The Indian Army provides various entry pathways for aspiring candidates, which include both written exams and direct entry routes.

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Written Entry Pathways

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To join the Indian Army through written entries, candidates must qualify in specific exams. These include:

NDA (National Defence Academy): An entry point for candidates after class 12, leading to an officer's training and commission in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.

AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test): A gateway for those looking to join the Indian Air Force, with the option to choose a career in flying, technical, or ground duty branches.

TA (Territorial Army): A part-time commitment that allows candidates to serve the nation while maintaining their civilian professions.

CDS (Combined Defence Services): An exam for graduates who wish to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Officers Training Academy (OTA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), or Air Force Academy (AFA).

 

Direct Entry Pathways

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Direct entries allow candidates to proceed straight to the SSB Interview based on their academic performance, either from class 12 or graduation. These include:

Technical Entry Scheme (TES): For class 12 students with exceptional marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, leading directly to an SSB interview without a written exam.

Short Service Commission Technical (SSC Tech): For engineering graduates, enabling them to join the Indian Army's technical branches through direct entry to the SSB interview.