Service to the nation is the dream of many candidates and this thought is instilled right from their childhood in their minds by their parents. This is why they are focused right from their childhood days to join the Indian Army.
When talking about the eligibility criteria for joining the Indian army, different criterion with respect to age, educational qualification and physical standards are to be met by candidates.
Here, let us get into the details about the age and educational qualification requirements to be fulfilled by candidates for entry level jobs in Indian army that are broadly classified under the head of Junior Commissioned Officer or JCO:
Soldier (General Duty) – All Arms: The age requirement for this position is 17.5 to 21 years. When talking about educational qualification, candidates must have completed their SSLC/matriculation with a minimum of 45% marks in aggregate and 32% in each subject. However, for candidates, who have completed their higher secondary no percentage is taken into consideration. Just a higher secondary completion certificate is enough.
Soldier (Technical) – Technical Arms: For this position, candidates must have completed their intermediate or 10+2 examination in science discipline with English, mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects with a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks and 40% in every paper. The age requirement for this position is between 17.5 to 23 years.
Soldier Clerk / Store Keeper Technical – All Arms: Candidates between the age group of 17.5-23 years and who have completed their higher secondary or intermediate examination in any stream with a minimum of 50% of aggregate marks and 40% of marks in every paper are eligible. It is important that the applicants must have passed mathematics or accounts or book keeping and English in class 10 or 12 with a minimum of 40% marks in every paper. For candidates with B. Sc qualification with English and mathematics 40% of mark requirement is waived. For graduates without these subjects, they must have scored a minimum of 40% of marks in these subjects at least at their higher secondary or class 10 level.
Soldier Nursing Assistant (Army Medical Corps): To apply for this position, candidates must have completed their 10+2 or intermediate examination with English, biology, chemistry and physics with at least 50% of marks in aggregate and at least 40% in every paper. Applicants with Bachelor of Science with bioscience/zoology/botany need not have to fulfill the mark requirement. However, the applicants should have studied all four subjects at higher secondary level as well. The age requirement is 17.5-23 years.
Soldier Tradesmen (All Arms): Candidates, who are between the age group of 17.5-23 years and have completed their 10th or ITI except Mess keeper and house keeper.
Soldier General Duty (All Arms): The qualification for this position is 10th pass and candidates between the age group of 17.5-21 years can apply to this position.
Surveyor Auto Carto (Engineers): Those between the age group of 20 and 25 years and with the qualification of Bachelor of Arts/Science with mathematics can apply. However, it is important that the applicants must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with science and mathematics as main subjects.
Junior Commissioned Officer – Religious Teacher (All Arms): Graduates in any discipline between the age group of 27-34 years can apply. Apart from this, the applicants must satisfy the requisite qualification in their own religious denomination.
Junior Commissioned Officer Catering (Army Service Corps): Candidates with diploma or certificate course completion with a duration of one year or more in catering Technology, hotel/cookery management or Food Craft from an institution recognized by AICTE are eligible to apply for this course. They must also have completed 10+2 or equivalent course and must be within the age group of 21-27 years.
Havildar Education (Army Education Corps): Vacancies for this position is announced in two groups, namely; Group X and Group Y. Candidates applying for Group X, must have completed their MCA/M. Sc/MA or B. Sc/BCA/BA in Information technology with B. Ed. Candidates applying for Group X must have completed their B. SC/BCA/BA in information technology with or without B. Ed. The age requirement for both groups is 20-25 years.
Candidates fulfilling the above-mentioned requirements will have to apply for appropriate positions through the recruitment notification issued by the Indian army. Application can be submitted through the official website of Indian army. The selection process includes written examination followed by physical examination and interview. For most of the positions the physical requirement of 48-50 kgs is a must and chest requirement is 77 cms. The height requirement will differ from one position to another.
