The Indian Army is one of the second largest army forces in the world in terms of army personnel. The formal set up of army started during the British era, at that time Military Department very similar to the present Ministry of Defence was set up but, all the senior positions was kept by the British. On 14th January 1949, after the independence, the Army had its first Indian Commander-in-Chief, General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa. The army headquarters is located in Sena Bhavan and portions of the south block of the Red fort in Delhi.
Armed Forces offer great career opportunities to the youngsters. This career offers immense facilities, a privileged lifestyle and of course, honour of serving the country. The Armed Forces characterize the ideals of service, patriotism, sacrifice, and our country's mixed culture. The basic responsibility of the Army is to safeguard the national integrity against any kind of external aggression. On the other hand army is often assist the civil administration during internal security disturbances like communal violence, in the maintenance of law and order, in organizing relief operations during natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, cyclones and in the maintenance of essential services.
The operations of army can be categorised under the Fighting Forces and the Support Services. The fighting forces comprise the armoured corps, signals, artillery, engineering and the infantry (and similar divisions in the navy and air force), while the Support Services include electronics and mechanical engineering, medical corps, ordinance corps, intelligence and education.
The Indian Army is organised into five regional commands:
HQ Central Command, Lucknow ;
HQ Eastern Command, Calcutta ;
HQ Northern Command, Udhampur;
HQ Western Command, Chandimandir; and
HQ Southern Command, Pune.
There is a Army Training Command at Shimla for the purpose of laying down the training policies for the Army.
How to enter in army services
Two broad ways are available enter the army as commissioned officers. They are permanent Commission and Short Service Commission. A permanent commission is for those who want to make a career in the army until retirement, on the other hand short-service commission allows you to join on a five-year contractual basis, after which you can choose the option to continue or not.
The National Defense Academy, Pune
NDA gives you great opportunities to develop your personality and cultivate new interests. In fact, you can choose from 31 different extra curricular activities including golf, aero modeling, gliding, wind surfing, sailing, astronomy and many more.
You can appear in the NDA entrance exam conducted by UPSC twice a year at the age of 16½ -19 and while studying in 10+2. Once you pass this exam, the next step is Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, which will last for 5 days. The final step in the process is a medical test. After this, you have to wait for your 10+2 results and NDA merit list. Once you clear all these things, you will be selected in NDA. After spending three years in NDA, you will do your graduation and you will become a gentleman cadet before you get commissioned as an officer in the Indian military academy.
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
IMA is great cradle of leadership that trains its men to lead from the front. IMA train personnel in all aspects of combat and tactics using computers and other modern training tools. This, coupled with exciting adventure sports like river rafting, Para jumping, rock climbing, trekking and mountaineering, will ensure your all-round development. Once you pass out of IMA, you will be commissioned as a lieutenant in the Indian army.
Admission at IMA is done through Combined Defense Service Exam (CDSE). This test can be taken at the age of 19-25 years, when you are in final year of college. This test is conducted in the month of February and September every year. After the test, SSB interview is conducted by selection center.
University Entry Scheme (UES): This scheme is for final and pre-final year students of engineering degree course aged between 19-25 yrs. They can apply through University Entry Scheme notified by additional directorate general recruiting, army headquarters in the month of May every year. Initial screening is done through campus interview and thereafter SSB interview and medical test.
Technical Graduate Course (TGC): This scheme is for married and unmarried BE/B. Tech graduates with age between 20-27 years. They can apply through Technical Graduate Course for direct SSB interview. First class or second class post graduates in MA/M.Sc., age between 23-27 years can apply in Army Education Corps. M.Sc. in agriculture graduates, age between 20-27 years can apply for Military Farms under the TGC entry. Vacancies are being notified twice a year in the month of April and October by additional directorate general recruiting, army headquarters, for direct SSB interview and medical test.
One can also apply for other ranks
such as:
- Caterer
- Havildar
- Religious Teacher
- Soldier Clerk/ Technical Store Keeper
- Soldier General Duty
- Soldier Nursing Assistant
- Soldier Technical
- Soldier Tradesman
- Surveyor Automated Cartographer.
Career Prospects
The Indian Army offers excellent
career opportunities to the students. It is a place where professional growth
takes place with time. NDA cadets are awarded Bachelor's
degrees in Science, Arts or Computer Science on completion of training. If you join
the technical stream, you will acquire Graduate and Post-Graduate degrees in
Engineering.
If you get selected for the
prestigious Defense Services Staff College course, you will receive an M Sc. in
Defense and Strategic Studies. Other advantage is that, you can also get study
leave for two years to further upgrade your professional skills.
Growth opportunities in army is unlimited.
Remunerations
The remuneration and other benefits available to officers can be seen at Army website. As we can say that army offers good remuneration in terms of cash salaries as well as in terms of added benefits.
More Information
The Indian Army has a website: http://joinindianarmy.nic.in which deals with all career related queries about the Indian army.
The Indian Air force has a website: careerairforce.nic.in which deals with all career related queries about the Indian air force.
The Indian navy too has a detailed website: www.nausena-bharti.nic.in which deals with careers and opportunities with the Indian navy.
