How to Join Indian Navy

Indian Navy is one among the prestigious divisions of Indian armed force. To join Indian Navy there are some criteria similar to that of the Indian army. Similar to other forces the navy officers enjoy all privileges and powers in the Indian society.

India is a peninsula country, and in fact, Navy might be the first line of defense during territorial clashes as well international conflicts.  India’s coastline is about 7500 km long and has at least 2 million sq.km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). All this demands efficient and patriotic citizen, who are screened and pooled from thousands of applicants.

There will be an initial training period of 22 weeks for direct entry candidates and 4 years of cadet entry candidates. Navy has various points of entry and below mentioned are some major modes through which one shall apply and get recruited into Indian Navy.

Am I Eligible for Navy

Navy official website provides tools to check your eligibility. Simply enter your date of birth, gender and qualification. Click on Check my eligibility button.

Eligibility for Navy According to your qualification

One can join Indian Navy through:

1. NDA or National Defense Academy

NDA is more like a recruiter who screens and selects the best candidates for all three armed forces of India, viz. Indian Naval Academy, Indian Air Force, and Indian Military Academy.

There will be a joint training for three years, which is common to all selected candidates. At the end of the third year, the cadets will be sent to the concerned Academy for pre-commissioning training.

NDA paves a perfect platform for people after 12th standard to serve the nation with pride. NDA exams will be conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) twice a year.

• There is a written exam followed by an SSB interview for successful candidates.
• NDA is for males only
• Minimum educational qualification required is 10+2 with physics and mathematics.
• Age is limited to 16.5 to 19.5 years
• Notifications are made twice a year during May and December, where exams are conducted in April and September.
• Recruitments are done by Permanent Commission.

2. 10+2 Cadet Entry

Navy also has an entry point similar to Technical Entry Scheme for Army. Male candidates who had passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths scoring a 70% aggregate shall apply for this.

All applications are shortlisted on the basis of marks since the entry is purely for the technical SSB interview is later made for successful candidates who gets shortlisted.

The training will be for 4 years and a degree will be awarded at the end of successful completion of training.

• Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of marks and later an SSB interview will be there.
• The entry is restricted to male candidates
• Minimum educational qualification for application is 10+2 with an aggregate of 70% for PCM.
• Age Limit is 16.5 to 19 years
• Notification are made once a year during October or November
• Recruitments are done by Permanent Commission.

3. Combined Defense Service Examination or CDSE

It more similar to NDA, where the UPSC conducts exams to select officers to the Indian Armed force. Here also the recruitments are made to all three armed services, where the army academy allows entry for women too.

However, the naval academy entry via CDSE doesn’t recruit female officers. The exams follow a similar pattern like the former, where a written test will eliminate some and the passed candidates will go through SSB screening.

Each year the selections are based on the number of available seats.

• There is a written exam followed by an SSB interview for successful candidates.
• CDSE is for males only ( Navy and Airforce)
• Minimum educational qualification required is a graduate degree i.e. B.Sc with Physics or Mathematics; or Bachelor in Engineering.
• Age is limited to 19 to 22 years
• Notifications are made twice a year during June and December, where exams are conducted in August and February.
• Recruitments are done by Permanent Commission.

4. University Entry Scheme or UES

Unlike the above, UES entry is a short service commission or SSC which means the recruitment is made for a temporary period after which the cadet might get a chance for a permanent post or respective concessions based on experience level.

This scheme allows entry for final years or pre-final years from any recognized universities in India. The entry might be for a number of branches within Navy, some of which are General services, Executive entry etc.

For Architecture branch, both men and women can apply.

• There is a preliminary interview at respective colleges followed by an SSB interview for successful candidates.
• Entry is only for males, however, certain branches like architecting allow both genders, which shall be displayed along with advertisements.
• Minimum educational qualification required is an Engineering degree in final or pre-final years with a minimum of 60% aggregate in all papers with physics and chemistry in 10+2.
• Age is limited to 21 to 24 years
• Notification are made happen around July, however, there is specific time frame
• Recruitments are done by Short Service Commission and occasionally by Permeant Commission.

5. Graduate Direct Entry

As the scheme suggest, the entry is only for graduates or above. The recruitments for departments like IT, Pilot, Education, Observer, Logistics etc. The entry call will be published in all prominent newspapers, website and Social media during different times a year.

Here the entry is directly based on a cut-off decided by the commissions depending on yearly requirements and statistics. Various branches might have different cut-off criterion too. Here the entry is for both men and women.

• Entry is based on a cut-off decided by the commission, selected candidates should appear for an SSB before finalizing entry.
• Entry is for both genders, which shall be displayed along with advertisements.
• Minimum educational qualification required is a graduate or a post graduate degree. The extra requirements, cut-offs, openings and branches will be displayed in the advertisement.
• Age is limit changes with the designation, therefore displayed in the advertisement.
• Notification are might come throughout the year, so always keep posted to their website.
• Recruitments are done by both Short Service Commission and by Permeant Commission.

Now you have collected all necessary information to join Indian Navy. Always keep posted to their website or social media page to get notified at the earliest.

Newspaper advertisement is often made along with other modes to notify people. Like all armed service, here also physical and mental fitness is evaluated thoroughly. So always be prepared academically, physically and mentally.

5 Best Ways To Join Indian Navy