Guards of Honor

If battlefields excite you and war games are what you play online, a career in the defence forces might just be the right choice. Here's how to go about it

This day, a decade back, Indian forces were engaged in a month-long combat against infiltrators in Kargil. Every heart that was Indian beat with pride, fingers crossed, for those who were guarding our frontiers, and lives.

While moral support is easy to offer, facing the bullets is a far more daunting task. But if you think you 'have it in you', give the armed forces a try.

Entry into the forces is either through National Defence Academy Examination (NDA Exam) or the Combined Defence Services Exam (CDSE). Those who have completed high school can opt for NDA, and those who have missed this bus can appear for CDSE after the completion of graduation.

National Defence Academy and Naval Academy

For the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA and Naval Academy, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts written examinations twice a year, in January and July. Those who pass this test appear for intelligence and personality tests conducted by the Service Selection Board. The five-hour written tests comprise Mathematics and General Ability test, carrying 300 and 600 marks, respectively. Entry to NDA and Naval Academy is restricted to unmarried male candidates between 16u00bd to 19 years of age. The candidates also have to give an undertaking to not marry till the completion of their full training.

Entry into the technical field of army

Signals: The job responsibility of a signal unit is to provide a communication link between soldiers, cantonments and troops. They help in building and maintaining the equipment through which radio contact is possible.

Civil Engineers: Those with a civil engineering degree can apply for this job, which involves constructing roads for the movement of Army, camp-erection, geographical surveys and map-making.

Electrical and mechanical engineers: Those in this section are responsible for maintaining machines, weapons, automotive and mechanical assets of the forces.

Health: There is a constant need of doctors, dentists and nurses in the services.

Women candidates, too, can apply for the above mentioned courses.

Combined Defence Service Exam

Held in May and October, CDSE is conductedu00a0 for the officers cadre of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The examination comprises a written test and interview on qualification of the former. For admission to Indian Military Academy, Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, the examination paper consists of Elementary Mathematics, General Knowledge and English. For admission to Officers Training Academy (OTA), there is no Mathematics paper. The papers in all subjects consist of objective-type and carry 100 marks. Candidates qualifying the written test are interviewed by the Service Selection Board, and if finally selected, depending upon the choice given by the candidates are sent to Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Naval Academy in Goa, Air Force Academy in Hyderabad or Officers Training Academy in Chennai. The last three courses are applicable for both male and female candidates.u00a0

Other Entry Schemes
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