Defence options

By Ranjan K Baruah

We have published different articles related to career in defence forces. Most of our readers are aware of National Defence Academy and Naval Academy examinations as well as Combined Defence Services exams and how one may join defence forces as an officer after clearing these examinations.
Joining defence force as an officer is one of the most lucrative career options for any young Indian. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts written exams when it comes to NDA and CDS.
Recent graduates or final-year students may appear for the next CDS examination that will be conducted on February 2 next year for admission in the following courses —

Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, 150th (DE): Course commencing in January, 2021, including 13 vacancies reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Army Wing) holders. There are 100 seats.
Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala: Course commencing in January, 2021 Executive (General Service)/Hydro, including six vacancies for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Naval Wing through NCC Special entry) holders. There are 45 seats.
Air Force Academy, Hyderabad: (Pre-Flying) Training Course commencing in January, 2021 i.e. No. 209 F(P) Course. Three vacancies are reserved for NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) holders through NCC special entry. There are 32 seats.
Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai: 113th SSC (Men) Course (NT) commencing in April, 2021. There are 170 vacancies for SSC (Men) (NT) UPSC, five for JAG (Men) (NT) April, 2021 non-UPSC and 50 for NCC Special entry Non UPSC. There are 225 seats.
Officers Training Academy, Chennai: 27th SSC Women (Non-Technical) Course commencing in April, 2021. There are 16 seats.
Total intake in all the wings would be 418 and since women candidates are eligible for OTA only, they should give OTA as their first and only preference. The online applications can be sent till 6 pm on November 19. Candidates should apply online by using the website http://upsconline.nic.in.

Educational Qualifications:
For IMA and Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, degree of a recognised University or equivalent is needed. For Indian Naval Academy, degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution is necessary.
For Air Force Academy, degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or Bachelor of Engineering is needed.
Candidates (except female/SC/ST candidates who are exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay a fee of Rs 200 either by depositing the money in any branch of SBI by cash or by using netbanking facility of State Bank of India or Visa/Master/Rupay Credit/Debit Card.
There are many officers serving in the defence forces who hail from different states of the northeastern region. We have less lady officers from the region but once the awareness spreads, there will be more deserving candidates from this region. Aspirants should remember that they must be physically fit, mentally alert, socially active and emotionally stable if they dream and plan to join defence forces. For further details aspirants may read the detail advertisement being published in the Employment News.

(The author is a career mentor, skill trainer and motivational speaker and can be reached at [email protected] or 8473943734 for any career related queries)