Understanding Career In Indian Army For Engineering Graduates

Priyotosh Ganguly

4 years ago

Have you ever dreamed of joining the armed forces? Remember the time when all of us raised hands when the teacher asked if you want to serve the nation? Those army uniforms and heavy boots were a matter of pride for us and then hit reality, we joined engineering and machines became our new friends.

Well…the chase isn’t over yet. If you toil hard and wish to use your technical knowledge and skills to help guard the nation, you can still make it up to the Indian Army.

Insights of this blog are :

Why Indian Army Seeks For Engineers?
Career Opportunities In The Indian Army For Engineering Graduates
How To Join The Indian Army: A Detailed View Of UES, TGC And SSB Tech Entry
How To Get Started?
The Bottom Line

Why Indian Army Seeks For Engineers?

Well, the world has changed a lot. Today, technology rules the world. The one with advanced technology will always have an upper hand. Also, wars are no longer only about the men’s fighting with arms on the ground, but also about the people who support these troops in action by using their technical knowledge and skills. This is where the demand for engineering graduates arises.
Talking in particular about the Indian Army, it is one of the largest land-based units in the world and thus it maintains a highly-skilled technical wing comprising of engineering graduates from different fields that supports the troops on the field.

Career Opportunities In The Indian Army For Engineering Graduates

Most of the engineers who join the Indian Army through different technical modes are assigned to different technical branches based on their skills and expertise. The most common branches into which engineers are posted are:-

Corps of Engineers

In this wing, most of the army officers are civil engineers. Their task is to provide mobility to the incoming troops and cripple the advancements of the enemy.

Corps of Electronics And Mechanical Engineers

As the name suggests, most of the engineers from electronics and mechanical background are commissioned as officers. Their role can include designing, maintaining, inspecting and developing military equipment.

Corps of Signals

Under this branch, engineers from electrical, Electronics & Communications and telecommunication backgrounds work. They look after all the communication-related aspects of the Indian Army.

Apart from these, you can be also sent to arms such as Armor (Tanks), Artillery, Ordinance, Army Air Defense and Army Aviation.

How To Join The Indian Army?

The Indian Army recruits engineers through different technical modes such as University Entry Scheme (UES), Technical Graduate Course (TGC) and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Tech Entry. Let, us take a look at each of them in detail:

University Entry Scheme (UES)

Just like companies visit the college campus for Campus Placements, similarly, the Indian Army organizes recruitment process in colleges and universities.

Under UES, all the three wings of the Indian Army recruit the students and if the student gets shortlisted he can directly appear for SSB selection process.

Requirements

Only male students who are in their pre-final year can get into the Indian Army through this process i.e. the age of the candidate should be between 19-24 years. Also, his academic performance of the last 6 semesters should be higher than the cut offset by the army and the candidate should meet all the medical and physical standards.

Process

The Indian Army either organizes a recruitment drive in the college/university or puts up a notification inviting students to appear for the screening round. The candidate then has to visit the college where the process takes place.
The process generally includes group discussions and personal interviews after which the list of selected students is published by the college/university.
Those who get shortlisted are welcomed to join the Indian Army under short service commission (i.e. for a maximum period of 10 years). However, the candidate will get an opportunity to apply for a permanent commission at the end of his term.

Technical Graduate Course (TGC)

TGC entry remains the most popular entry mode for students who have graduated as an engineer or are in the final year of study and have a desire to join the Indian Army.

Every year Indian Army invites applications for technical Graduate courses at Indian Military Academy and if the students make through the selection process they are invited to join the military on a permanent commission and that too on the officer’s rank.

Requirements

Only male candidates who have graduated as an engineer or are in their final year of study are eligible to join the Indian Army through this process.
The age group of the candidate should be between 22- 27 years and should belong to either of the below-mentioned fields.

Civil/ Architecture/ Mechanical/ Electrical / Electrical & Electronics/ Computer Science & Engineering /Computer Technology/ Information Technology/ M.Sc. Computer Science/Electronics & Telecom/ Telecommunication/ Electronics & Communication/ Satellite Communication/ Electronics/ Electronics & Instrumentation/ Instrumentation/ Aeronautical/ Ballistics/ Avionics.

Process

The selection process is conducted twice a year.
The applicant needs to keep his eyes open and should wait calmly for the TGC notification by the Indian Army.
Once the notification is out, the interested candidate can send their applications and they will be shortlisted on the basis of their marks.
The next round is SSB screening process and if the candidate gets selected he will be invited to start his training in the Indian Military Academy.
After the training period is over he will be commissioned as an officer and will be posted on a permanent commission.

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Tech Entry Scheme

Unlike the above-mentioned entry modes, this mode allows candidates from both the genders to get into the Indian Army. This is the most popular way by which one can join the Indian Army’s technical wing and that too as an officer. However, under this entry scheme candidates are selected for short service commission i.e. for a period of maximum 10 years.

Requirements

Both boys and girls could get into the Indian Army through this mode but for applying under this scheme their age must be between 20-27 years.
The candidate should be an engineering graduate in that particular field or should be in the final year of B.Tech / BE in that field.
In addition to all this, the candidate must satisfy all the physical and medical conditions as mentioned by the Indian Army.

Process

The recruitment process under this scheme is conducted twice a year.
Once the SSC Tech Recruitment notification is out, the interested candidates can apply after which they will be shortlisted on the basis of their academic performance.
The shortlisted candidates will receive their interview call letter and if they crack the interview they will get their pass to get into the Indian Army.

How To Get Started?

Well…your chase for your dream that you once saw as a kid will be fueling your journey through the engineering days to the Indian Army. Along with your studies, keep your eyes and ears open to get notified once the notifications are out.

You can also form a group of 4-5 students who are dead keen like you to join the Indian Army and have not given up on their dreams. This will not only keep you motivated but will also keep you informed and posted about the latest updates.

You can also take free career counselling sessions to know if Indian Army is the right place for you. However, how insignificant it might seem, career counselling proves to be highly beneficial especially when the road you are trudging becomes an uphill.

The Bottom Line

Wrapping it up, all I would say is “when there is a will, there’s always a way.” Obviously, the journey is going to be tough, some days will be good, while some will be rough, all you got to do is keep your head high and hold on to your will because at the end of the day it will be worth it.