The Indian Army has announced the 65th Short Service Commission Technical (Men) and 36th Short Service Commission Technical (Women) courses. These prestigious opportunities allow engineering graduates and widows of defence personnel to serve the nation with honour. The courses will commence in October 2025 at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.
Eligibility Criteria
The Indian Army sets specific eligibility criteria to ensure that candidates possess the necessary qualifications, age, and national eligibility.
Nationality
To apply for SSC Tech 65 and SSCW Tech 36, candidates must meet the nationality requirements:
- Must be a citizen of India.
- Nationals from Nepal or Bhutan are eligible.
- Tibetan refugees who migrated to India before January 1, 1962, are also eligible.
- Candidates of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and certain African countries are eligible if they have a certificate of eligibility.
Age Limit
The required age varies depending on the category:
- SSC Tech (Men and Women): Candidates must be between 20 to 27 years as of October 1, 2025. This means candidates born between October 2, 1998, and October 1, 2005 are eligible.
- Widows of Defence Personnel: Maximum age is 35 years.
Educational Qualification
The required educational qualifications ensure technical and general aptitude:
- For SSC Tech (Men and Women):
- Candidates must have completed an Engineering Degree or be in their final year of study.
- Final-year students must submit proof of passing by October 1, 2025.
- For Widows of Defence Personnel:
- Non-Tech Entry: Graduation in any discipline.
- Tech Entry: B.E./B.Tech in any engineering stream.
Vacancies
The Indian Army offers a variety of roles across engineering disciplines for both men and women. A detailed distribution of vacancies is provided below.
SSC Tech (Men) – 350 Vacancies
The vacancies are spread across multiple engineering streams such as Civil, Computer Science, Mechanical, and more.
| Engineering Stream | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil | 75 |
| Computer Science | 60 |
| Mechanical | 101 |
| Electrical | 33 |
| Electronics | 64 |
| Miscellaneous | 17 |
SSCW Tech (Women) – 29 Vacancies
Women candidates have opportunities in similar streams, albeit with fewer seats.
| Engineering Stream | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil | 7 |
| Computer Science | 4 |
| Mechanical | 9 |
| Electrical | 3 |
| Electronics | 6 |
Widows of Defence Personnel
Widows can apply for the following:
- Technical Entry: 1 vacancy for candidates with a B.E./B.Tech degree.
- Non-Technical Entry: 1 vacancy for graduates in any discipline.
Selection Process
The selection process is designed to identify the best candidates for service.
- Shortlisting of Applications:
- Candidates are shortlisted based on their engineering percentage (up to the last semester).
- SSB Interview:
- Shortlisted candidates will undergo a 5-day SSB interview at one of the following centers:
- Allahabad (UP)
- Bhopal (MP)
- Bengaluru (Karnataka)
- Jalandhar Cantt (Punjab)
- Candidates who clear Stage 1 proceed to Stage 2. Those failing Stage 1 will be sent back on the same day.
- Shortlisted candidates will undergo a 5-day SSB interview at one of the following centers:
- Medical Examination:
- Recommended candidates undergo a thorough medical examination to ensure fitness.
- Final Merit List:
- The final selection is based on the SSB marks and the availability of vacancies in each engineering stream.
Training and Commissioning
Training for selected candidates will be conducted at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, for 49 weeks. Upon successful completion, candidates will be granted Short Service Commission (SSC) in the rank of Lieutenant.
Key points about training:
- The training is fully sponsored by the Government.
- Candidates must not marry during training.
- Successful candidates will receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies.
Tenure and Career Progression
The tenure and promotion for SSC officers are structured as follows:
- Tenure:
- Initial engagement for 10 years, extendable by 4 years.
- Permanent Commission (PC) may be granted in the 10th year based on eligibility.
- Promotion:RankService Period RequiredLieutenantOn commissioningCaptain2 yearsMajor6 yearsLieutenant Colonel13 years
Pay and Benefits
The Indian Army provides an attractive pay structure and allowances for SSC officers.
| Rank | Pay Level | Salary (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level-10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level-10B | 61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level-11 | 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level-12A | 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
Additional allowances include:
- Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500/month.
- Field Area Allowance: Based on the area of posting.
- Children Education Allowance: ₹2,250/month.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates can apply online through the official website joinindianarmy.nic.in. Key points for application:
- Register and fill in personal, educational, and other details.
- Upload required documents, including:
- Mark sheets and certificates.
- CGPA conversion formula (if applicable).
The application window will remain open from 7th January 2025 to 5th February 2025.
Conclusion
The SSC Tech 65 and SSCW Tech 36 notifications provide an excellent opportunity for engineering graduates and widows of defence personnel to join the Indian Army. With structured training, a clear career progression path, and attractive pay and benefits, this is an unparalleled chance to serve the nation.
For detailed information, visit the official website joinindianarmy.nic.in.
The Indian Army has announced the 65th Short Service Commission (Tech) Men (SSC(Tech)-65) and the 36th Short Service Commission (Tech) Women (SSCW(Tech)-36) courses, scheduled to commence in October 2025 at the Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA). This notification also includes opportunities for widows of defense personnel for both technical and non-technical roles.
SSC Tech Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India, subjects of Nepal, or persons of Indian origin who have migrated from specific countries with the intention of settling in India.
- Age Limit:
- For SSC(Tech)-65 Men and SSCW(Tech)-36 Women, the age limit is 20 to 27 years as on 01 Oct 2025 (born between 02 Oct 1998 and 01 Oct 2005).
- For widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in service, the maximum age is 35 years as on 01 Oct 2025.
- Educational Qualifications:
- Candidates must have an Engineering Degree or be in the final year of an Engineering Degree course.
- Final-year candidates must submit proof of passing the Engineering Degree Examination with all mark sheets by 01 Oct 2025.
- Widows of defense personnel need a B.E/B.Tech degree for SSCW (Tech) and a graduation degree in any discipline for SSCW (Non-Tech).
- Final year candidates must not have any backlogs at the time of application.
- Mismatch in Stream: Any variation between the stream mentioned in the degree and the online application will result in cancellation of candidature.
SSC Tech Important Notes for Candidates
- Variation in Name: If there is any variation in the candidate’s name or parents’ names on educational documents, an affidavit stating the variations must be submitted.
- Degree/Marksheet: Candidates must submit their degree/provisional degree and all semester/year marksheets for the SSB.
- Date of Birth: The date of birth recorded in the Matriculation/ Secondary School Examination Certificate will only be accepted.
- Final Year Appearing Candidates: Those whose final exams are scheduled after 01 Oct 2025 are not eligible. Candidates must ensure that they submit proof of passing the degree by 01 Oct 2025 and ensure the cumulative percentage of marks is not less than the cut-off percentage.
- Final semester/year studying candidates will be provisionally allowed to appear in SSB if their cumulative percentage of marks is not below the approved cut off percentage.
SSC Tech Vacancies
- The notification specifies the number of vacancies for various engineering streams for both men and women, including specific vacancies for widows of defense personnel.
- For SSC(Tech)-65 Men, there are a total of 350 vacancies across multiple engineering streams.
- For SSCW(Tech)-36 Women, there are a total of 29 vacancies across multiple engineering streams.
- Widows of defense personnel have 1 vacancy each in SSC(W) Tech and SSC(W)(Non Tech).
- Vacancies are tentative and may be changed.
- Only candidates with degrees in the specified engineering streams are eligible.
SSC Tech Engineering Streams and Equivalent Streams
- The notification lists the core engineering streams and their acceptable equivalent streams. Any variation between the nomenclature on the degree and the online application will result in cancellation of candidature.
- The core engineering streams include Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, and Mechanical, among others. Each core stream has multiple acceptable equivalent streams.
- For example, the Civil Engineering core stream includes equivalents like Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering), Building Construction & Technology and Architecture.
- The Computer Science core stream includes Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Technology.
- The Mechanical core stream includes Mechanical, Production, Automobile, and Aeronautical Engineering.
SSC Tech Selection Procedure
- Shortlisting of Applications: The Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) reserves the right to shortlist applications based on cut-off percentages. The cut-off will be applied on the cumulative percentage of marks obtained.
- SSB Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed at Selection Centers in Allahabad, Bhopal, Bengaluru, and Jalandhar. The SSB is a two-stage process. Candidates who fail in Stage-1 are returned the same day.
- Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by the SSB will undergo a medical examination.
- Final Selection: Those who clear the SSB and are declared medically fit will be issued joining letters based on merit and vacancy availability.
SSC Tech Training
- Selected candidates will be detailed for training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA).
- Candidates will be granted Short Service Commission in the rank of Lieutenant from the date of commencement of the course.
- Training is at the government’s expense.
- A Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies will be awarded upon successful completion of training.
- Candidates cannot marry during training, and if they do, they will be discharged.
SSC Tech Service and Commission
- Officers are liable to serve for ten years, with a provision for release after five years with approval.
- The tenure may be extended by four years.
- Officers can be considered for Permanent Commission (PC) in the 10th year of service.
- Engineering Graduates of Short Service Commission (Technical) will be granted one year ante-date seniority from the date of commission. This is not applicable to widows of defense personnel selected for SSCW (NT) entry.
- Officers are liable for service in any part of the world.
- The final allocation of Arms/Services is at the discretion of Integrated HQ Ministry of Defence (Army).
SSC Tech Financial Aspects
- Pay Scale: The notification provides the pay scale for various ranks, from Lieutenant to COAS.
- Military Service Pay (MSP): Officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier receive a fixed MSP of ₹15,500 per month.
- Stipend during training: ₹56,100 per month.
- Other Allowances: Includes Dearness Allowance, Para Reserve Allowance, Technical Allowance, Field Area Allowances, Risk and Hardship Allowances, Uniform Allowance, Ration in Kind, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance, and Hostel Subsidy.
- Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF): Cadets are insured for ₹ One Cr. A monthly subscription of ₹10,000 is required.
SSC Tech How to Apply
- Applications are accepted online only at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
- Aadhar number and matriculation certificate are mandatory for registration.
- Candidates must fill in all required details and submit the application online.
- Two printouts of the application with the roll number are required after the final closure of the online application.
- Self-attested copies of required documents must be carried to the Selection Center.
- The last date for online application submission is 05 Feb 2025 at 1500 HR, and for offline application by widows of defence personnel it is 20 Feb 2025.
Important Documents for SSB
- Printout of application form with photograph
- Matriculation/ Secondary School Examination Certificate and Marksheet
- 12th class marksheet and certificate
- Marksheets of all semesters/years
- Certificate for CGPA/Grade conversion
- Certificates for final year appearing candidates
- Documents related to civil verification
Additional Information
- Candidates can only apply for one entry/discipline.
- Multiple applications will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Serving Armed Forces personnel must inform their Commanding Officer.
- Travelling Allowance is provided for first-time SSB candidates.
- Merit lists are prepared based on SSB marks, age, and qualifying exam percentages.
- The notification provides detailed information on the selection process, training, and other terms and conditions of service.
- Candidates should never have been debarred from any UPSC examination or arrested/convicted by a criminal court.
- Candidates withdrawn from various service academies on disciplinary grounds are not eligible.
This information is based on the provided notification, and candidates are advised to refer to the official notification on the website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in for detailed information and updates.
