The Indian Army has released the official notification inviting applications from eligible unmarried female engineering graduates for the 68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Women Course, April 2027. This notification also includes a special entry for Widows of Indian Armed Forces Defence Personnel who died in harness, covering both Technical and Non-Technical (Non-UPSC) categories. Applications are to be submitted online.

Manabadi brings you the complete, official breakdown of this notification – eligibility, stream-wise vacancies, selection procedure, training details, pay structure and the application process – so that every aspiring candidate has all the information needed in one place.

Quick Overview

About This Notification

Applications are invited from eligible unmarried female Engineering Graduates for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Indian Army. The course will commence in April 2027 at the Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA). This notification is published in both Hindi and English; both versions carry equal effect, but in case of any discrepancy between the two, the English version will prevail.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Nationality

A candidate must be one of the following:
(i) A citizen of India; or
(ii) A subject of Nepal; or
(iii) A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Candidates falling under categories (ii) and (iii) must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal, for whom this certificate is not necessary.

2. Age Limit

For SSC (Tech)-68 Women: 20 to 27 years as on 01 April 2027 (candidates born between 01 April 2000 and 31 March 2007, both days inclusive).

For Widows of Indian Armed Forces Defence Personnel who Died in Harness (SSCW Non-Tech Non-UPSC and SSCW Tech): maximum age of 35 years as on 01 April 2027.

3. Educational Qualification

Candidates who have passed the requisite Engineering Degree course, or who are in the final year of the Engineering Degree course, are eligible to apply. Final-year candidates must be able to submit proof of passing the Engineering Degree Examination, along with marksheets of all semesters/years, by 01 April 2027, and must produce the Engineering Degree Certificate within 12 weeks from the date of commencement of training at PCTA.

Candidates who fail to produce the requisite degree certificate within this window will be inducted on an Additional Bond Basis, making them liable for recovery of training costs, stipend, and pay & allowances already paid.

Important note for final-year candidates: Candidates whose final year/final semester exam result is declared after 01 April 2027 are NOT eligible to apply for this course. Only candidates currently studying in the final year of their degree examination are eligible; this SSB appearance is treated as a special concession, and:

• Up to the 6th semester/3rd year of Engineering degree (or the 8th semester/4th year of B.Architecture, or 2nd semester/1st year of M.Sc. in a notified equivalent stream), the cumulative percentage of marks must not be below the approved cut-off percentage in the respective stream.
• After the declaration of final results, the cumulative percentage of marks up to the final semester/year must also not fall below the approved cut-off percentage — failing which the candidature will be cancelled.

Educational Qualification for Widows of Defence Personnel

• SSCW (Non-Tech) (Non-UPSC): Graduation in any discipline.
• SSCW (Tech): B.E./B.Tech in any Engineering stream.

Points Requiring Special Attention (As Highlighted in the Notification)

1. Mismatch in Engineering Stream: Any variation between the stream name on the degree certificate/marksheet and the stream submitted in the online application will result in cancellation of candidature.
2. Variation in Name: Any variation in personal details (candidate’s name and parents’ names as mentioned on educational documents) requires the candidate to submit an affidavit clearly stating the variation.
3. Carry of Degree/Provisional Degree and Marksheet: Candidates must carry their degree/provisional degree and all semester/year marksheets to the SSB.
4. Minimum Physical Standards required before joining the training academy:

Note on Date of Birth: Only the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation/Secondary School Examination Certificate (or equivalent) as on the date of application submission will be accepted. No other document related to age will be entertained, and no subsequent request for age correction will be considered.

Stream-Wise Vacancy Details

Only the Engineering streams and their notified equivalent streams – strictly as listed in the table below – are accepted. Candidates holding degrees in any other Engineering stream are not eligible to apply. Any mismatch between the stream name on the degree/marksheet and the stream declared in the online application will lead to cancellation of candidature.

1. Civil Engineering Stream – 07 vacancies
Accepted equivalent streams include: Civil Engineering, Civil Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering and Planning, Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Civil Technology, Construction Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Construction Technology, Construction Technology and Management, Architecture Engineering, Building Engineering and Construction Management, Building and Construction Technology, and Building Construction Technology.

2. Computer Science Stream – 04 vacancies
Accepted equivalent streams include: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Technology, Computer Science and Engineering, 3-D Animation and Graphics, Advanced Computer Application, Computer and Communication Engineering, Computer Networking, Computer Science and Information Technology, Mathematics and Computing, Nano Science and Technology, Computer Science and Engineering (Cyber Security), Computer Science and Engineering (Artificial Intelligence), Computer Science & Engineering (AI and Machine Learning), Computer Science & Engineering (Internet of Things & Cyber Security including Blockchain Technology), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science, Data Science and Engineering, Information Technology, Information Science and Engineering, Software Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, and Geo Informatics, among others.

3. Electrical Stream – 03 vacancies
Accepted equivalent streams: Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electrical and Electronics (Power System), and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

4. Electronics Stream – 06 vacancies
Accepted equivalent streams include: Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electronics Communication & Instrumentation Engineering, Applied Electronics & Communications, Electronics & Instrumentation, Instrumentation & Control Engineering, Instrumentation Technology, Robotics & Automation, Electronics Engineering, Power Electronics, Electronics and Control Systems, Electronics & Telecommunication, Telecommunication Engineering, Opto Electronics, Micro Electronics and Microwave Engineering, Fibre Optics, and Satellite Communication, among others.

5. Mechanical Stream – 09 vacancies
Accepted equivalent streams include: Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical & Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (Automobile), Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing/Production/Welding Technology), Production Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Industrial Engineering & Management, Manufacturing Engineering & Technology, Workshop Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, and Avionics Engineering, among others.

Total: 29 vacancies (07 + 04 + 03 + 06 + 09), as per the sum shown in the stream-wise table and confirmed by the English-language “TOTAL 29” figure at the end of the vacancy table.

Special Entry: Widows of Defence Personnel

Candidates applying for SSCW (Non-Tech) (Non-UPSC)-125 should mention “SSCW (Non-Tech) (Non-UPSC)-125 (Apr 2027) Course” as the course number on their application.

Important Notes for This Category

1. A candidate is permitted to apply for only one entry/discipline among the above courses. Change of entry or qualification choice will not be entertained at any stage of the selection process.
2. Widows of Indian Armed Forces Defence Personnel who died in harness – including those with children – are eligible to apply for SSCW (Tech & Non-Tech), provided they have not remarried. Their candidature will be considered only against the specific vacancies released for this category. If these vacancies remain unfilled, they revert to the general category.

Documents Required for the Widows Entry

• Application form (downloaded from www.joinindianarmy.nic.in)
• Self-attested copy of Class 10th Certificate and Marksheet
• Self-attested copy of Class 12th Certificate and Marksheet
• Self-attested copy of Degree Certificate and Marksheet
• Part II Order of Marriage
• Part II Order of demise of husband
• Initial report of Battle/Physical casualty
• Detailed report of Battle/Physical casualty
• Battle/Physical casualty certificate

Documents (v) to (ix) above must be attested by an officer from the MP Directorate (MP-5 & 6), IHQ of MoD (Army) for officer applicants, and by the Concerned Record Office for JCO/OR applicants.

How Widows Should Apply

This category applies offline, not through the standard online portal. The envelope must be superscribed in red ink, clearly indicating the name and rank of the officer/JCO/OR — for example, “Widows of late________”. Applications should be sent directly to:

Rtg ‘A’ (TGC) Section, Directorate General of Recruiting, AG’s Branch, Integrated HQ, Ministry of Defence (Army), West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066

Last date for receipt of these offline applications, complete in all respects: 21 August 2026 – that is, 15 days after the closing date of online applications for the main category. Applications received after this date, or incomplete applications, will not be accepted.

Nationality/Recognition Note for Engineering Degrees

Candidates should hold their Engineering degree from a University/Institution recognised by an Act of Central or State Legislature in India, or from other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament, or declared as deemed Universities/Autonomous Universities under the UGC Act 1956, IIT Act 1961, AICTE Act 1987, NITSER Act 2007, or IIIT Act 2024. Candidates with degrees from foreign countries are not eligible to apply for this course.

Selection Procedure

The selection process consists of the following stages:

Stage 1: Shortlisting of Applications

The Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) reserves the right to shortlist applications based on the vacancy-to-call-up ratio for each engineering discipline/stream, without assigning any reason. The cut-off is applied on the cumulative percentage of marks obtained up to the final semester/year, in each stream.

Note on percentage calculation: The online application form converts marks to percentage using a simple percentage formula, and this is used for shortlisting purposes. However, the percentage arrived at using the candidate’s own college/university CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula will be treated as final. If a candidate’s actual percentage, after applying their university’s official conversion formula, falls below the cut-off, that candidate should not report for SSB — even if shortlisted based on the marks filled in the application form.

Stage 2: Allotment of Selection Centre and Dates

After shortlisting, candidates must log in to the website and select their SSB dates and centres, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once selected, the SSB centre and date cannot be changed later, except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Directorate General of Recruiting.

Stage 3: Conduct of SSB

Only shortlisted eligible candidates, based on the cut-off percentage, will be interviewed at one of the four Selection Centres:

• Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh)
• Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
• Bengaluru (Karnataka)
• Jalandhar (Punjab)

The Call-Up letter for the SSB interview will be issued by the respective Selection Centre through the candidate’s registered email ID and SMS only. No request for changes to the assigned selection centre will be entertained.

Candidates go through a two-stage selection procedure:

• Those who clear Stage-1 proceed to Stage-2.
• Those who fail Stage-1 are returned on the same day.

The full SSB interview process runs over five days. Candidates recommended after Stage-2 then undergo a medical examination.

Medical Examination

• The validity of the SSB medical examination is 270 days – counted from the Special Medical Board (SMB) date to the PCTA joining date.
• A candidate who has already undergone SSB medical (SMB/AMB/RMB) for any SSB of any service, and been declared “Medically Fit,” need not undergo a fresh medical examination for SSCW(Tech)-68, provided the gap between the medical date and joining date (01 April 2027) is less than 270 days.
• Candidates already undergoing training at any PCTA need not undergo a fresh medical for this course, even if the gap exceeds 270 days.
• Medical Board proceedings are confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone. The Directorate General of Recruiting has no role in the Medical Board process.

Type of Commission

Grant of Commission

Selected candidates will be granted a Short Service Commission on probation in the rank of Lieutenant (except widows selected under the SSC (Women)(Non-Tech)(Non-UPSC) category) from the date of commencement of the course, or the date of reporting at PCTA – whichever is later. Full pay and allowances admissible to a Lieutenant will be paid after successful completion of pre-commission training.

Confirmation of Short Service Commission

On successful completion of pre-commission training at PCTA, the officer will be confirmed as holding a Short Service Commission (Technical) in the rank of Lieutenant.

Ante-Date Seniority

Engineering Graduates commissioned via this route in the rank of Lieutenant will be granted one year of ante-date seniority from the date of commission.

Important exception: Widows of Defence Personnel selected for SSC (NT) (Non-Technical) will be granted the Short Service Commission on successful completion of training but will NOT be entitled to any ante-date seniority.

Termination of Commission

An officer granted Short Service Commission is liable to serve for ten years, but the Government of India may terminate the commission at any time on grounds of:

• Misconduct or unsatisfactory service
• Medical unfitness
• Services no longer being required
• Failure to qualify in any prescribed test or course

An officer may also, on three months’ notice, be permitted to resign on compassionate grounds – the Government of India being the sole judge of such requests. Officers who resign on compassionate grounds are not eligible for terminal gratuity.

Training Details

Induction and Duration

Selected candidates will be detailed for training at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar, according to their position in the final merit order (engineering stream-wise), subject to the number of available vacancies and meeting all eligibility criteria.

Note on training duration: The Highlights table at the start of the notification states the training duration as “49 weeks from April 2027 to March 2028.” However, Para 7.1 of the detailed notification body states the “Duration of Training is 46 weeks (excluding term break).” This is a discrepancy within the official document itself. Candidates should note both figures and rely on the official website or the joining instructions issued closer to the course date for the exact confirmed duration.

Restrictions During Training

Candidates are not permitted to marry during the period of training, nor are they permitted to live with parents/guardians. If a candidate marries during training, she will be discharged and held liable to refund all expenditure incurred on her by the government. A candidate who marries after the date of application – even if successful at the SSB interview and medical examination – will not be inducted for training, and her candidature will be cancelled.

Academic Degree

Training at PCTA is entirely at Government expense. All candidates who successfully complete pre-commission training at OTA, Gaya will be awarded a “Post Graduate Diploma in Military Studies & Defence Management” by Magadh University, Bodh Gaya.

Cost of Training and Withdrawal

If an Officer Cadet resigns or withdraws from the Academy for reasons other than medical grounds or reasons beyond their control, they will be liable to refund the cost of training at Rs. 20,482.40 per week (for the period 01 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, or as notified from time to time), calculated for the duration of their stay at the Academy.

Permission to Attend Another SSB During Training

After joining PCTA, permission to appear for the SSB of another entry may be granted only once, during the first term of training, and only if the Officer Cadet had already qualified/been shortlisted for that SSB before joining PCTA. Such leave is permitted only if the candidate is upgrading their career – i.e., moving from Short Service Commission (SSC) to Permanent Commission (PC) entries.

Terms and Conditions of Service

Tenure of Engagement

Officers are liable to serve for 10 years, with a provision for release after 5 years of service, subject to Army HQ approval on merit. The 10-year tenure may be extended by a further 4 years, subject to the officer opting for it and being found eligible. Officers desirous of Permanent Commission (PC) may be considered in the 10th year of service, based on eligibility and suitability as per the terms in force at that time.

Special Provision for Release After 5 Years

SSC Officers who have not undergone (or are not undergoing) any specialised course, and who wish to leave service after 5 years, may apply to Army HQ for release during their 5th year of service. Army HQ’s decision on such applications, made on merit, is final and irrevocable.

Officers who have undergone or are undergoing a specialised course will not be released before the full 14-year tenure expires, unless the prescribed cost of that specialised training is first recovered from them. They are required to execute a bond to this effect at the time of nomination for such a course.

Special Provisions During Extended Tenure

During the extended service period, officers may seek release from the Army on the following grounds:

• Taking up a civil job
• Pursuing higher education
• Starting their own business or joining a family business

Promotion Criteria

Seniority Adjustment

To adjust for the shorter training period of SSC officers relative to PC officers, SSC officer seniority is depressed by the period corresponding to the difference in training duration between the SSC course and its equivalent PC course. This adjustment is carried out at the time of grant of the first substantive rank of Captain.

Pay Structure

Military Service Pay (MSP)

Rs. 15,500 per month (fixed), applicable to officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier.

Stipend During Cadet Training

Rs. 56,100 per month (starting pay of Level 10), payable for the entire duration of training at PCTA. On successful commissioning, pay in the pay matrix is fixed at the first cell of Level 10. The training period is not treated as commissioned service, but arrears of admissible allowances for the training period are paid to cadets.

Other Allowances

• Dearness Allowance: At the same rates applicable to civilian personnel.
• Para Reserve Allowance: Rs. 2,625 per month.
• Technical Allowance (Tier-I): Rs. 3,000 per month.
• Technical Allowance (Tier-II): Rs. 4,500 per month.
• Dress Allowance: Rs. 20,000 per year.
• Ration in Kind: Provided in peace and field areas.

Transport Allowance (TPTA)

For Pay Level 10 and above: Rs. 7,200 + applicable DA per month in “Higher TPTA Cities” (Hyderabad, Patna, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kozhikode, Indore, Greater Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Kolkata), and Rs. 3,600 + DA at other places. This allowance is not admissible to those provided Government transport, nor for calendar months fully covered by leave.

Field Area and Hardship Allowances

Officers posted to Field Areas are eligible for various hardship/risk-based allowances depending on rank and posting location, ranging broadly from around Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 42,500 per month depending on the specific risk-hardship category (High Altitude Allowance, Siachen Allowance, Flying Allowance, Special Forces Allowance, Submarine Allowance, Field Area Allowance, Counter-Insurgency Allowance, and several others), as detailed in the official notification’s Field Area Allowance matrix. All allowance rates increase automatically by 25% each time Dearness Allowance crosses a 50% threshold.

Children Education Allowance & Hostel Subsidy

• Children Education Allowance: Rs. 2,250 per month per child, for the two eldest surviving children only, from Nursery to 12th class. Reimbursement is done once a year after the financial year ends.
• Hostel Subsidy: Approximately Rs. 6,750–6,850 per month per child (figure varies slightly between the Hindi and English sections of the notification), for the two eldest surviving children, from Nursery to 12th class.

Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF)

Cadets in receipt of stipend are insured for Rs. 1.25 crore, as applicable to regular Army officers. A monthly subscription of Rs. 12,500 must be paid in advance to become a member. For those invalidated out due to disability and not entitled to any pension: Rs. 25 lakh for 100% disability, proportionately reduced to Rs. 5 lakh for 20% disability, and an Ex-Gratia grant of Rs. 50,000 for disability below 20%. Disability arising from alcoholism, drug addiction, or pre-enrolment diseases does not qualify for these benefits. Cadets withdrawn on disciplinary grounds, expelled, or who leave voluntarily are also not eligible for disability benefits or the Ex-Gratia grant.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process

1. Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
2. Click on ‘Officer Entry Appln/Login’, then click ‘Registration’ (not required if already registered on the portal).
3. Read the instructions and fill the online registration form.
4. After registration, click ‘Apply Online’ under the Dashboard.
5. On the ‘Officers Selection – Eligibility’ page, click ‘Apply’ against the Short Service Commission Technical Course.
6. On the Application Form page, fill in details under each segment: Personal information, Communication details, Education details, and previous SSB details – clicking ‘Save & Continue’ before moving to the next segment.
7. Review all entries on the ‘Summary of your information’ page, then click ‘Submit’ only after confirming accuracy.
8. Take out two copies of the application (with Roll Number) 30 minutes after the final closure of the online application on the last day.

Aadhaar number and Matriculation certificate are mandatory for registration on the website.

Important Notes on the Application

• No changes can be made to submitted details after the application window closes; no representation on this will be entertained.
• CGPA/Grades must be converted to marks using the formula adopted by the concerned university, when filling “Marks obtained in Graduation.” Any discrepancy detected at any stage will lead to cancellation of candidature.
• The candidate’s name, parents’ names, and date of birth in the profile and application must exactly match the Matriculation/Secondary School certificate; any variation leads to cancellation.

Documents to Carry to the SSB (Self-Attested Copies + Originals)

DIGILOCKER certificates will NOT be accepted in lieu of original certificates.

1. One copy of the application printout, signed and affixed with a self-attested photograph.
2. Matriculation/Secondary School certificate and marksheet, or equivalent, issued by the concerned Board.
3. 12th class marksheet and certificate, or equivalent/diploma marksheet and certificate (for diploma holders).
4. Engineering Degree/Provisional Degree from a recognised university (provisional degree must not be more than six months old at the time of joining the Academy).
5. Marksheets of all semesters/years.
6. Certificate from the university’s Controller of Examination/Registrar regarding the CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula.
7. Certificate from the Controller of Exam/Registrar/Dean/Principal regarding cumulative percentage of marks up to the relevant semester/year (for final-year appearing candidates).
8. Certificate from the Principal/Head of Institution confirming the candidate is in the final year and that results will be declared by 01 April 2027.
9. A declaration by final-year candidates undertaking to submit proof of passing the degree examination, with all marksheets, by 01 April 2027.
10. Documents related to civil verification.

Note: Any candidate who does not carry these documents to the SSB interview will have their candidature cancelled and will be returned. If a school/college/university issues only e-certificates via DigiLocker with no hard copy, the candidate must obtain and carry a certificate confirming this fact, along with an authenticated colour printout of the e-certificate.

Entitlement for Travelling Allowance

Candidates appearing for the SSB interview for the first time for a particular type of commission are entitled to AC-3 Tier railway fare or bus fare (including reservation-cum-sleeper charges) within Indian limits, for both onward and return journeys. Candidates re-applying for the same type of commission will not be entitled to travelling allowance on any subsequent occasion.

Merit List and Final Selection

Qualifying at the SSB interview does not confirm final selection. The merit list is prepared stream/subject-wise, based on marks obtained at the SSB interview. In case of a tie:

1. The older candidate (by age) is ranked higher.
2. If age is also equal, the candidate with a higher percentage of marks in their qualifying degree is ranked higher.

Higher educational qualifications or past performance play no role in merit ranking. Only candidates within the merit list, within the stipulated stream-wise vacancies, and declared medically fit will receive joining letters for pre-commissioning training — subject to meeting all eligibility criteria.

Reporting deadline: If a candidate fails to report to PCTA within 7 days of the reporting date mentioned in the Joining Letter, without prior permission from the Academy Adjutant, the candidature will be cancelled and the joining letter will pass to the next candidate on the merit list.

General Conditions and Restrictions

• On joining the Army, certain personal restrictions apply in accordance with Article 33 of the Constitution of India, as promulgated in the Army Act and Army Rules.
• No request for change of SSB interview date or centre will be entertained or replied to, once selected.
• Any ambiguity, false information, or concealment detected in certificates/documents/online application at any stage will result in cancellation of candidature.
• Candidates must never have been debarred from appearing in any UPSC examination.
• Candidates must never have been arrested or convicted by a criminal court, nor involved in any criminal case. If such an issue surfaces during selection or training, the candidature/cadetship will be cancelled/withdrawn by IHQ of MoD (Army).
• Candidates withdrawn from NDA, IMA, OTA, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or any Service Training Academy on disciplinary grounds are not eligible to apply.
• All queries regarding centre allotment, interview dates, merit list, or joining instructions must be submitted through the ‘Feedback/Query’ option on the official website only. Queries should be reviewed against the notification, tickers, FAQs and other uploaded instructions before submission.
• To avoid last-minute rush, only queries received up to 3 days before the closing date of online applications will be entertained/replied to.

Important Timeline Summary

Final Word for Candidates

This is a merit-based, engineering-stream-specific entry with a total of 29 notified vacancies (as per the stream-wise breakup) – a relatively small and highly competitive intake. Candidates should pay close attention to the exact wording of their engineering degree stream, since even minor naming mismatches between the degree certificate and the online application form lead to outright cancellation.

For continuous updates on Indian Army recruitment notifications, application deadlines and selection results, keep following Manabadi.