Age Limit

16.5 to 19.5 Years

Qualification

12th Pass / Appearing

Exam Authority

UPSC (Twice a Year)

Initial Rank

Lieutenant / Sub Lt / Flying Officer

Academic Requirements

Wing
Educational Criteria
Army Wing
12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern (Any stream).
Air Force & Navy
12th Class pass with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

* Note: Candidates appearing in the 12th Class exam are also eligible to apply.

Physical & Medical Standards

  • Height: Minimum 157 cm for Males (152 cm for Females). Allowances made for specific regions/Gorkhas.
  • Vision: Distance Vision (corrected) better eye 6/6, worse eye 6/9. Myopia not more than -2.5D.
  • General Health: No knock knees, flat foot, or pigeon chest. Candidates must be in good physical and mental health.

UPSC Marking Scheme

Paper
Marks
Time
I. Mathematics
300
2½ Hrs
II. General Ability (GAT)
600
2½ Hrs

Negative Marking is strictly applicable (-33%).

Syllabus Breakdown

Paper I: Maths

Algebra, Matrices, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry (2D/3D), Calculus, Vector Algebra, Statistics & Probability.

Paper II: GAT

Part A: English (200 Marks).
Part B: General Knowledge (400 Marks) including Physics, Chemistry, Gen. Science, History, Geography & Current Affairs.

The 5-Day SSB Process (900 Marks)

1

Day 1: Stage I Testing (Screening)

Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests followed by Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT). Candidates failing this stage are sent back the same day.

2

Day 2: Psychological Tests

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self Description (SD) Test.

3

Day 3 & 4: Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks

Group Discussions, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, Snake Race, Lecturette, Command Task, and Individual Obstacles.

5

Day 5: Board Conference

Final interview where all assessors (President, GTO, Psychologist) sit together to declare the final recommended candidates.

Salary & Allowances

Starting Basic Pay: ₹56,100 / month

(Level 10 - Lieutenant Rank)

  • Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500/mo
  • Flying Allowance (Air Force): ₹25,000/mo
  • Dearness & Transport Allowances
  • High Altitude / Counter Insurgency Allowances

Training Pathway

Cadets undergo 3 years of joint training at NDA Khadakwasla, earning a B.A/B.Sc/B.Tech degree from JNU. This is followed by 1 year of specialized training at:

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun

Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala

Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal

Evaluated: 15 Officer Like Qualities (OLQs)

Factor 1: Intellect

  • Effective Intelligence
  • Reasoning Ability
  • Organizing Ability
  • Power of Expression

Factor 2: Heart & Social

  • Social Adaptability
  • Cooperation
  • Sense of Responsibility

Factor 3 & 4: Leadership

  • Initiative & Courage
  • Self Confidence
  • Stamina & Liveliness
  • Ability to Influence

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