,
 Dedication and determination.

The Army being organized , has specialized services to take care of the varied needs of its personnel.

Fighting forces:

 Infantry: Forms 25%of the Army. It entails the foot soldiers who fight the wars and the peace keeping tasks. Officers specialize in handling diverse types of arms and ammunition.
 Artillery: Entails handling of defence equipment such as guns, missiles, defence installations, tactile missiles and so forth.
 Armoured Corps: Consist of armoured regiments and considered one of the prestigious arms of the Army.
 Signals regiment: Concerned with setting up signals to ensure effective communication between army establishments and troops. They also specialize in control of electronic warfare
 Army Service Corps (ASC): Are involved in the mobility and logistic management of troops, vehicles fuel, food, arms and ammunitions.

Support services:

 Intelligence Corps: Specialized service engaged in gathering intelligence form various sources regarding the enemy and its movement.
 Ordinance Corps: Responsible for storage, procurement, maintenance of weapons, tanks and armaments.

MEDICAL BRANCH
 Army Medical Corps: Concerned with the medical care and medical needs of arm officers and their families.
 Nursing officers: Entails nursing staff which offer support to the medical care facilities.
 Dental Officers: Stream of medicine dedicated to dentistry and the dental health of the armed forces and their families.

OTHER BRANCHES:
 Education Corps: Continuing education of troops to help them understand latest developments in science, technology, warfare techniques, electronics and so forth.
 Postal Services: Concerned with the postal needs of the Army and their families.
 Advocate General: Concerned with the judicial aspects; legal opinions, drafting of charges, and general legal advice to the staff. Students with law backgrounds are inducted into the branch.
 Remount Veterinary Corps: Concerned with the livestock management, running of dairy and agricultural farms. Also deals with the treatment and upkeep of special animals such as dogs, mules , horses. Enroll students with agriculture and veterinary science degrees.

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2008 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings.

Eligibility for the test:
Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd January, 1990 and not later than 1st July, 1992 are eligible.

Eligibility for the test:
 For 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.
 For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at the Naval 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. Candidates who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education can also apply for this examination.
 Physical Standards:- Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2008 as per guidelines.

More about the exam:
There will be two papers:
Paper 1: Mathematics - 2 ½ Hours - 300 marks.
Paper 2: General Ability Test - 2 ½ Hours - 600 marks.
Paper 2 is divided in two parts:
(a) English - 200 marks, and
(b) General Knowledge - 400 marks.

National Defence Academy NDA & NA Exam (II) 2007 conducted by the UPSC for entry the Indian Armed Forces.

Eligibility for the test:
Only unmarried male candidates who must have attained the age of 16 1/2 years and must not have attained the age of 19 years on the 1st July, 2008 i.e. he must have been born not earlier than 2nd July, 1989 and not later than 1st January, 1992 are eligible.

Eligibility for the test:
 For 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.
 For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for the 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course at the Naval 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. Students who are appearing in the 12th Class under the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this examination.
 Physical Standards:- Students must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (I), 2007.

More about the exam:
There will be two papers:
Paper 1: Mathematics - 2 ½ Hours - 300 marks.
Paper 2: General Ability Test - 2 ½ Hours - 600 marks.
Paper 2 is divided in two parts:
(a) English - 200 marks, and
(b) General Knowledge - 400 marks.