How To Join an Indian Military Academy (IMA): Step By Step Guide

The Indian Military academy (IMA) located in Dehradun is a top-notch military institute of India that is known for nurturing future leaders of Indian armed forces. This academy is an official trading institute of the Indian army, situated in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

This academy started in the year 1932 as per the Military committee’s recommendation. The ones who are willing to serve the Indian army as Indian officers must be aware of the whole selection process. This academy is responsible for training its graduates with the high-end standard of the Indian military.

The aspirants are trained for leading from its front. The training of ethical and moral values, technology use, and combat training in the present scenario is offered to the candidates. This IMA is having excellent facilities for helping the cadet in his all-over development.

The cadets of IMA can go on adventures in sports like Mountaineering, Trekking, Para jumping, river rafting, rock climbing, etc. After completing the IMA course, the cadets are ranked as “Lieutenant” position in the Indian army, for living up to the dreams to serve Indian motherland with the motto “Wisdom & Valour”.

Indian Military Academy

Aim of Indian Military academy training

The aim of IMA training is the proper development of physical, moral, and intellectual qualities which are essential for great leadership in the army profession. The training at the Indian Military academy helps in inculcating the qualities of heart and mind, character, patriotism, dynamism, understanding, and initiative which are the basis of leadership in wars and peace.

How to join the Indian Military academy after XII

  • The candidates who want to join the defence force after Class XII can now easily opt for various services in their choice of the Indian armed forces wing.
  • A young defence candidate can easily choose the National defence academy- the NDA soon after passing the Class XII exam. This exam of NDA is organized twice a year by
  • UPSC for selecting eligible candidates for quick admission in the National defence academy, located in Pune.
  • The aspirants can also choose the airforce X & Y group exam which is held twice a year by CASB of the Indian air force.
  • The female aspirants who are willing to join the Indian army can choose Military nursing services which are organized by the Indian army DG-AFMS.
  • The candidates who wish to join the Indian Navy can choose Navy Artificer Apprentice or senior secondary recruit exam.
  • Soon after clearing the class XII exam with Mathematics and Physics, the interested candidates can give the examination of Navik General Duty by the Indian coast, Defence Ministry, Indian government.

How to join the defence force after graduation?

  • The Indian defence force offers a great opportunity for the graduate aspirants that wish for serving the nation by joining prestigious armed forces.
  • Soon after completing their graduation from the renowned university, the aspirants can choose the CDS exam which is organized twice a year by the UPSC.
  • The CDS exam is a preferred option among the defence candidates that wish for joining IMA, Officer training academy, Indian air force academy, or Indian naval academy.
  • The eligible defence candidates after completing the B.Tech or BE can choose INET organized by the Indian Navy for granting permanent commission and SSC to the newly recruited officers.
  • The aspirants willing to join the Indian force can choose the Air force common admission test for joining ground duty and the flying branch of the Indian air force.

Apart from the elite forces, one can find different paramilitary inter-service firms which exist and work in India as a helping hand for the Indian armed forces. One can find various career options for youngsters and different educational backgrounds. The Indian armed force is managed & controlled by Defence Ministry, the Indian government.

The central armed police force of CAPF also offers different growth opportunities to the young defence candidates by working as an assistant commandant. The CAPF is known as the 5 security forces in India with a major role in defending the national interest against internal threats. Contrary to the operation and management of the Indian armed force, the CAPF is managed & regulated by the MHA, Indian government.

These CAPFs includes:

  • BSF- Border Security Force
  • ITBP- Indo-Tibetan Border Police
  • CRPF- Central Reserve Police Force
  • SSB -Sashastra Seema Bal
  • CISF- Central Industrial Security Force

Top 5 ways of joining Indian Military academy (IMA)

The top 5 ways of joining the Indian Military academy (IMA) are mentioned below:

  • National Defence Academy (NDA)
  • Army Educational Corps (AEC)
  • Combined Defence Academy (CDS)
  • University Entry Scheme (UES)
  • Technical Graduate Course (TGC)

NDA or national defence academy

The NDA exam is conducted by the UPSC (Union public service commission) twice a year. Only the male candidates that have cleared or preparing in class XII can choose their career in the Indian armed forces through this exam. Once you have qualified for this examination, you will undergo three years of educational training at the national defence academy of Khadakwasla and one year of military training at the Indian Military academy.

  • You need to be under the age of 16.5 to 19.5 for this exam
  • Educational qualification- The candidates need to pass or must appear in the XII standard.

CDS or Combined defence service

The combined defence examination is conducted by the Union Public service commission twice a year. Both the female and male candidates that have cleared their graduation or appeared can make the career in the armed forces. Only male candidates can join the Indian Military academy when they select the army as a preference. On the other hand, the female candidates can get the training at the OTA Chennai.

  • Candidates under the age of 19 to 24 are eligible for this CDS exam.
  • The candidates must have passed their graduation degree or an equivalent exam for both OTA and IMA.

TGC or Technical graduate course

The candidates who are in their final year or have completed their B. Tech, BE in streams like computer science, electronics, civil, electrical, or mechanical can join Indian military service through the technical graduate course. The training duration is 1 year.

  • The candidates aged between 20-27 years are eligible for this exam.
  • The candidates having a degree in engineering in the above-mentioned disciplines are eligible to give this exam.

UEC or University entry scheme

This is an option for all those candidates that want to apply to the army in their pre-final engineering year. You can have a look at the ads which are published in employment news or newspapers in June or May of every year.

AEC or army education corp

One can join this soon after completing their post-graduation. The notification for this exam comes 2 times a year, in May or June and in November or December. One needs to have completed MA or MSC with 1st or 2nd division in the given subjects from a known university.

  • The students aged between 23-27 years can easily enroll for this exam.
  • The candidates that have cleared their M.Sc or M.A in given disciplines are eligible to give the exam.

The final list of the candidates is prepared after clearing the SSB interview and medical exam. This SSB interview is conducted by the service selection board.  It is a five days process for which the candidates can assess 3 major platforms that include:

  • Mansa: this means testing of psychological power
  • Karmana: This means courage and physical stamina
  • Vachaa: This means communication skills and social interaction
  • The students who qualify for SSB interview, they further give the physical medical test.
  • The candidate has to be free from all types of disability and disease.
  • The candidates must not be having any disease related to bones or joints.
  • The blood and urine exam is taken for checking any type of infection present in the body.
  • The eyesight has to be proper, and a test for the same is taken
  • The ratio of weight and height should also be optimal.

How to prepare for the Indian military academy examination?

  • The first step states, starting with the recognition of the need for joining an army force. This will help in self-motivating the candidates for focusing more on their preparation.
  • The candidates must focus more on developing officer qualities like how to maintain physical and mental robustness, change personality, etc.
  • They should emphasize more on how to increase knowledge related to defence force and related information regarding the deals of recent defence.
  • The aspirants must be aware well of the rank structure, training institute, missiles & amp, Indian armed force weapons, etc.
  • The candidates must keep themselves aware of things happening around, current affairs, international and national happenings, schemes initiated by the Indian government.
  • One must stay positive and practice alone by standing in front of the mirror for working on communication skills. This will help in cracking the SSB interview and other proceedings.
  • You must keep your mind active and attempt questions that can increase your confidence level and maintain authenticity and accuracy in the final examination.
  • The aspirants must engage themselves in performing exercises like sit-ups, skipping, push-ups, etc for staying mentally and physically fit.

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