Indian Army
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. The army training includes both offence 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 available with Indian Army is enormous. 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. To become an officer one should clear the NDA entrance examination conducted by the UPSC and then go for professional education and training. NDA cadets are awarded Bachelor's degrees in Arts, Science or Computer Science on completion of training. If you join the technical stream, you will acquire Graduate and Post-Graduate degrees in Engineering.
Selection for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College course results in the award of an M Sc. in Defence and Strategic Studies. What's more, you can also get study leave for two years to further upgrade your professional skills.
These growth opportunities are virtually unlimited. You could even get into Research and Development, if you have the aptitude. From Engineering to Medicine, from administration to Strategy, from Armament Technology to Management, all opportunities will encompass you if you are with Indian Army.
Those candidates who want to join the Army as soldier should fulfill the general eligibility criteria like age, qualification nationality etc. In addition they have to qualify written tests followed by physical fitness test and medical tests. Recruitment in the Army is conducted throughout the year through an open rally system. The recruitment programme is published in local newspaper, two weeks prior to the conduct of the rally.
The army 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.
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.
Eligibility
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 : (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 : 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 : 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.
(c) 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:
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.
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 See:
CA as Career
Difference between BBA and B Com
Difference Betweem B Com (Pass) and B Com (Honours)
CA - Course Structure
Career in Indian Army as an Officer
