Indian Army Recruitment 2023: Know Eligibility Criteria, Joining Process and More
- Naief Khatri
- Updated Date: August 16, 2023
Table of Contents
The Indian Army is the largest and the oldest branch of the Indian armed forces. It trains the individuals to fight on land and consists of various divisions including the infantry, the artillery, the armored corps etc. Besides these combat divisions, the support division in the army includes the supply corps, the engineers, the ordinance supply corps, military intelligence and medical staff etc. The primary responsibility of the army is to safeguard the geographical boundaries of the country and to capture enemy territory in the event of a war. This article will discuss about Indian Army recruitment, eligibility criteria and Indian Army Career options in various divisions.
The army training includes both offense and defensive operations. In addition to the primary responsibility, the army is also called upon in peace time to aid in relief and rescue operations during natural calamities and for counter insurgency. The career opportunity in Indian Army is enormous and there are different jobs in the army for people with different interests. Nowhere else you will get such phenomenal opportunities to constantly upgrade your skills. The army recruits candidates both for its technical and non-technical branches.
Indian Army Recruitment: How to join the Indian army?
If you’ve completed 10th
All individuals who have successfully completed 10th grade are qualified to apply for the Indian army recruitment. After completing 10th grade, applicants have the opportunity to join the Indian Army in various roles, such as Tradesman and General Duty Soldier. The Indian army recruitment and selection process will encompass several stages, including document verification, physical tests, a medical examination, a written test, and a merit list, among other evaluations.
Upon completing 10th grade, candidates can join the Indian Army without requiring the NDA (National Defence Academy). Through the Indian Army Agneepath Recruitment process, selected candidates will be enlisted under the Army Act 1950 for a service period of four years, encompassing the training duration.
If you’ve completed 10+2
The Indian army recruitment is divided into various divisions. A brief description of the division and nature of duties is listed below:
Infantry
The infantry consists of troops who fight the enemy on foot using equipment including from self loading rifles, automatic rifles, machine guns, grenades, mines, anti tank weapons, shoulder fired missiles and rocket launchers. Infantry troops capture and hold on to enemy positions or defend their own positions.
For high mobility, troops make use of transport including personnel carriers and jeeps. Elite commando units and paratroopers are also part of the infantry. Infantry officers and troops have to undergo intensive training in arms handling.
Artillery
The artillery uses long range field guns, multi barrel rocket launchers and missile for their maneuvers. The role of the artillery is twofold. In civilian areas the artillery uses weapons such as anti aircraft guns and surface to air missiles to protect sensitive locations such as dams, airfields, oil rigs, power generating stations, ports etc from attack.
On the warfront the artillery uses long range field guns, multi barrel rocket launchers and missiles for their attacking and defensive operations.
Armoured Corps
The armoured corps consists of battalions of tanks and other armoured vehicles. The armoured corps can advance swiftly and are used to capture enemy territory along with the infantry. They can also defend positions by engaging enemy tanks in battle. Armoured corps is considered to be one of the most prestigious divisions of the army.
Engineers
The primary responsibility of the army engineers is to quickly construct roads, bridges, airfields, helipads etc so the all the three sections of defence forces can advance rapidly. Engineers also destroy enemy bases and cause obstacles for the advancement of enemy troops. Besides these they also lay minefields and clear enemy minefields, defuse explosives and construct other infrastructure for the combat troops.
Signals
The officers and men in the signals regiment are responsible for the quick implementation and maintenance of communication links between the army headquarters and the forward positions during war time. Besides this they are also responsible for electronic warfare.
Army Service Corps (ASC)
ASC personnel are responsible for the movement of troops, vehicles, rations, petrol/diesel, arms and ammunition etc. The personnel of the ASC use road, train as well as water transportation in the movement. They are also responsible for safe storage of rations, arms and ammunition, clothing and special equipment.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The armed forces have a large number of equipment ranging ranging from simple rifles to sophisticated missiles. Electrical and mechanical engineers are responsible for the maintenance of all the equipment of the armed forces and ensure that it is always in peak condition. The officers in this service include engineers from the field of mechanical, aeronautical, electrical, electronics, and communication engineering.
Intelligence Corps
The officers of this branch are involved in the collection, analysis and interpretation of information about the enemy troops including their movements and plans. Officers in the intelligence corps specialise in encoding and decoding messages, analysis of pictures taken by aircraft and satellite, data collection and analysis.
Ordinance Corps
The ordinance corps is responsible for procurement, storage and maintenance and issue of types of military equipment including ammunition and spares.
Army Medical Corps
The army medical corps includes doctors who provide medical care for the families of troops and officers of the armed forces. During a conflict they provide emergency medical care to the wounded officers and troops on the battlefront.
The armed forces train their own doctors and nurses at the Armed Forces Medical College and College of Nursing respectively. They also induct doctors from other medical colleges.
Read:Â About Coast Guard
Nursing officers
The nursing officers nurse the officers, troops and their families in the hospitals and clinics of the armed forces.
Dental Officers
The responsibility of the dental officers is to provide dental care to the personnel of the armed forces and their families.
Education Corps
Education officers provide continuing education to the armed forces personnel especially with respect to the latest development in weapon systems, new techniques of warfare, computerization, communication systems etc.
Postal Services
The personnel in this service are responsible for looking after the postal requirement of the army. All money orders, personal letters and general mail is handled by the postal services.
Military Police
Personnel of the military police are responsible for maintaining discipline and order among the troops of the armed forces.
Judge Advocate General
This branch inducts law graduates to provide legal help to the army for handling various civil cases as well as disciplinary action against armed forces personnel.
Veterinary Corps
Some regiments of the army use animals such as horses, mules and dogs. The officers of the veterinary corps ensure the well being of these animals.
Indian Army Recruitment: Indian Army Eligibility Criteria
The Indian Army eligibility criteria for 2023 are as follows:
- Age:Â Candidates must be between the ages of 17.5 and 23 years on the first day of the recruitment rally.
- Education:Â Candidates must have passed Class 10 or equivalent from a recognized board.
- Nationality:Â Candidates must be Indian citizens or Nepali citizens.
- Physical Standards: Candidates must meet the physical standards set by the Indian Army. The minimum height for men is 157.5 cms with correlated weight and 152cm for women and 42kg weight.
- Character:Â Candidates must have a good character and must not have any criminal record.
- Medical Standards:Â Candidates must meet the medical standards set by the Indian Army.
In addition to the above, there are some specific eligibility criteria for different trades in the Indian Army. For example, candidates who want to join the infantry must be physically fit and must be able to meet the minimum height and weight requirements. Candidates who want to join the artillery must have a good understanding of mathematics and physics.
Also Read:Â Career as a Forest Ranger
Eligibility Criteria: Technical Entry Scheme (TES) for Male 10+2 (PCM) Candidates
The unmarried, male candidates, who have passed 10+2 with PCM subjects and fulfil the Eligibility for the grant of permanent commission in the Army after 5 years of technical military training with the prescribed terms and conditions, are invited from tinie-to+-time through advertisement in the Employment News and other prominent national dailies
Eligibility :Â (a) Nationality. A candidate must not be married and must either be: A citizen of India . Pay Scale : A candidate must not be below I6V2 years on the first day of the month in which the course is commencing.
Educational Qualification :Â Candidates who have 10+2 (PCM) certificate with minimum 70% aggregate marks in PCM are eligible for this entry.
Physical Standards : (a) Height and Weight: Minimum height 137 cm with correlated weight and proportionate chest with minimum 5 cm expansion, (b) Eye sight: Unaided distant vision 6/12, 6/18.
Type of Commission :Â On successful completion of course, cadets are granted permanent Commission in the rank of Lt in the Army in Technical branches i.e. EME, Sings, Engrs.
Training: Total training is for a period of 5 years, as under:
(a) Basic Military Training : 1 years at IMA, Dehradun.
(b) Technical Training:
1. Phase 1 Pre-Commission Training): 3 years at CME Pune, MCTE Mhow, MCEME Secundrabad.
2. Phase ll(Post Commission Training) : 1 year at CME, Pune, MCTt, Mhow, and MCEME, Seainderabad.
c) Award of Degree: The candidates are awarded Engineering after successful completion of st Pay Scale III of Training.
Cost of Training: The entire cost of training including bonks and reading is borne by the Army, cadets are also provided with free clothing and
Selection Procedure is as follows:
(a) Shortlisted candidates are called for Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews at Bhopal , Bangalore or Allahabad .
(b) Duration of SSB interviews is five days excluding day of arrival. During their stay at SSB, candidates are put through psychological Tests, Group Tests and interviews.
© Candidates are put through st Pay Scale I of the selection procedure on the first day. Only successful candidates are retained for balance of the testing. Candidates who fail to qualify in st Pay Scale I are returned on the first day itself. St Pay Scale 1 are psychologically oriented tests including intelligence tests.
(d) Successful candidate at the SSB are required to undergo medical tests lasting 3 to 5 days less Sundays and Gazetted holidays.
(e) Candidates recommended by the SSB and declared medically fit, arc nominated for training in the order of merit, depending on the number of vacancies.
(f) One second class return fare is admissible for the interview (To and Fro)
Stipend/Pay and Allowances: The candidates are given a stipend of Rs. 8,000/ – P.M. as is admissible to NDA cadets on completion of 3 years training. On completion of 4 years training they are commissioned in the rank Lt and entitled to pay scale as admissible to the rank. How to apply: Application forms in accordance with the prescribed format and complete in all respects is to be sent to the following address ADG Recruiting 10+2 (TES) Entry, West Block-Ill, RFC Puram, New Delhi 110066.
Pay Package
Army professionals get lucrative remuneration for a great lifestyle. Salary of an individual depends on the rank he/she holds.
Promotions
The promotion policy followed in the army is well defined and is of two types:
1. Substantive Promotions: The service limits for substantive promotion to higher ranks is as follows
>2. Acting Promotions: Officers are eligible for acting promotions to higher ranks on completion of the minimum service limits as given below. In such cases they will only get the rank pay and not the substantive pay of the rank.
Pay and Allowances (Permanent Commission)
Stipend during Training: Rs. 8000/- per month to all IMA & OTA Gentlemen Cadets
How to Apply
Application for a particular position should be made to appropriate authority. The advertisement in this respect is published from time to time in the employment news and in several leading national and regional local dailies. The tentative dates of advertisements are given in the eligibility section. Other details regarding the selection for a particular entry is also described in the eligibility section.
The individuals may either be selected for short service commission or for permanent commission. A Permanent Commission means a career in the Army till you retire. For a Permanent commission you have to join the National Defence Academy or the Indian Military Academy. For more information about NDA entrance examination and other defense services examinations, click here
Apart from these recruitments under short service and permanent commission, the Army conducts rallies at various centres all over the country for selecting candidates to various ranks available in its various divisions.
Also Read:Â Career as a Forest Ranger
FAQ's
The minimum age to join the Indian Army is 17 years and 6 months. However, there are some exceptions for certain categories of candidates. For example, the minimum age for officers is 21 years.
The educational qualifications required to join the Indian Army vary depending on the trade or branch you wish to join. However, in general, you must have passed your 10th or 12th standard exams with the required percentage of marks.
There are many benefits to joining the Indian Army, including a steady salary, free medical care, and housing. You will also have the opportunity to travel and see different parts of India. Despite this, the respect that the Indian Army Personnel get is priceless.
You can join the Indian Army after 10th through the Agneepath Recruitment process.
The Agneepath Scheme is a new recruitment scheme for the Indian Army that was announced in June 2022. Under this scheme, soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers will be recruited for a four-year period. After four years, 75% of the recruits will be released from service, while the remaining 25% will be eligible for permanent commission.
The Agneepath Scheme offers a number of benefits to recruits, including a monthly salary of Rs. 30,000, a risk and hardship allowance, and a gratuity of Rs. 11.7 lakhs after four years of service. Recruits will also be given the opportunity to pursue higher education and training after their four-year term.
The minimum height requirement for men is 157.5 cms with correlated weight and 152cms for women and 42 kg weight.
After 12th a candidate can join the Indian Army for higher positions through NDA or the 10+2 technical entry Scheme(TES 10+2).
You can apply for the Agneepath Scheme by visiting the official website of the Indian Army or by contacting your nearest recruitment office.
The Indian Army has a wide variety of trades or branches, including infantry, artillery, engineering, signals, and medical and many more. You can choose the trade or branch that best suits your interests and qualifications.
