Indian Armed Forces have a reputation of being one of the finest
in the world and offer a very challenging and Attractive career for Indian
youth(both men and women). Indian armed forces, after induction,
impart required training to ensure that individual becomes fully
capable of handling difficult and complex situation arising in operational
and administrative spheres. The services environment offers:-
A very healthy work culture. It offers challenging and result-oriented
environment and is best suited for honest and upright person to serve
and as such holds the promise of bringing high social standing and
honour to an individual joining the same.
Individual becomes true nationalist and stops distinguishing individuals
based on religion, cast and regional basis. It is the only career which
demands and teaches supreme sacrifice for the country.
Armed forces is a major setup, which provide reasonably good and fast
career growth. Career growth in armed forces depends on performance
and your skill. Certain courses entitle you to additional pay and allowances.
Life in armed forces is regimented and it takes priority over normal life
and builds up Esprit-de-Corps.
Indian armed forces render invaluable service to the nation, both in times
of war and peace. Though there prime task is defending our nation against
external aggression, many times it is called to restore internal strife and help
in natural calamities.
WORK
Nature of work in armed forces is diverse and also demands serving
in most difficult terrain and weather conditions obtaining through out the
country, and hence there is a need of constant physical fitness of highest order.
Service in Armed forces requires training for war in peace time in trying
conditions and sacrifice and bravery of highest order to save the pride and
integrity of the nation at the time of war. A brief description of works of all three
branches of the Armed Forces is as follows:-
THE INDIAN ARMY The Indian Army is responsible for defending the territorial
integrity of the country against all external aggression and internal
disturbances. During war army is responsible to protect the nation
against external aggression, whereas, during peace time also it provides
aid to the civil authorities during natural calamities, and helps in
maintenance of law and order when required.
The army is mainly divided into combat arms and services. The combat
arms are the infantry, the artillery, and the armoured corps, The Corps of
Engineers and Corps of Signals. Whereas, service s includes Army
Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Army Postal services, Army Medical
Corps, Army education corps, Intelligence Corps and So on.
Combat arms are responsible for actual combat, whereas, services are
responsible to ensure continuous flow of required ordnance including food
for men and animal, Fuel for vehicles and tanks and ammunition.
THE INDIAN NAVY: The Indian Navy is responsible for defending the
extensive coastline of the country in times of war and peace. The navy
also responsible to safeguard our maritime interests including defence
of off-shore oil and gas installations, coastal shipping and fisheries rights,
and to protect the vital trade links.
The Navy has three main branches.
The Executive Branch which manages the navy's warships and
submarines as instruments of tactical warfare. and
The Engineering Branch which is responsible for the maintenance
and service of engineering equipment and the propulsion systems on board the
ships including electrical and electronic systems, weapon systems, missiles,
radar, and radio communication systems.
The Education Branch ensures that the officers and men are update in their technical
knowledge and tactical.
THE INDIAN AIR FORCE The Indian Air Force is responsible for the air defence
of the country, ensuring both offensive and defensive roles. It is also responsible
for the air defence of vital installations of strategic importance to country.
The Air force is divided into three main branches .
The Flying branch includes fighter pilots who fly combat or fighter planes carrying
ammunition and missiles; transport pilots who fly planes which carry men and
materials, and helicopter pilots who provide air support to a moving army, or are
used for para-dropping men and supplies.
The technical branch which includes engineering sections and is responsible
for the engineering equipment and weapons systems of the air force.
The Administrative Branch includes all the departments that provide logistical,
meteorological, educational and administrative support to the flying and
technical branch
ENTRY In Armed Forces
There are number of types of entries in the Armed Forces in India. Basic
Entry for all the three forces is through National Defence Academy (NDA).
Entries are at 10+2 Level, after graduation and after professional courses
(graduate /post graduate level).
There are following entries to armed Forces :-
- Entry through NDA in all three wings, permanent commission,
known as National defence Academy / naval Academy Examination.
2. Entry after graduation through Combined Defence Services
Examination, hrough Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun for Army,
the Naval Academy, Goa for Indian Navy and the Air Force
Academy,Hyderabad for Air Force as permanent Commission
officer. Through Officers Training school as Short Service
Commission officer.
3. All three services can be joined after completion of
technical education i.e. Engineering Degree, requirement of each
service is different.
4. Army Medical Corps, which serves all three services can be joined
after completion of MBBS degree, either through Armed Forces
Medical college or from any other medical College.
Eligibility:
General eligibility conditions demand that a candidate must be - a
citizen of India (subjects of Bhutan, Nepal, Tibetan refugees or migrants
from the rest of the Indian subcontinent with the intention of settling
permanently in India can also apply). In addition, candidates must be
physically fit in accordance with the prescribed physical standards.
They should be unmarried males or female. There is a Women's Special
Entry Scheme (officers) for women graduates in specified subjects between
19-27 years of age.
Selection Process for the National Defence Academy
If you are between the age of 16½ - 19 and have completed the junior
year of high school, you can write the Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC) exam which is meant for entry into the National Defence Academy
(NDA).The exam is held every six months at various centers in India. Out of the
50,000 to 60,000 candidates who write the UPSC exam, only around one-third
pass.
Individual faring well in this exam you be called in for a Services Selection
Board (SSB) interview which lasts for three to four days. In this interview
they conduct medical & written tests, outdoor activity contests, personal
interviews, etc. Candidates who want to join the Indian Air Force, have to
take a Pilot Aptitude Test which once failed, can never be taken again. All
candidates have to undergo extensive psychological examinations and
meet exhaustive physical parameters to appear on the SSB merit list, from
which 300 join the NDA as cadets for three years.
NDA takes in new cadets every January & June. There are no fees to join
NDA, but an individual wish to opt out, as a small percentage do, it is very
expensive. An NDA drop-out has to pay the government, costs incurred in
training, which are calculated by the number of weeks that have been spent
at NDA.
NDA Courses
While in the NDA, a cadet earns a Bachelor Degree in Arts, Science or Computer
Science, which is affiliated to the Jawaharlal Nehru University in
New Delhi. The three years in the NDA are divided into 6 semesters. Five are
general semesters, which every candidate has to take and in the sixth and
final semester, each candidate specialises for either the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Academics constitute around 57% of the program comprising 12 disciplines,
which are 8 languages, three pure sciences, two applied sciences and four
social sciences. There are also Common Service Subjects like military history,
area study, service writing, leadership, para-military forces, weapons training
and situational instruction.
Also a part of the curriculum are Special Services Subjects like training in
battlefield and peace-time skills and operations specific to individual
streams of the Army, Navy or Air Force. There is also outdoor training which
includes physical training, drill and equitation.
After three years in the NDA, Army cadets join the Indian Military Academy at
Dehra Dun, Navy cadets join the INS Tir or INS Krishna at Cochin and Air Force
cadets move on to the Air Force Training Academy at Hyderabad. These
courses are of 18 months duration after which, individual gets a
commissioned rank.
Graduate / Direct Entry
Individuals between the age of 19 and 22 and having a three year Bachelor
degree, can appear for the Combined Defense Services Exam (CDSC),
which is held every 6 months at various centers in India. Again like the
NDA process, there will be a SSB interview and a medical examination. On
clearing these, individual is straight away enlisted into the Indian Military
Academy (if he opts for the Army), without entering NDA, and get trained
there for 18 months after which, get a commissioned rank.
Technical Entry
Individuals having an engineering degree, can apply for direct
commission. He can directly appear for the SSB interview and medical
exam. If cleared them, he will be paid a stipend by the Indian
Government during his senior years. After completing the degree, you are
straight away enlisted into the Air Force Training Academy in Hyderabad
(if you opt for the Air Force), without entering NDA, with a commissioned
rank or in Army, ie., through IMA.
JOB PROSPECTS
Training for the defence services automatically qualifies students to become
full-fledged officers of the service to which they are appointed. They are
guaranteed a job, along with all the perks and allowances, many of which
continue even after retirement. Jobs in the Defence Services involve a great
deal of power and authority, though there are frequent transfers.
Competent officers always have a chance of being promoted to senior
positions over the years
Careers