The Indian Army has released the notification for the 68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Course for Men, commencing April 2027. This entry is open to unmarried male Engineering graduates and leads to a Short Service Commission in the rank of Lieutenant after training at the Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA) / Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar. Online applications open on 09 July 2026 at 1500 hrs and close on 07 August 2026 at 1500 hrs.
This guide covers eligibility, age limit, educational qualification, notified engineering streams and vacancies, selection process, physical standards, medical examination, training, salary, allowances, and the complete step-by-step application process.
What is SSC (Tech)-68 (Men)?
This is a Short Service Commission (Technical) entry for male engineering graduates/final-year students into the Indian Army, commencing at PCTA in April 2027.
Key Features
- Minimum engagement: 10 years, extendable to 14 years
- Option for Permanent Commission after 10 years
- Training at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar
- Rank on commissioning: Lieutenant
- Stipend during training: ₹56,100 per month
- CTC on commissioning: approx ₹17–18 lakh per annum (excluding free medical cover and one home-town visit per year)
SSC (Tech)-68 (Men) Overview
| Particular |
Details |
| Course |
68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Men |
| Conducting Body |
Indian Army |
| Application Mode |
Online |
| Official Website |
www.joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| Registration Start |
09 July 2026, 1500 hrs |
| Last Date |
07 August 2026, 1500 hrs |
| Eligible Candidates |
Unmarried Male, Engineering graduates |
| Age Limit |
20 to 27 years as on 01 April 2027 |
| Course Commencement |
April 2027 |
| Training Academy |
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar |
| Total Vacancies |
350 (tentative) |
Important Dates
| Event |
Date |
| Online Application Opens |
09 July 2026, 1500 hrs |
| Online Application Closes |
07 August 2026, 1500 hrs |
| Cut-off % for Shortlisting Published |
First week of September 2026 |
| Choice of SSB Date/Centre Open |
Two weeks in September 2026 |
| Likely SSB Duration & Dates |
Five-day SSB, between October–December 2026 |
| Course Commences at PCTA |
April 2027 |
| Training Duration |
April 2027 to March 2028 |
Eligibility Criteria
1. Nationality
A candidate must be one of the following:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India
Candidates in categories (ii) and (iii) need a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India – except Gorkha subjects of Nepal, who are exempt from this requirement.
2. Age Limit
20 to 27 years as on 01 April 2027
i.e., born between 01 April 2000 and 31 March 2007 (both dates inclusive)
No document other than the Matriculation/Secondary School certificate will be accepted as proof of age, and no request for age change will be entertained after submission.
3. Marital Status
Open only to unmarried males. Candidates cannot marry during the training period, and anyone who marries after the date of application (even if successful at SSB and medical) will have their candidature cancelled.
4. Educational Qualification
Eligible candidates are those who:
- Have already passed the requisite Engineering Degree course in a notified stream, or
- Are in the final year of the Engineering Degree course
Important note on final-year candidates: The notification’s Note-1 states that candidates whose final year/final semester result will be declared AFTER 29 March 2027 are NOT eligible to apply for this course. Final-year candidates who are permitted to appear at SSB must submit proof of passing the Engineering Degree exam, along with marksheets of all semesters/years, by 01 April 2027, to the Directorate General of Recruiting – failing which the candidature will be cancelled.
Final-year candidates are provisionally allowed into SSB only if their cumulative percentage of marks up to the 6th semester/3rd year (for B.Arch: up to 8th semester/4th year; for notified M.Sc streams: up to 2nd semester/1st year) is not below the approved cut-off for their stream. After final results are declared, the cumulative percentage up to the final semester/year must also not fall below the cut-off, or the candidature will be cancelled.
Important: Only degrees from universities/institutions recognised by an Act of Central or State Legislature, or deemed universities under the UGC Act 1956 / IIT Act 1961 / AICTE Act 1987 / NITSER Act 2007 / IIIT Act 2024, are accepted. Candidates with degrees from foreign universities are not eligible.
A candidate may apply for only one entry/discipline; no change of entry or stream is entertained at any stage of selection.
Notified Engineering Streams & Vacancies
Only the streams listed below (and their AICTE-approved equivalents, as specified in the notification) are accepted. Any mismatch between the stream on the degree/marksheet and the stream entered in the online application results in cancellation of candidature.
| Core Engineering Stream |
Vacancies |
| Civil (incl. Architecture, Construction, Building Engineering) |
75 |
| Computer Science (incl. IT, AI/ML, Cyber Security streams) |
60 |
| Electrical (incl. Electrical & Electronics) |
33 |
| Electronics (incl. Communication, Instrumentation, Telecommunication) |
64 |
| Mechanical (incl. Production, Automobile, Aeronautical, Industrial) |
101 |
| Miscellaneous Engineering Streams (Plastic Tech, Bio-Medical, Metallurgical, Agricultural, Mining, Textile, etc.) |
17 |
| Total |
350 |
These vacancies are tentative and may be changed or re-appropriated by the Army at any stage of the selection process, based on organisational requirements.
The notification carries a detailed sub-table under each core stream listing every AICTE-approved equivalent nomenclature (e.g., under Computer Science: Computer Science & Engineering, Information Technology, AI & Data Science, Computer Science & Engineering (Cyber Security), etc.). Candidates should cross-check their exact degree nomenclature against this list before applying, since any variation in stream name between the degree certificate and the online application leads to cancellation.
Minimum Physical Standards
These are the minimum physical standards a candidate must achieve before joining the training academy:
| Activity |
Minimum Standard |
| 2.4 km Run |
10 minutes 30 seconds |
| Push-ups |
40 |
| Pull-ups |
06 |
| Sit-ups |
30 |
| Squats |
2 sets of 30 repetitions |
| Lunges |
2 sets of 10 repetitions |
| Swimming |
Should know fundamentals of swimming |
Selection Process
The selection follows this sequence:
Application → Shortlisting → SSB → Medical → Merit List → Joining Letter
1. Shortlisting of Applications
Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) shortlists applications stream-wise, based on the vacancy-to-call-up ratio, using the cumulative percentage of marks up to the final semester/year. The cut-off percentage for each stream will be published in the first week of September 2026.
Note: The application form converts CGPA/marks to percentage using a simple formula for shortlisting purposes only. The percentage as calculated by your own college/university (per its official CGPA conversion formula) is what finally counts – if that figure falls below the cut-off, you should not report for SSB even if shortlisted on the basis of the application form’s calculation.
2. Allotment of SSB Centre & Dates
After shortlisting, candidates log in and select their SSB dates and centre on a first-come-first-served basis, during a two-week window in September 2026. Once selected, the centre/date cannot be changed except at the Army’s discretion.
SSB Centres: Prayagraj (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Jalandhar (Punjab)
3. Conduct of SSB
- Two-stage selection process. Candidates who clear Stage-1 proceed to Stage-2; those who fail Stage-1 are sent back the same day.
- SSB duration: maximum five days, likely conducted between October and December 2026.
- Candidates recommended after Stage-2 undergo a medical examination.
4. Joining PCTA
Candidates recommended by SSB and declared medically fit are issued a Joining Letter in order of merit (stream-wise), subject to available vacancies and meeting all eligibility criteria.
Medical Examination
Full medical standards and procedures are published separately on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Key points from the notification:
- Validity of SSB medical examination: 270 days, counted from the Special Medical Board (SMB) date to the PCTA joining date.
- If you’ve already undergone SSB medical (SMB/AMB/RMB) for any service and been declared Medically Fit, you don’t need a fresh medical for SSC(Tech)-68 – provided the gap between that medical and 01 April 2027 (joining date) is under 270 days.
- Candidates already undergoing training at any PCTA are exempt from a fresh medical, regardless of the 270-day gap.
- Medical Board proceedings are confidential; the Directorate General of Recruiting has no role in Medical Boards.
Type of Commission & Service Terms
| Particular |
Details |
| Commission on Joining |
Short Service Commission on probation, rank of Lieutenant |
| Confirmation |
Confirmed as SSC (Technical), rank of Lieutenant, on successful completion of PCTA training |
| Ante-Date Seniority |
1 year ante-date seniority from date of commission |
| Minimum Engagement |
10 years |
| Maximum Engagement |
14 years (extendable by a further 4 years, subject to eligibility) |
| Option for Release |
After 5 years / after 10 years / after 14 years |
| Option for Permanent Commission |
Considered in the 10th year of service |
Grounds for termination of commission: misconduct or unsatisfactory service; medical unfitness; services no longer required; failure to qualify a prescribed test/course. An officer may also resign on compassionate grounds with three months’ notice (Government of India’s decision is final); such an officer is not eligible for terminal gratuity.
Release after 5 years: Officers who haven’t undergone any specialised course may apply during their 5th year for release; Army HQ decides on merit, and the decision is final and irrevocable. Officers who have undergone a specialised course cannot be released before the full 14-year tenure unless they refund the prescribed training cost (a bond is executed at the time of nomination for such a course).
During extended tenure: Release may be sought for taking up a civil job, pursuing higher education, or starting/joining a family business.
Training
- Academy: Officers Training Academy (OTA)/Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA), Gaya, Bihar
- Duration: 49 weeks (Apr 2027–Mar 2028) per the Highlights table; the detailed clause (Para 7.1) states 46 weeks excluding term break – see note above.
- Marriage during training: Not permitted. Cadets also cannot live with parents/guardians during training. Marrying during training leads to discharge and recovery of all expenditure incurred by the government.
- Academic award: On successful completion, cadets are awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Military Studies & Defence Management by Magadh University, Bodh Gaya.
- Cost of training recovery: If a cadet resigns/withdraws for reasons other than medical grounds or reasons beyond their control, they must refund training cost at ₹20,482.40 per week (rate for 01 Jul 2026–30 Jun 2027, revised periodically).
- Final Arms/Services allocation is made prior to passing out, at the sole discretion of Integrated HQ, MoD (Army); no representation against the allotted arm/service is entertained.
Promotion Criteria
| Rank |
Promotion Criteria |
| Lieutenant |
On commission |
| Captain |
On completion of 2 years reckonable commissioned service |
| Major |
On completion of 6 years reckonable commissioned service |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
On completion of 13 years reckonable commissioned service |
| Colonel (TS) |
On completion of 26 years reckonable commissioned service |
| Colonel and above (Brigadier, Major General, Lt Gen, VCOAS/Army Cdr, COAS) |
On selection basis, subject to fulfilling requisite service conditions |
Pay Matrix
| Rank |
Pay Level |
Pay Scale (₹) |
| Lieutenant |
Level-10 |
56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain |
Level-10B |
61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Major |
Level-11 |
69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Level-12A |
1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Colonel |
Level-13 |
1,30,600 – 2,15,900 |
| Brigadier |
Level-13A |
1,39,600 – 2,17,600 |
| Major General |
Level-14 |
1,44,200 – 2,18,200 |
| Lt Gen (HAG Scale) |
Level-15 |
1,82,200 – 2,24,100 |
| Lt Gen (HAG+ Scale) |
Level-16 |
2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VCOAS/Army Cdr/Lt Gen (NFSG) |
Level-17 |
2,25,000 (fixed) |
| COAS |
Level-18 |
2,50,000 (fixed) |
Stipend, Salary & Allowances
| Component |
Amount |
| Stipend during training (PCTA) |
₹56,100 per month (fixed, first cell of Level-10) |
| CTC on Commissioning |
Approx ₹17–18 lakh per annum (excludes free medical cover and one home-town trip/year) |
| Military Service Pay (MSP), Lt to Brig |
₹15,500 per month (fixed) |
| Dearness Allowance |
Same rate/conditions as applicable to civilian personnel |
| Para Reserve Allowance |
₹2,625 per month |
| Technical Allowance (Tier-I) |
₹3,000 per month |
| Technical Allowance (Tier-II) |
₹4,500 per month |
| Dress Allowance |
₹20,000 per year |
| Ration |
In kind, in peace and field areas |
| Children Education Allowance |
₹2,250/month/child, for two eldest surviving children, Nursery to 12th class |
| Hostel Subsidy |
₹6,750/month/child per the English text of the notification (two eldest surviving children, Nursery–12th) |
Discrepancy flag: The Hindi version of the notification lists the Hostel Subsidy as ₹6,850/month, while the English version says ₹6,750/month. Per the notification’s own Para 15, Note 8, “the English version will prevail in the event of any discrepancy” – so ₹6,750 is the figure to publish, but it may be worth a line noting the mismatch since readers may cross-check against the Hindi PDF.
All Defence-specific allowances increase automatically by 25% each time Dearness Allowance crosses a 50% threshold.
Transport Allowance (TPTA)
| Pay Level |
Higher TPTA Cities |
Other Places |
| Level-10 and above |
₹7,200/month + DA |
₹3,600/month + DA |
Higher TPTA Cities: Hyderabad, Patna, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kozhikode, Indore, Greater Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Kolkata.
Field Area / Hardship Allowances
Officers posted to field areas are eligible for Risk & Hardship category-based allowances (e.g., Siachen Allowance up to ₹42,500/month for officers in the highest category), along with specific allowances like Flying Allowance, Special Forces Allowance, Submarine Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Field Area Allowance, Counter-Insurgency Allowance, and others – applicable strictly per rank/posting eligibility, not to all officers.
Note: The Hindi and English tables for Field Area allowances also show a mismatch in one figure – R1H1 category officers are listed at ₹2,500 in the Hindi table versus ₹25,000 in the English table (almost certainly a missing zero in the Hindi PDF). Again, per Para 15 Note 8, the English figure (₹25,000) governs.
Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF)
- Cadets in receipt of stipend are insured for ₹1.25 crore, as applicable to regular Army officers.
- Monthly subscription: ₹12,500, paid in advance.
- Disability benefits (for those invalided out and not entitled to pension):
- 100% disability: ₹25 lakh
- 20% disability: ₹5 lakh (proportionately reduced)
- Below 20% disability: Ex-Gratia grant of ₹50,000 only
- Disability due to alcoholism, drug addiction, or pre-enrolment illness does not qualify for these benefits.
- Cadets withdrawn on disciplinary grounds, expelled, or who leave voluntarily are not eligible for disability benefits/Ex-Gratia.
How to Apply Online – Step by Step
Step 1 – Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in
Step 2 – Click ‘Officer Entry Application/Login’, then ‘Registration’ (skip if already registered)
Step 3 – Fill the online registration form after reading instructions carefully
Step 4 – Click ‘Apply Online’ under the Dashboard
Step 5 – Select ‘Officers Selection – Eligibility’, then click ‘Apply’ against Short Service Commission Technical Course
Step 6 – Fill in details under each segment: Personal Information, Communication Details, Education Details, and Previous SSB Details – clicking ‘Save & Continue’ after each segment
Step 7 – Review everything on the ‘Summary of your information’ page
Step 8 – Click ‘Submit’ only after verifying all details are correct
Step 9 – Take two printouts of the application (with Roll Number) – available 30 minutes after final closure of the online application on the last day
Important:
- Aadhaar number and Matriculation certificate are mandatory for website registration.
- 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 your university’s own formula when filling “Marks obtained in Graduation.”
- Name, Parent’s name (Father & Mother), and Date of Birth in the profile/application must exactly match the Matriculation/Secondary School certificate – any variation leads to cancellation.
- Only one online application is permitted; multiple applications from the same candidate led to cancellation.
Documents Required at the Selection Centre
Candidates must carry self-attested copies along with originals of:
- Application printout, signed, with self-attested photograph
- Matriculation/Secondary School certificate (or equivalent) and marksheet – the only accepted proof of Date of Birth, candidate’s name, and parents’ names
- 12th class marksheet and certificate (or Diploma marksheet/certificate for diploma holders)
- Engineering Degree/Provisional Degree from a recognised university (provisional degree must not be more than 6 months old at the time of joining the Academy)
- Marksheets of all semesters/years
- Certificate from the university’s Controller of Examination/Registrar on the CGPA-to-marks conversion formula used
- Certificate (for final-year candidates) from the Controller of Exams/Registrar/Dean/Principal stating cumulative percentage up to the relevant semester/year
- Certificate from the Principal/Head of Institution confirming the candidate is in the final year and the result will be declared by 01 April 2027
- A declaration by final-year candidates that they will submit proof of passing the degree exam with all marksheets by 01 April 2027
- Documents related to civil verification
Important:
- DigiLocker certificates are NOT accepted in lieu of originals. If an institution issues only e-certificates via DigiLocker, a certificate from the institution confirming this must be produced, along with an authenticated colour printout of the e-certificate.
- If parents’ names aren’t on the Matriculation certificate, an additional government-issued document (Birth Certificate, PAN, Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence) is needed for verification – and it must match the application exactly.
- Candidates who fail to carry these documents to SSB will have their candidature cancelled and be returned.
- Originals are returned after verification at the Service Selection Board itself.
- Candidates serving in the Armed Forces must inform their Commanding Officer in writing about applying, and carry a countersigned application to SSB.
Travelling Allowance
Candidates appearing for SSB for the first time for this type of commission are entitled to AC-3 Tier train fare (or bus fare with reservation/sleeper charges) within Indian limits, to and from the centre. Candidates re-appearing for the same type of commission are not entitled to TA on subsequent occasions.
Merit List
- Qualifying at SSB does not guarantee final selection.
- The merit list is prepared stream/subject-wise, based on SSB interview marks.
- Tie-breakers, in order: (1) older candidate ranked higher; (2) if age is also equal, higher percentage in the qualifying degree ranks higher.
- Higher educational qualifications or past performance play no role in merit ranking.
- Candidates in merit, within stream-wise vacancies, and medically fit are issued Joining Letters, subject to meeting all eligibility criteria.
- A candidate who fails to report to PCTA within 7 days of the reporting date on the Joining Letter (without the Academy Adjutant’s prior permission) will have their candidature cancelled, and the next candidate in merit will be called.
Other Important Conditions
- On joining the Army, certain personal restrictions apply under Article 33 of the Constitution of India, as per the Army Act and Army Rules.
- No request for change of SSB interview date/centre will be entertained or replied to, once selected.
- Any ambiguity, false information, or concealment detected in certificates/documents/application at any stage – including after joining – leads to cancellation of candidature.
- Candidates must never have been debarred from any UPSC examination.
- Candidates must never have been arrested or convicted by a criminal court or involved in any criminal case – if such an issue surfaces during selection or training, candidature/enrolment will be cancelled/withdrawn.
- Candidates withdrawn from NDA, IMA, OTA, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or any Service Training Academy on disciplinary grounds are not eligible to apply.
- For queries on centre allotment, interview dates, merit list, or joining instructions, use only the ‘Feedback/Query’ option on the official website. Queries received less than 3 days before the application closes will not be entertained.
- This notification is published in Hindi and English. Both are equally effective, but in case of any discrepancy, the English version prevails.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can apply for SSC(Tech)-68 (Men)?
Unmarried male Engineering graduates (or final-year students meeting the conditions above), aged 20–27 years as on 01 April 2027.
What is the last date to apply?
07 August 2026, 1500, hrs.
Can final-year engineering students apply?
Yes, provided their final year/final semester result is declared on or before 29 March 2027, and they meet the cumulative percentage cut-off at each stage.
What is the training duration?
The notification states both 49 weeks (Apr 2027–Mar 2028, per the Highlights table) and 46 weeks excluding term break.
Where is the training conducted?
Officers Training Academy (OTA)/Pre-Commissioning Training Academy (PCTA), Gaya, Bihar.
What is the stipend during training?
₹56,100 per month.
What rank do candidates get after training?
Lieutenant.
What is the minimum and maximum service tenure?
Minimum 10 years, maximum 14 years (extendable).
Is Permanent Commission available?
Yes, officers may be considered for Permanent Commission in their 10th year of service.
How many total vacancies are there?
350 (tentative), across Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, and Miscellaneous Engineering streams.
Where are the SSB centres?
Prayagraj (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Jalandhar (Punjab).
What is the approximate CTC on commissioning?
Approx ₹17–18 lakh per annum, excluding free medical cover and one home-town visit per year.
Candidates interested in the Indian Army SSC (Tech)-68 Men Recruitment 2026 should carefully verify their eligibility and complete the online application before the last date to avoid any last-minute issues. Make sure to keep all the required documents ready and regularly check the official notification for further updates regarding the SSB interview, merit list, and joining instructions.
For the latest updates on Indian Army recruitment, Defence jobs, Government job notifications, admit cards, results, answer keys, and career opportunities, visit Manabadi regularly and bookmark the page to stay informed.
