New Delhi: The Indian Army has announced the launch of the Short Service Commission (SSC) Technical entry for eligible unmarried male and female engineering graduates, with training scheduled to begin in October 2026 at the Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA).
Interested candidates who meet the criteria can submit their applications online through the official portal joinindianarmy.nic.in before the deadlines in early February.
Eligibility:
Engineering graduates are eligible to apply for the SSC Technical entry. Applicants must be between 20 and 27 years of age as on October 1, 2026, which means candidates should have been born between October 1, 1999 and September 30, 2006 (inclusive).
Commission and Training:
Selected candidates will be granted Short Service Commission on probation with the rank of Lieutenant and will receive full pay and allowances during the training period at PCTA.
Upon successful completion of training, officers will be confirmed in SSC (Technical) as Lieutenants. Engineering graduates will also be awarded one year of ante-date seniority from the date of commission.
Salary Structure:
SSC officers will receive pay and allowances as per the Defence Pay Matrix. Indicative pay scales include:
- Lieutenant: ₹56,100–₹1,77,500
- Captain: ₹61,300–₹1,93,900
- Major: ₹69,400–₹2,07,200
- Lieutenant Colonel: ₹1,21,200–₹2,12,400
- Colonel: ₹1,30,600–₹2,15,900
- Brigadier: ₹1,39,600–₹2,17,600
- Major General: ₹1,44,200–₹2,18,200
- Lieutenant General (HAG/HAG+ Scale): ₹1,82,200–₹2,24,400
- VCOAS/Army Commander/NFSG: ₹2,25,000 (fixed)
- Chief of Army Staff (COAS): ₹2,50,000 (fixed)
Application Deadlines:
The last date to apply online is February 5, 2026 for male candidates and February 4, 2026 for female candidates.
How to Apply:
- Go to www.joinindianarmy.nic.in
- Click on Officer Entry Appln/Login and then Registration
- Complete registration and log in
- Under the dashboard, click on Apply Online
- Select Short Service Commission Technical Course
- Fill in the application details and submit
This recruitment drive offers a promising pathway for engineering graduates to serve as officers in the Indian Army on a Short Service Commission, gain leadership experience, and contribute to national defence. If you need help with eligibility checks or a step-by-step application guide, just ask!
