Joining the Indian Army after 10+2 & graduation is a noble aspiration, one that offers the opportunity to serve your country, while also enjoying a fulfilling career. A degree can actually open up multiple avenues for entry into the armed forces, providing you with a range of options.
Join Indian Army In 2024
NDA Exam
UPSC holds examinations twice a year for Permanent Commission entry to the Indian Navy. There are two ways to go about it – The NDA (National Defense Academy)/INA (Indian Naval Academy) entry for 12th standard candidates (or pass-outs) with Physics, Chemistry Maths subjects, and the CDSE (Combined Defense Services Examination) for college graduates.
NDA 1 2024 Age Eligibility & Date Of Birth
Both Male and Female candidates born not earlier than 02nd July 2005 and not later than 1st July 2008 are eligible.
NDA 2 2024 Age Eligibility & Date Of Birth
Both Male and Female candidates born not earlier than 02nd Jan 2006 and not later than 1st Jan 2009 are eligible.
Important Dates For NDA 2024
| NDA 2024 Events | NDA 1 2024 | NDA 2 2024 |
| Notification Release Date | 20 December 2023 | May 2024 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20 December 2023 | May 2024 |
| Online Application Last Date | 09 January 2024 | June 2024 |
| Admit Card Date | Two Weeks Before Exam | Two Weeks Before Exam |
| Exam Date | 21 April 2024 (SUNDAY) | 01 Sept 2024 (SUNDAY) |
| Result Date | May – June 2024 | Oct- Nov 2024 |
10+2 TES Entry
Conducted for selection of eligible candidates suitable for training at the Officers Training Academy, Gaya followed by CME Pune or MCTE Mhow or MCEME Secunderabad. The candidates will be awarded engineering degrees at end of their training. The number of seats is around 90 each term.
Eligibility and Process:
Candidates of the age group 16.5-19.5 years (at the time of joining) are eligible to apply if they have secured 60% aggregate in Physics, Maths and Chemistry, in their class XII boards and appeared in JEE(Mains) Exam.
Eligibility and Process:
•After registration on joindianarmy.nic.in candidates would be shortlisted on basis of their ranks in JEE(Mains) Exam.
•Shortlisted will candidates will undergo the same process of SSB Interview, followed by medicals and then issued joining letters as per all India merit lists based on marks secured in SSB Interview.
CDS Exam
- UPSC shortlists candidates after written examinations. Thereafter, candidates are sent to the Service Selection Boards located at Bengaluru, Bhopal and Coimbatore. Results of qualified candidates are forwarded to UPSC for making the final merit list. UPSE holds CDSE twice a year for Graduates.
CDS Entry
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
Eligibility: (i) 19-24 years
(ii) Graduation Degree from any recognized institution
Training Period: 18 months
Nature Of Commission: Permanent
Approx Number of seats: Around 100 each term
Officers Training Academy
Eligibility: (i) 19-25 years
(ii) Graduation Degree from any recognized institution
Training Period: 49 weeks
Nature Of Commission: Temporary
Approx Number of seats: Around 170 each term
CDS 1 2024 Age Limits
| IMA | 19 – 24 | Born not earlier than 2nd Jan 2001 and not later than 1st Jan 2006. |
| OTA | 19 – 25 | Born not earlier than 2nd Jan 2000 and not later than 1st Jan 2006. |
CDS 2 2024 Age Limits
| IMA | 19 – 24 | Born not earlier than 2nd July 2001 and not later than 1st July 2006. |
| OTA | 19 – 25 | Born not earlier than 2nd July 2000 and not later than 1st July 2006. |
IMPORTANT DATES FOR CDS 2024
| CDS 2024 Events | CDS 1 2024 | CDS 2 2024 |
| Notification Release Date | 20 December 2023 | May 2024 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20 December 2023 | May 2024 |
| Online Application Last Date | 09 January 2024 | June 2024 |
| Admit Card Date | Two Weeks Before Exam | Two Weeks Before Exam |
| Exam Date | 21 April 2024 (SUNDAY) | 01 Sept 2024 (SUNDAY) |
| Result Date | May – June 2024 | Oct- Nov 2024 |
- CDS 1 2024 Notification, Exam Date, Vacancies, Eligibility, Syllabus And Age Limits
- CDS Exam 2024 Age Limits – Who Can Apply For CDS 1 2024 And CDS 2 2024
- Join Indian Air Force Academy – CDS 1 2024
- Join Indian Military Academy – CDS 1 2024
- Join Officers Training Academy – CDS 1 2024 Notification
TGC Entry
Candidates apply for TGC entry as per notification on joinindianarmy website. Then cutoffs are announced in different streams that are different cutoffs for Mechanical, different for CS, etc. Shortlisted will candidates will undergo the same process of SSB Interview, followed by medicals and then issued joining letters as per all India merit list based on marks secured in SSB Interview.
Nature of commission: Permanent
Age Criteria: 20-27 years at the time of joining
Graduation: Final Year or Completed their engineering from a recognized institute/ M.Sc. (Computer Science)
Training: 49 weeks at IMA, Dehradun
Approx Number of seats: Around 40 each term
SSC(Tech) Entry
Candidates apply for SSC entry as per notification on joinindianarmy website. Then cutoffs are announced in different streams that is different cutoffs for Mechanical, different for CS, etc. Shortlisted will candidates will undergo the same process of SSB Interview, followed by medicals and then issued joining letters as per all India merit list based on marks secured in SSB Interview.
Nature of commission: Temporary
Age Criteria: 20-27 years at the time of joining
Graduation: Final Year or Completed their engineering from a recognized institute/ M.Sc. (Computer Science)
Training: 49 weeks at OTA, Chennai
Approx Number of seats: Around 190 each term
NCC Entry
Candidates apply for NCC entry as per notification on joinindianarmy website. Shortlisted will candidates will undergo the same process of SSB Interview, followed by medicals and then issued joining letters as per all India merit list based on marks secured in SSB Interview.
Nature of commission: Temporary
Age Criteria: 19-25 years at the time of joining
Graduation: Minimum of 50 % marks aggregate in Graduation
NCC: Minimum B grade in NCC ‘C’ Certificate Examination
Training: 49 weeks at OTA, Chennai
Approx Number of seats: Around 50 each term
ACC Entry
A unit-level exam will be conducted to find potential candidates. Candidates who clear this exam will be interviewed by senior officers and selected candidates will be sent for classes at Command HRDC after which their ACC exam will be conducted. The top 500 candidates in the written test will be then put under screening with 200 of them being selected for the Young Leaders Course at OTA Chennai and the remaining sent for PDT at AEC Centre. These 500 candidates will then be called for SSB interviews followed by medical tests and a final merit list. Medically ‘fit’ candidates who get in the merit list will be issued joining letters.
Nature of commission: Permanent
Age Criteria: 20-27 years at the time of joining
Education: Minimum 10+2 or equivalent
Eligibility:
•Minimum 2 years of service in Indian Army or IAF or Indian Navy
•Both married and unmarried candidates
•Good ACR and clean records (no disciplinary action)
Training:
•3 years at ACC Wing, IMA, and then one year at IMA
•Approx Number of seats: 75 each term
Territorial Army
Nature of commission: Permanent
Age Criteria: 18-42 years
Education: Graduation from a recognized institution
Eligibility: Gainfully Employed in Central Govt/Semi Govt /Pvt Firm/ Own business/Self Employed.
Training: Infantry Training is carried out on urban and provincial systems.
Process:
Written Exam
Preliminary Interview Board
SSB
PC(SL) Entry
Nature of commission: Permanent
Age Criteria: 32-40 years at the time of joining
Education: Minimum 11th pass or equivalent
Eligibility: Serving JCOs/ NCOs
Training: 8 weeks at AEC Centre, Pachmarhi and four weeks at IMA
Approx Number of seats: 100(once a year)
Process: Written followed by SSB interview and merit list.
SCO Entry
Nature of commission: Permanent
Age Criteria: 30-35 years at the time of joining
Education: Minimum class 12th or equivalent
Eligibility: Minimum 5 years of service in the Indian Army
Both married and unmarried candidates
Training: 8 weeks at AEC Centre, Pachmarhi and then one year at OTA, Gaya
Selection through SSB Interview
Approx Number of seats: 100 each term
Target NSG Black Cat Commando ⚔️