Indian Army Announces 68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Course for Women, Commencing April 2027

The Indian Army has issued a notification for the 68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Women Course, calling for applications from eligible unmarried female engineering graduates to join the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Gaya, Bihar. The course is slated to commence in April 2027. The notification also caters to Widows of Defence Personnel, allowing them to apply under both Technical and Non-Technical (Non-UPSC) categories.

Outlined below is a comprehensive overview of the notification, aimed at assisting prospective candidates in their application process.

Key Highlights at a Glance

Category	Details
Type of Entry	Short Service Entry (Technical) SSCW(T)-68 Women
Open For	Unmarried Female Engineering Graduates
Age Limit	20 to 27 years as on 01 Apr 2027 (born between 01 Apr 2000 and 31 Mar 2007)
Educational Qualification	Engineering Degree in notified streams
Total Vacancies	30 (stream-wise breakup below)
Application Window	08 July 2026 to 06 August 2026
Selection Process	Application → Shortlisting → SSB → Medical → Merit List → Joining Letter
SSB Cut-off Announcement	First week of September 2026
SSB Duration & Dates	Five-day SSB between October–December 2026
Training Academy	Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar
Duration of Training	49 weeks (April 2027 to March 2028)
Stipend During Training	₹56,100 per month
Rank After Training	Lieutenant
CTC on Commissioning	Approx. ₹17–18 lakh per annum
Type of Commission	Short Service Commission (SSC)
Minimum Engagement Period	10 years
Maximum Engagement Period	14 years
Option for Permanent Commission	After 10 years
SSB Interview Course	Enrol Here
SSB Interview Books Pack	Order Here

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

Candidates must be:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India (a Government of India eligibility certificate is required for these categories, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal).

Age Limit

• SSC (Tech)-68 Women: 20 to 27 years as on 01 April 2027
• Widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in harness (SSCW Non-Tech & Tech): Maximum age of 35 years as on 01 April 2027

Marital Status

Open only to unmarried females.

Educational Qualification

• Candidates must have passed the required Engineering Degree, or be in the final year of an Engineering Degree course.
• Final-year candidates must be able to submit proof of passing by 01 April 2027, along with all semester/year marksheets, and produce the original degree certificate within 12 weeks of joining OTA.
• Candidates whose final year/semester results are declared after 01 April 2027 are NOT eligible to apply.
• Final-year candidates provisionally permitted to appear for SSB must maintain cumulative marks not below the approved cut-off up to the second-last year/semester, and later up to the final year — failing which candidature will be cancelled.

For Widows of Defence Personnel

Entry	Qualification
SSCW (Tech)-68	B.E./B.Tech in any Engineering stream
SSCW (Non-Tech) (Non-UPSC)-125	Graduation in any discipline

Important Notes for Applicants

1. Mismatch in Engineering Stream: Any variation between the stream mentioned on the degree certificate/marksheet and the one submitted in the online application will lead to cancellation of candidature.
2. Variation in Name: Any mismatch in the candidate's name or parents' names as per educational documents requires submission of an affidavit.
3. Carry of Degree/Provisional Degree: Candidates must carry the degree/provisional degree and all semester/year marksheets to the SSB.
4. Minimum Physical Standards required before joining the academy:

Activity	Standard (Women)
2.4 Km Run	13 minutes
Push-ups	15
Pull-ups	02
Sit-ups	25
Squats	2 sets of 30 reps
Lunges	2 sets of 10 reps
Swimming	Basic knowledge required

Vacancy Breakup by Engineering Stream (Total: 30)

Core Engineering Stream	Vacancies
Civil (incl. Architecture, Building Construction & Technology)	07
Computer Science (incl. IT, AI/ML, Cyber Security streams)	04
Electrical	03
Electronics (incl. Instrumentation, Telecommunication, Avionics)	06
Mechanical (incl. Production, Automobile, Industrial, Aeronautical/Aerospace)	09

Note: Only the specific equivalent streams notified in the official notification table are accepted. Any nomenclature mismatch results in cancellation.

Additionally, under the Widows of Defence Personnel category:

• SSCW (Tech)-68: 01 vacancy (any Engineering stream)
• SSCW (Non-Tech) (Non-UPSC)-125: 01 vacancy (any graduation stream)

Vacancies are tentative and subject to change based on organisational requirements.

Selection Procedure

The selection process follows these stages:

Application → Shortlisting → SSB → Medical Examination → Merit List → Joining Letter

1. Shortlisting: Based on vacancy-to-call-up ratio per stream and cumulative percentage of marks. Cut-off percentages will be published in the first week of September 2026.
2. Selection of SSB Centre & Dates: Once shortlisted, candidates log in to choose their SSB centre and dates on a first-come-first-served basis (choice window open for two weeks in September 2026). Once selected, this cannot be changed.
3. SSB Centres: Prayagraj (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Jalandhar (Punjab).
4. SSB Process: A two-stage selection procedure lasting five days. Candidates who clear Stage 1 proceed to Stage 2; unsuccessful candidates are sent back on the same day.
5. Medical Examination: Conducted for candidates recommended after Stage 2. SSB medical validity is 270 days from SMB date to PCTA joining date.
6. Merit List & Joining Letter: Prepared stream-wise based on SSB marks. In case of tie, older candidates are ranked higher; if age is also tied, higher degree percentage decides the rank.

Training Details

• Academy: Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar
• Duration: 49 weeks (April 2027 to March 2028), officially noted as 46 weeks excluding term break
• Stipend: ₹56,100 per month during training (Level-10 starting pay)
• Marriage Restriction: Candidates cannot marry during training, nor live with parents/guardians. Marrying during training leads to discharge and recovery of expenses.
• Academic Credential: 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 or is withdrawn (non-medical grounds), she must refund training costs at approximately ₹20,482.40 per week.

Commission, Rank & Career Progression

• Type of Commission: Short Service Commission, granted on probation as Lieutenant.
• Ante-Date Seniority: One year ante-date seniority granted from date of commission (not applicable to SSCW Non-Tech widows category).
• Tenure: 10 years minimum, extendable to 14 years; option to seek release after 5 years (merit-based) or opt for Permanent Commission in the 10th year.

Promotion Criteria

Rank	Criteria
Lieutenant	On commission
Captain	After 2 years reckonable commissioned service
Major	After 6 years
Lieutenant Colonel	After 13 years
Colonel (TS)	After 26 years
Colonel and above	Selection-based, subject to service conditions

Pay, Stipend & Allowances

Pay Matrix (Post-Commissioning)

Rank	Level	Pay (₹)
Lieutenant	10	56,100 – 1,77,500
Captain	10B	61,300 – 1,93,900
Major	11	69,400 – 2,07,200
Lieutenant Colonel	12A	1,21,200 – 2,12,400
Colonel	13	1,30,600 – 2,15,900
Brigadier	13A	1,39,600 – 2,17,600

Key Allowances

• Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500/month (fixed) for Lieutenant to Brigadier
• Dress Allowance: ₹20,000 per year
• Transport Allowance: ₹7,200/month + DA (higher TPTA cities) or ₹3,600/month + DA (other places)
• Children Education Allowance: ₹2,250/month per child (two eldest children, Nursery to Class 12)
• Hostel Subsidy: ₹6,850/month per child (two eldest children)
• Field Area Allowances: Vary by risk/hardship category, ranging from ₹1,200 to ₹42,500 per month
• Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF): Cover of ₹1.25 crore; monthly subscription of ₹12,500

Note: Allowances increase automatically by 25% each time Dearness Allowance crosses 50%.

How to Apply

1. Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in
2. Click 'Officer Entry Appln/Login' → 'Registration' (skip if already registered)
3. Fill the registration form, then click 'Apply Online' under the Dashboard
4. Select 'Officers Selection – Eligibility', then click 'Apply' against the Short Service Commission Technical Course
5. Fill in Personal Information, Communication Details, Education Details, and Previous SSB details
6. Review the 'Summary of your information' page carefully before clicking 'Submit'
7. Take two printouts of the application (with Roll Number) 30 minutes after final closure

Important: Aadhaar number and Matriculation certificate are mandatory for website registration. No changes can be made to the application after the closing date.

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

• Signed printout of application with photograph
• Class 10 and 12 certificates/marksheets
• Engineering Degree/Provisional Degree and all semester marksheets
• CGPA-to-percentage conversion certificate from the university
• Certificate confirming cumulative percentage up to relevant semester (for final-year candidates)
• Civil verification documents

Note: DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of originals unless accompanied by an authentication letter from the institution.

Application Timeline

• Online Application Opens: 08 July 2026, 1500 hrs
• Online Application Closes: 06 August 2026, 1500 hrs
• Offline Applications (Widows category only): To be sent to Rtg 'A' (TGC) Section, Dte Gen of Rtg, IHQ of MoD (Army), New Delhi, by 21 August 2026

Other Important Points

• Candidates must apply for only one entry/discipline; multiple applications lead to cancellation.
• Candidates must have never been debarred by UPSC or convicted/arrested by a criminal court.
• Candidates withdrawn from NDA, IMA, OTA, Naval/Air Force Academy on disciplinary grounds are not eligible.
• Travelling Allowance (AC-III tier) is admissible only for the first SSB appearance for a given commission type.
• All queries must be raised only via the 'Feedback/Query' option on the official website, at least 3 days before the application closes.
• The notification is published in Hindi and English; the English version prevails in case of discrepancy.

For the most updated and legally valid information, candidates must always refer to the official notification on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in, as this article is intended for general awareness only.